Proverbs 17:19
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He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Note, 1. Those that are quarrelsome involve themselves in a great deal of guilt: He that loves strife, that in his worldly business loves to go to law, in religion loves controversies, and in common conversation loves to thwart and fall out, that is never well but when he is in the fire, he loves transgression; for a great deal of sin attends that sin, and the way of it is down-hill. He pretends to stand up for truth, and for his honour and right, but really he loves sin, which God hates. 2. Those that are ambitious and aspiring expose themselves to a great deal of trouble, such as often ends in their ruin: He that exalts his gate, builds a stately house, at least a fine frontispiece, that he may overtop and outshine his neighbours, seeks his own destruction and takes a deal of pains to ruin himself; he makes his gate so large that his house and estate go out at it.
Open source ↗17:19 high walls: Foolish confidence in the ability to win a fight emboldens people to engage in disastrous arguments.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.
For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.