Proverbs Chapter 18 verse 17 Holy Bible
He that pleadeth his cause first `seemeth' just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
read chapter 18 in ASV
The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.
read chapter 18 in BBE
He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
read chapter 18 in DARBY
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
read chapter 18 in KJV
read chapter 18 in WBT
He who pleads his cause first seems right; Until another comes and questions him.
read chapter 18 in WEB
Righteous `is' the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
read chapter 18 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 17. - He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; Revised Version, he that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just. A man who tells his own story, and is the first to open his case before the judge or a third party, seems tot the moment to have justice on his side. But his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out (Proverbs 28:11). The "neighbour" is the opposing party - ὁ ἀντίδικος Septuagint, which recalls Matthew 5:25 - he sifts and scrutinizes the statements already given, shows them to be erroneous, or weakens the evidence which appeared to support them. Thus the maxims, "One story is good till the other is told," and "Audi alteram partem," receive confirmation. Vulgate, Justus prior est accusator sui. So Septuagint, "The righteous is his own accuser in opening the suit (ἐν πρωτολογίᾳ)." He cuts the ground from under the adversary's feet by at once owning his fault. St. Gregory more than once, in his 'Moralia,' adduces this rendering. Thus on Job 7:11, "To put the mouth to labour is to employ it in the confession of sin done, but the righteous man doth not refrain his mouth, in that, forestalling the wrath of the searching Judge, he falls wroth upon himself in words of self-confession. Hence it is written, 'The just man is first the accuser of himself'" (so lib. 22:33).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) He that is first in his own cause seemeth just.--A man who tells his own story can make a good case for himself out of it, "but his neighbour" (i.e., his adversary in the suit) "cometh and searcheth him," sifts his statements, and shows them to be untenable.
