Proverbs 18:1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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).