The first verse seems difficult, and certainly has been rendered differently. The sense in the A. V. does not resemble that given by the Revisers any more than the Ancients. The Sept. and the Vulgate construct alike, but Leeser has another view.
“He that separateth himself seeketh pleasure, he rageth against all wisdom.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
The words of a man's mouth [are] deep waters, the fountain of wisdom [is] a gushing brook.
To accept the person of the wicked is not good, —to wrong the righteous in judgment.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.
A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] a snare to his soul.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as dainty morsels, and they go down to the chambers of the belly.
He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
The name of Jehovah [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is set in a high retreat.
The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor [is] humility” (vers. 1-12).
The separation with which the chapter opens is in no way from evil, but rather from others to indulge his own desire and pleasure. Such selfishness enrages him against all wisdom.
This is confirmed by the verse that follows. For such a one is pronounced to be a fool, and to have no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself. How far he is from knowing himself! His heart is the chief seat of his folly.
But there is worse among men than vanity; for it is truly said “when the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.” God despiseth not any; but what care they for God? They have only contempt for their betters, and ensure it for themselves, or, as it is here said, “with ignominy reproach.”
The contrast appears next. “The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, the fountain of wisdom a gushing brook.” Here it is a man who has looked up and learned wisdom, instead of trusting himself. His words are therefore deep waters, and they are fresh as well as deep, even as a gushing brook. For Jehovah is the living God, and man under the power of death.
But there are dangers too even for the wise. It is not good to favor the person of the wicked, and just as bad to subvert the righteous in judgment. Strict integrity is a jewel. Prejudice must not be allowed, any more than partiality. Our sufficiency is of God.
There is another way in which folly displays itself. “A fool's lips enter into (or, with) contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.” The way of peace is unknown. His words are for war, and his mouth therefore calleth for blows; even if he escape sometimes. But it is all the worse for him in the long run; for “a fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips the snare of his soul.” Had he profited by rebuke and other humiliations, it might have been otherwise (vers. 6, 7).
Quite as evil as the foolish talker is the talebearer, of whom we next hear. “The words of a tale-bearer [are] as wounds, and they go down to the chambers of the belly.” Even if they were strictly true, which is rarely the case, they are in every respect injurious, and fall under the censure of evil-speaking. They wholly lack a moral object or a loving way. It is at best gossip, and for the most part the mere indulgence of talking of things which right feeling would rather conceal. The issue is to inflict wounds which pierce very deep, and where they are least curable.
Then we have a maxim of great force in ver. 9. The slothful also, or slack in his work, is near akin to the destroyer, or great waster. Both arrive at the same end of misery, one by idling, the other by careless prodigality. See the blessed contrast of Christ as Mark traces His service; “and straightway,” “and immediately,” “and forthwith.”
What a resource in such dangers, and in all others, is the name of Jehovah! A strong tower truly, whither the righteous betakes himself and is secure (10). For the enemy is still in power; and those who return to God need protection.
How poor in comparison is the rich man's wealth (11)! He thinks it a strong city, and a high wall in his own conceit. But it will fail him utterly when his need is extreme.
So when the heart of man is haughty, destruction is nigh; whereas humility is the pathway to honor that lasts (12). Here Christ is the blessed Exemplar. For He, as high as the Highest, took the lowly place of bondman to obey, and having gone down so low that none could follow to the utmost, is now indeed exalted. The Christian is called to follow; and on none did the Lord lay it more than on the apostles who by grace were faithful.