18:1
Notice the parallelism:
1a
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires ;
1b
he rebels against all sound judgment.
These parallel lines describe an antisocial person in two ways. Such a person always tries to fulfill his own desires. He also vigorously opposes the sensible guidelines that others in his community follow.
18:1a
He who isolates himself: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He who isolates himself is literally “one who separates himself.” This word probably refers to people who deliberately act in an unfriendly or antisocial way. As a result, they become isolated or alienated from others. This word probably does not refer to people who live by themselves through no fault of their own. Other ways to translate this word are:
Unfriendly people (New Century Version)
-or-
People who do not get along with others (Good News Translation)
-or-
One who has isolated himself (NET Bible)
pursues selfish desires: There is a textual issue involving the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as selfish desires :
(1) The Masoretic Text has a word that means “desires.” With this text, this line means that the unfriendly person selfishly tries to fulfill his own desires. For example:
seeks his own desires (NET Bible)
(2) The LXX and Vulgate have a word that means “pretexts.” With this text, this line means that the unfriendly person looks for opportunities ⌊to quarrel with others⌋ . For example:
seeks pretexts (Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions and scholars.
Some other ways to translate the phrase pursues selfish desires are:
care only about themselves (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
is self-indulgent (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
are selfish (New Century Version)
18:1b
he rebels against all sound judgment: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rebels is literally “breaks out.” For example:
he breaks out against all sound judgment (English Standard Version)
This verb occurs only three times in the OT. The other two verses are also in Proverbs (17:14 and 20:3). In the other two verses, it refers to starting a quarrel or fight. Here it probably means “to oppose or refuse to obey.”
sound judgment: In this context, sound judgment probably refers to sensible policies, guidelines, or advice that others in society think are wise. Other ways to translate this line are:
sound policy (Revised English Bible)
-or-
advice of any kind (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
what everyone else knows is right (Good News Translation)
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