Proverbs 28:18

Pro 28:18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall at once.

Ver. 18. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved,] {See Trapp on "Pro 10:9"} "Shall be saved"; a little word, but of large extent. It properly noteth the privative part of a man’s happiness, deliverance from evil; but is put here, and everywhere almost, for the positive part too - fruition of good as well as freedom from evil: it comprehendeth (1.) Malorum ademptionem; ( 2.) Bonorum adeptionem.

But he that is perverse in his ways.] Heb., In his two ways, shall fall in one of them. "Evil shall hunt the wicked man to destroy him"; and albeit he may shuffle for a season from side to side, as Balaam’s ass did, to avoid the angel’s sword, yet he shall not escape mischief. Let our political professors look to it that can tune their fiddle to the bass of the times, that call shift their sails to the sitting of every wind, that like the planet Mercury can be good in conjunction with good, and bad with bad.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 28:18. Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved — Namely, from destruction, because God hath undertaken and promised to protect him; but he that is perverse in his ways — Hebrew, in two ways, of which see on Pro 28:6; shall fall at once — Once for all, so as he shall never rise more.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Note, 1. Those that are honest are always safe. He that acts with sincerity, that speaks as he thinks, has a single eye, in every thing, to the glory of God and the good of his brethren, that would not, for a world, do an unjust thing if he knew it, that in all manner of conversation walks uprightly, he shall be saved hereafter. We find a glorious company of those in whose mouth was found no guile, Rev 14:5. They shall be safe now. Integrity and uprightness will preserve men, will give them a holy security in the worst of times; for it will preserve their comfort, their reputation, and all their interests. They may be injured, but they cannot be hurt. 2. Those that are false and dishonest are never safe: He that is perverse in his ways, that thinks to secure himself by fraudulent practices, by dissimulation and treachery, or by an estate ill-got, he shall fall, nay, he shall fall at once, not gradually, and with warning given, but suddenly, without previous notice, for he is least safe when he is most secure. He falls at once, and so has neither time to guard against his ruin nor to provide for it; and, being a surprise upon him, it will be so much the greater terror to him.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(Compare Pro 10:9; Pro 17:20). Double dealing is eventually fatal.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 18. Shall fall at once] Shall fall without resource, altogether.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(18) He that is perverse in his ways.—Literally, two ways. (Comp. note on Pro_28:6.)

At once—i.e., all of a sudden, without warning.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18. that is perverse in his ways] Or, walketh (understood from the first clause of the verse) perversely in two ways. “Heb. perverse of two ways.” R.V. marg. See Pro_28:6, note.

at once] Some commentators render, not very happily, in one of them, i.e. of the two ways mentioned in the first clause of the verse.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved, Or "be safe" (r) from those that seek his life, plot against him, shoot at him, as the wicked do at the upright in heart, but the Lord protects him; and it is even well with him in times of public calamities; the Lord has his chambers and hiding places for him; and he is safe from falling, as may be gathered from the opposite clause; for he walks surely, and is in the hands of Christ, and is kept by him from a final and total falling away: and he shall be saved also with an everlasting salvation; from sin, and all the effects of it; from the curse of the law, from wrath to come, from hell and damnation. Not that his upright walk is the cause of this; the moving cause of salvation is the grace of God; the procuring cause, our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Author of it: but this is a descriptive character of the persons that are and shall be saved; it is a clear case that such have the grace of God, and therefore shall have glory; See Gill on Pro 10:9;

but he that is perverse in his ways; "in his two ways", as in Pro 27:6; or many ways, and all perverse and wicked:

shall fall at once; his destruction shall come suddenly upon him, when he is not aware of it, and when he cries, Peace, peace, to himself: or in one of them; in one or other of his perverse ways.

(r) "erit salvus", Pagninus, Montanus, V. L. Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

In his ways - Rather “in his double ways” (as in Pro 28:6). The evil of vacillation rather than that of craft, the want of the one guiding principle of right, is contrasted with the straightforwardness of the man that “walketh uprightly.”

Shall fall at once - Better, shall fall in one of them (his ways). The attempt to combine incompatibilities is sure to fail. Men cannot serve God and Mammon.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Shall be saved, to wit, from destruction, because God hath undertaken and promised to protect him.

In his ways, Heb. in two ways, of which phrase see above on Pro 28:6.

Shall fall at once; once for all, so as he shall not need a second thrust, 1Sa 26:8, and so as he shall never rise more. Or, in one, to wit, of his ways. Though he hath various ways and arts to secure himself, yet none of them shall save him, but he shall perish in one or other of them, and shall be given up by God to the mistake of his way, that he shall choose that course which will be most pernicious to him.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

18. Walketh uprightly — Or, as a perfect man.

Shall be saved — From danger and evil shall be safe.

Perverse… shall fall — That is, a man of tortuous way, whatever his turns or shifts, shall eventually fall in one or another of his crooked ways. Thus many critics. But Conant prefers the Authorized Version.

At once — Suddenly, unexpectedly to himself. Compare Pro_29:1.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved. "Uprightly" (tamim); innocently, blamelessly. (Psa_15:2) Vulgate, simpliciter; Septuagint, dikaiwv ; Aquila, Symmachus, teleiov . "He is helped (bebohyhtai )," Septuagint. Things shall prosper with him; God will work with him, and save him in dangers temporal and spiritual. But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. "He that is perverse of two ways," or "in a double way," as ver. 6. The man who is not straightforward, but vacillates between right and wrong, or pretends to be pursuing one path while he is really taking another, shall fall suddenly and without warning. tjaB means "all at once," or "once for all," and so that nothing else is possible, equivalent to penitus. Schultens quotes Virgil, "AEneid," 11:418"Procubuit moriens et humum semel ore momordit. Septuagint, "He that walketh in crooked ways will be entangled.

See homily on Pro_11:30. C.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

At once - Once for all; so he shall never rise more.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

18 He who walketh blamelessly is helped,

And he who is perverse in a double way suddenly perisheth.

The lxx translate תמים by δικαίως (as the accusative of manner), Aquila and Theodotion by τέλειος; but it may also be translated τέλειον or τελειότητα, as the object accus. of Pro 2:7. Instead of עקּשׁ דּרכים, Pro 28:6, there is here נעקּשׁ דּרכים, obliquely directed in a double way, or reflex bending himself. At Pro 28:6 we have interpreted the dual דּרכים rightly, thus בּאחת cannot refer back to one of these two ways; besides, דּרך as fem. is an anomaly, if not a solecism. בּאחת signifies, like the Aram. כּחרא, either all at once (for which the Mish. כּאחת, Aram. כּחרא), or once (= בּפּעם אחת), and it signifies in the passage before us, not: once, aliquando, as Nolde, with Flacius, explains, but: all at once, i.e., as Geier explains: penitus, sic ut pluribus casibus porro non sit opus. Schultens compares:

"Procubuit moriens et humum semel ore momordit."

(Note: Aeneid, xi. 418.)

Rightly Fleischer: repente totus concidet.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

This contrast has been lately drawn. (Pro 28:6 .) Indeed the Proverb itself in substance has been given. The "security of the upright," before marked, is here included in his salvation. The hypocrite’s "known"†1 ruin is here set out as complete — at once.†2

This upright walk will shew itself in extreme carefulness; in all doubtful points keeping on the safer side; not venturing upon a precipice, when we can walk upon even ground. This is indeed Christian perfection — "walking before God." (Gen 17:1 .) There is no need for Jacob’s vision†3 to realize his presence. "Faith seeth that which is invisible."†4 This life may seem to miss much temporal advantage. But what — if the upright be not rich, honorable, esteemed? ’If God shall not cease to be; if he will not let go the reins; if his word cannot deceive — he that walketh uprightly doth proceed upon sure grounds.’†5 He is saved. This one blessing includes all. It is the substance of time, and of eternity. All besides is shadow and vanity. To dwell in the presence of God; in the sunshine of his countenance;†6 in the light and gladness of his joy,†7 and at length in his unclouded glory†8 — such is the salvation of the upright. (Psa 125:4 .) Christian! would you part with this portion for kingdoms? What earthly comforts can be a substitute for it? This supplies the place of all.

Any want of uprightness will bring the child of God under the rod. But he that is perverse in his way will fall at once. None of his many shifts shall prosper. (Psa 125:5 .) His double ways, and his vain attempt to "serve two masters," only bring him to shame. (Mat 6:24 .) What need have I in the highest walk of conscious integrity still to cry — "Redeem me, and be merciful unto me"! (Psa 26:11 .)

Footnotes:

†1 Pro 10:9.

†2 Pro 24:16; Pro 29:1 .

†3 Gen 28:17.

†4 Heb 11:1, Heb 11:27 .

†5 Barrow’s Sermons. Psa 140:13 .

†6 Psa 11:7.

†7 Psa 97:11.

†8 Psa 15:1-2. Rev 14:5 .

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Advantages of Integrity

v. 18. Whoso walketh uprightly, in the integrity of pious conduct, shall be saved, delivered or helped by the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways, trying to hide his wickedness under the mantle of hypocrisy, shall fall at once, be brought to sudden ruin.

v. 19. He that tilleth his land, working in the sweat of his face, shall have plenty of bread, as the reward of his labor; but he that followeth after vain persons, being engaged in all kinds of vain and foolish pursuits, leading the life of an idle drone, shall have poverty enough, be surfeited with it. Cf Pro 12:11.

v. 20. A faithful man, one using the strictest fidelity and uprightness in all his dealings, shall abound with blessings, given to him by the Lord in recognition of his faithful conduct; but he that maketh haste to be rich, thereby becoming guilty of dishonorable dealings, shall not be innocent, his guilt, rather, being charged to his account with a full reckoning.

v. 21. To have respect of persons is not good, that is, to let one’s judgment be guided by personal considerations; for a piece of bread, for a very small bribe, that man, one readily hired by a bribe, will transgress, a trifle will sway his judgment.

v. 22. He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, one showing the covetous nature of his heart, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him; for riches are perishable, and God will bring him to want before he realizes his plight.

v. 23. He that rebuketh a man, earnestly bringing his backsliding tendency to his attention, afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue, for a person saved from a foolish step by a word of warning will esteem the fearless reprover and despise the fawning flatterer.

v. 24. Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, simply appropriating goods belonging to them, and saith, It is no transgression, trying to make light of sin, the same is the companion of a destroyer, to be ranked with, and treated like, highwaymen.

v. 25. He that is of a proud heart, rather, the covetous man, with his grasping ways, stirreth up strife, excites quarrels; but he that putteth his trust In the Lord, trusting in His goodness and bounty for all good gifts, shall be made fat, with a rich reward of God’s kindness.

v. 26. He that trusteth in his own heart, guided solely by first impressions and impulses, without careful reasoning and weighing of all facts, is a fool, for the feelings are an uncertain foundation of actions; but whoso walketh wisely, taking into account the course suggested by wisdom, he shall be delivered, from foolish moves and resulting harm.

v. 27. He that giveth unto the poor, practicing charity in the right manner, shall not lack, the Lord Himself preserving him from want; but he that hideth his eyes, deliberately closing them against evidence of need, in an utter lack of sympathy, shall have many a curse, namely, the curses of the poor whom he neglects.

v. 28. When the wicked rise, attaining to positions of power and influence, men hide themselves, fearing oppression; but when they perish, the righteous increase, since they no longer are oppressed by tyrants, they can once more form a numerous and strong party. It is for this reason that we pray for a good government, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

will fall in one In one evil, and there will be no rising up after his downfall.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.