Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Amplified Bible

Proverbs 18:17

The first one to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and cross-examines him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Justice;   Selfishness;   Witness;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for January 15;  

Parallel Translations

New Living Translation
The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins.
Update Bible Version
He that pleads his cause first [seems] just; But his neighbor comes and searches him out.
New Century Version
The person who tells one side of a story seems right, until someone else comes and asks questions.
New English Translation
The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.
Webster's Bible Translation
[He that is] first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.
World English Bible
He who pleads his cause first seems right; Until another comes and questions him.
English Standard Version
The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A iust man is the first accusere of hym silf; his frend cometh, and schal serche hym.
English Revised Version
He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.
Berean Standard Bible
The first to state his case seems right until another comes forward and examines him.
Contemporary English Version
You may think you have won your case in court, until your opponent speaks.
American Standard Version
He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
Bible in Basic English
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.
Complete Jewish Bible
The first to state his case seems right, till the other one comes and cross-examines.
Darby Translation
He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Easy-to-Read Version
The first person to speak always seems right until someone comes and asks the right questions.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.
King James Version (1611)
He that is first in his owne cause, seemeth iust; but his neighbour commeth and searcheth him.
New Life Bible
He who tells his story first makes people think he is right, until the other comes to test him.
New Revised Standard
The one who first states a case seems right, until the other comes and cross-examines.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He that is first in his owne cause, is iust: then commeth his neighbour, and maketh inquirie of him.
George Lamsa Translation
A man is deemed innocent in his lawsuit; but when his neighbor comes he examines him.
Good News Translation
The first person to speak in court always seems right until his opponent begins to question him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Righteous is he that is first in his own cause, then cometh his neighbour, and thoroughly searcheth him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
Revised Standard Version
He who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The righteous declareth his owne cause first him selfe, and his neighbour commeth and tryeth hym.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
Christian Standard Bible®
The first to state his case seems rightuntil another comes and cross-examines him.
Hebrew Names Version
He who pleads his cause first seems right; Until another comes and questions him.
King James Version
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Lexham English Bible
The first in his dispute is deemed righteous, but his neighbor will come and examine him.
Literal Translation
He who is first in his cause seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him.
Young's Literal Translation
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The righteous accuseth hi self first of all, yf his neghbor come, he shal fynde him.
THE MESSAGE
The first speech in a court case is always convincing— until the cross-examination starts!
New American Standard Bible
The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him.
New King James Version
The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him.
Legacy Standard Bible
The first to plead his case seems right,Until another comes and examines him.

Contextual Overview

17The first one to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and cross-examines him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proverbs 18:13, 2 Samuel 16:1-3, 2 Samuel 19:24-27, Acts 24:5, Acts 24:6, Acts 24:12, Acts 24:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:19 - heard 2 Samuel 16:4 - Behold Job 32:11 - whilst Proverbs 28:11 - the poor Luke 6:42 - cast Acts 25:16 - and have Acts 26:1 - Thou

Cross-References

Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained down brimstone (flaming sulfur) and fire on Sodom and on Gomorrah from the LORD out of heaven,
2 Kings 4:27
When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away; but the man of God said, "Let her alone, for her soul is desperate and troubled within her; and the LORD has hidden the reason from me and has not told me."
2 Chronicles 20:7
"O our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Your friend Abraham?
Psalms 25:14
The secret [of the wise counsel] of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.
John 15:15
"I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.
James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND THIS [faith] WAS CREDITED TO HIM [by God] AS RIGHTEOUSNESS and AS CONFORMITY TO HIS WILL," and he was called the friend of God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just,.... As perhaps Tertullus did, before Paul made his defence; and as Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, before his master detected him: this often appears true in telling a tale, in private conversation, in lawsuits before a judge and a court of judicature, and in theological controversies;

but his neighbour cometh, and searcheth him; his neighbour comes into the house, where he is telling his tale, and reports it in another manner, and shows the falsehood of his relation; or he comes into a court of judicature, and sets the cause in quite another light; or he comes out into the worm by public writing, and exposes the errors of a man engaged in a wrong cause, and refutes his arguments. It is generally understood of judicial affairs, that the first that opens a cause is very apt to prejudice the judge and court in his favour, and they are ready to thing at first hearing that he is in the right; but it is not proper to be hasty in forming a judgment till the other side is heard; for his antagonist comes and traverses the point, unravels the whole affair, shows the weakness of his cause, the vanity of his pretences, and makes void all his allegations; and then "he", the judge, so some interpret it, "searcheth"; inquires more narrowly into the case, in order to find out truth, and pass a right judgment and sentence.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A protest against another fault in judging. Haste is hardly less evil than corruption. “Audi alteram partern “should be the rule of every judge.

His neighbor - The other party to the suit “searcheth,” i. e., scrutinizes and detects him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 18:17. He that is first in his own cause — Any man may, in the first instance, make out a fair tale, because he has the choice of circumstances and arguments. But when the neighbour cometh and searcheth him, he examines all, dissects all, swears and cross-questions every witness, and brings out truth and fact.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile