The primary topic here is dealing with the wider society that is not close kin. A critical background element is the recognition that some things should stay in your heart and other things belong in the privacy of the home, with yet another level of exposure for general society. It requires discerning what’s proper with any given audience, thus promoting social stability.
1. He that separates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound wisdom. The idea here is a spiteful isolation of self against his fellow humans, as if he is too obviously superior. He isn’t driven out for any valid risen, but can’t stand to be around real people.
2. A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may lay itself bare. This might better be translated a fool having no interest in discretion, but shamefully exposes his ugly heart to everyone. The idea is recognizing no sane boundaries.
3. When the wicked comes, scorn also comes, and with shame comes reproach. This continues the the thought of the previous verse. The concept of wicked means quite obviously perverse and spiteful of norms. Shameless filth is hardly the same as shameless truth.
4. The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream. In the semi-desert terrain of Palestine, any source of water is precious beyond words. If the flow of water is sufficient to swim, that’s major security against drought and starvation. So a wise mouth is an incalculable asset to any community.
5. It is not good to favor the person of the wicked, nor to overthrow the righteous in judgment. This concerns the community court system of elderly men who gather near the gate of any city. It’s their duty to hang out there as the means to disseminating information and important community business, each taking the day’s summary back to the important households and neighborhoods they represent. The statement here should seem obvious, but the standard honorarium could become a bride too easily. Never mind what’s in your pocket; this is a matter of social stability.
6. A fool’s lips enter into argument, and his mouth calls for strokes. This and next two verses cover the same basic idea. Someone who starts fights is a fool by definition, because almost anything can be handled diplomatically. Community stability calls for punishing such troublemakers.
7. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. This one continues from the previous by noting that punishing a fool for making trouble is in his own best interest. Give him a chance to see the need to stop being a mouthy fool.
8. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Continuing on the same vein as the previous two verses, we need to remind ourselves that Hebrew culture considered feelings (associated with the belly or bowels) as much more than mere emotion, but something fundamental to one’s physical sense of integrity. Fools seeking to break boredom and entertain themselves by telling twisted lies to provoke social discord don’t realize what a serious problem it creates. Those lies tend to wound that root sense of safety. It’s more than causing a fight between two or more people, but destroys the fundamental sense of peace by stirring up a very powerful sense of angst.
9. Also he who is slack in his work is brother to a great destroyer. Solomon hastens to add that someone who fails due diligence in social responsibilities in any way is actually the ally of those who actively destroy social stability. It’s all the same team.
10. The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. This and the next verse offer a contrast. Here we see the obvious reference to Jehovah whose lordship creates a refuge to any human problem. Trust in God.
11. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own mind. Connected to the previous verse, this one says that wealthy people tend to trust too much in their own possessions. Walls can be torn down and wealth taken by force or stealth, but nothing can threaten God.
12. Before shattering, the heart of man is proud, and before honor is humility. Discern the end of which path you take. If you start down the path of arrogance, you will end up a forgotten ruin. If genuine honor is your desired destination, take the path of humility.
13. If one answers a matter before he hears, it is folly and shame to him. This is somewhat related to the previous verse, in that it shows arrogance to declare a matter closed without enduring a full hearing by those involved. Even God tends to wait things out with far more patience than humans can muster.
14. The spirit of a man will nourish his sickness, but a wounded spirit who can bear? This one is subtle. Most human illness will run its course and we need only endure through it with grace. People who have suffered from other kinds of problems that tend to destroy faith can’t even handle good health. This demands that we all stop and think about ways to build up faith for others and for ourselves.
15. The heart of the prudent gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. This verse is rather precise in a certain sense if we can discern the imagery. The active heart-led life accumulates savvy, and someone who is paying attention can process his experiences to gain that savvy. This is part of the source whence Jesus said that to him who has, more shall be given, because it tends to snowball.
16. A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. The question here is what kind of gifts you bring to society. Mere tribute and bribes bring you in one door, but honest heart-led commitment to social welfare and stability produces an entirely different audience with human authorities. What kind of power do you want to enhance in your community?
17. The first in his cause seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him. This is a very ancient saying. It presumes we understand the ancient community courts system. If your opponent gets to go first, he has the advantage of laying out a sob story that could prejudice the judges. They probably have little idea of the bigger picture. The smart move is not to directly counter his narrative, but to tear it apart by cross-examination, making him look like a despicable liar. Bonus points if you can use artistic sarcasm to entertain the judges and make them laugh at your opponent.
18. The lot causes arguments to cease, and divides between the mighty. Hebrew culture assumed that God was in full control of any form of drawing lots. If two or more opponents contest the same indivisible item, don’t let them fight over it. Force them to accept luck of the draw lest it explode into a blood feud. The Hebrew term for “lots” refers to smooth stones of the same size, shape and weight, but different colors. It was common for priests and judges to keep on hand something that served this purpose, something always subject to examination for the sake of fairness.
19. A brother offended is like a strong city; and their disagreements are like the bars of a fortress. The term for “brother” depicts someone with a reasonable expectation of trust and alliance, regardless of actual shared DNA. This is someone who was more open to you on more levels of trust, so betrayal is far more painful, as is the moral implication. Worse, this person knows you all too well to accept anything less than a very painful and sincere penitence.
20. A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; he shall be satisfied with the product of his lips. This would seem ambiguous to Western minds, but it assumes the ancient Hebrew understanding of human nature. The “fruit of lips” is a figure of speech for how you engage the world around you in terms of moral outcomes. While your sense of physical appetite professes no interest in how you get what it demands, your mind and heart do know. Your sense of moral integrity can affect your digestion for that reason. It’s a case of learning to eat whatever you have cooked up.
21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it. This is closely related to the previous verse. How you talk to others can contribute to an atmosphere of death or life in your community. If you delight in one or the other trend, it will come back to haunt you.
22. Whoever finds a wife finds good and gets favor from the LORD. This has nothing to do with a personal call to celibacy, but the broader social implications of building a world where marriage and children are safe. This actually calls for treating your spouse as a precious treasure from God, not just a convenience.
23. The poor speaks humble requests, but the rich answers roughly. Perhaps this could be as easily translated as, “Can you afford to be rude?” Being wealthy and powerful might let you get away with it, but your friends last only so long as your wealth. Most people won’t notice how this connects to the previous verse, or the one that follows.
24. A man who has friends may be broken up, but there is a Lover who sticks closer than a brother. There is some dispute about the text of this verse in the latter half of the first phrase. However, the net result makes little difference because the whole point is the second phrase. There is some give and take between your associates, but you should always have at least one person in your life who can take you at your worst. That requires a much higher investment than mere friendship.
