Proverbs 18:17 (DRB)

Passage

The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:15 A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.

Proverbs 18:16 A man's gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes.

Proverbs 18:17 The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

Proverbs 18:18 The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.

Proverbs 18:19 A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "just", "first", "accuser", "himself", "friend", "cometh", "shall", and "search". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "just" and "first", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "A man's gift enlargeth his way and..." into verse 18's "The lot suppresseth contentions and determineth even...", so "just" and "first" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "just" and "first" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.