Proverbs 16:18 - Exposition

Pride goeth before destruction. A maxim continually enforced (see Proverbs 11:2 ; Proverbs 17:19 ; Proverbs 18:12 ). Here is the contrast to the blessing on humility promised ( Proverbs 15:33 ). A haughty spirit—a lifting up of spirit—goeth before a fall (comp. Daniel 4:29 , etc). Thus, according to Herodotus ( Proverbs 7:10 ), Artabanus warned the arrogant Xerxes, "Seest thou how God strikes with the thunder animals which overtop others, and suffers them not to vaunt themselves, but the small irritate him not? And seest thou how he hurls his bolts always against the mightiest buildings and the loftiest trees? For God is wont to cut short whatever is too highly exalted" (comp. Horace, 'Carm.,' 2.10.9, etc.). Says the Latin adage, "Qui petit alta nimis, retro lapsus ponitur imis." Caesar, 'Bell. Gall.,' 1.14, "Consuesse Deos immortales, quo gravius homines ex commutatione rerum doleant, quos pro sceiere eorum ulcisci velint, his secundiores interdum re, et diuturuiorem impunitatem concedere." The Chinese say, "Who flies not high falls not low;" and, "A great tree attracts the wind." The Basque proverb remarks, "Pride sought flight in heaven, fell to hell." And an Eastern one, "What is extended will tear; what is long will break" (Lane).