Proverbs 18:1

One who has isolated himself ¹  seeks his own desires; ²  he rejects ³  all sound judgment.

biblegateway Pro 18:1

An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.

biblegateway Pro 18:1

He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

biblegateway Pro 18:1

A recluse is self–indulgent, snarling at every sound principle of conduct.

biblegateway Pro 18:1

Loners who care only for themselves spit on the common good.

SABDAweb Pro 18:1

He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.

bibleoremus Pro 18:1

The one who lives alone is self-indulgent, showing contempt for all who have sound judgment.

biblegateway Pro 18:1

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

biblegateway Pro 18:1

One who has isolated himself ¹  seeks his own desires; ²  he rejects ³  all sound judgment.

¹ tn The Niphal participle functions substantively and has a reflexive nuance: “one who has separated himself” (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB). He is not merely anti-social; he is a problem for society since he will defy sound judgment. The Mishnah uses the verse to teach the necessity of being part of a community because people have social responsibilities and need each other (m. Avot 2:4).

² tc The MT has “seeks [his own] desire[s].” The translation in the LXX represents a Hebrew Vorlage of לְתֹאֲנָה (lÿto’anah) instead of לְתַאֲוָה (lÿta’avah); this could be translated “seeks his own occasion,” that is, “his own pretext” (C. H. Toy, Proverbs [ICC], 354; cf. NAB). The MT makes sense as it stands and the emendation is not really necessary.

³ tn Heb “breaks out”; NRSV “showing contempt for”; NLT “snarling at.” This individual breaks out in contention against sound judgment. He is in opposition to society (e.g., Prov 17:14; 20:3).