Proverbs 18:1

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

Ex 33:16; Pr 2:1-6; Pr 14:10; Pr 17:14; Pr 20:3,19; Pr 24:21; Pr 26:17; Isa 26:8,9; Jer 15:17; Zec 7:3; Mt 13:11,44; Mr 1:35; Mr 4:11; Ro 1:1; 2Co 6:17; Eph 5:15-17; Jude 1:19

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).