Proverbs 18:17
He that is first in his owne cause, is iust: then commeth his neighbour, and maketh inquirie of him.
Geneva Bible 1599
In The King James Version
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
In Context
16A mans gift enlargeth him, and leadeth him before great men.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and maketh a partition among the mightie.
Cross References
2 Samuel 16:1When Dauid was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the seruant of Mephibosheth mette him with a couple of asses sadled, and vpon them two hundreth cakes of bread, and an hundreth bunches of raisins, and an hundreth of dryed figges, and a bottel of wine.
Proverbs 18:13He that answereth a matter before hee heare it, it is folly and shame vnto him.
Acts 24:12And they neither found mee in the Temple disputing with any man, neither making vproare among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the citie.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 18:17
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. Of what great force gifts (that is, bribes) are he had intimated before, ch. xvii. 8 , 23 . Here he shows the power of gifts, that is, presents made even by inferiors to those that are above them and have much more than they have. A good present will go far, 1. Towards a man's liberty: A man's gift, if he be in prison, may procure his enlargement; there are courtiers, who, if they use their interest even for oppressed innocency, expect to… Read the whole commentary →