Ecclesiastes 18:17

Jerome's Latin Vulgate

Justus prior est accusator sui:
venit amicus ejus, et investigabit eum.

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
Eripuit me de inimicis meis fortissimis, et ab his qui oderunt me. Quoniam confortati sunt super me,

Nova Vulgata (1979)
Qui prior in contentione loquitur, putatur iustus; venit amicus eius et arguet eum.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proverbs 18:13, 2 Samuel 16:1-3, 2 Samuel 19:24-27, Acts 24:5, Acts 24:6, Acts 24:12, Acts 24:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:19 - heard 2 Samuel 16:4 - Behold Job 32:11 - whilst Proverbs 28:11 - the poor Luke 6:42 - cast Acts 25:16 - and have Acts 26:1 - Thou

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just,.... As perhaps Tertullus did, before Paul made his defence; and as Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, before his master detected him: this often appears true in telling a tale, in private conversation, in lawsuits before a judge and a court of judicature, and in theological controversies;

but his neighbour cometh, and searcheth him; his neighbour comes into the house, where he is telling his tale, and reports it in another manner, and shows the falsehood of his relation; or he comes into a court of judicature, and sets the cause in quite another light; or he comes out into the worm by public writing, and exposes the errors of a man engaged in a wrong cause, and refutes his arguments. It is generally understood of judicial affairs, that the first that opens a cause is very apt to prejudice the judge and court in his favour, and they are ready to thing at first hearing that he is in the right; but it is not proper to be hasty in forming a judgment till the other side is heard; for his antagonist comes and traverses the point, unravels the whole affair, shows the weakness of his cause, the vanity of his pretences, and makes void all his allegations; and then "he", the judge, so some interpret it, "searcheth"; inquires more narrowly into the case, in order to find out truth, and pass a right judgment and sentence.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A protest against another fault in judging. Haste is hardly less evil than corruption. “Audi alteram partern “should be the rule of every judge.

His neighbor - The other party to the suit “searcheth,” i. e., scrutinizes and detects him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 18:17. He that is first in his own cause — Any man may, in the first instance, make out a fair tale, because he has the choice of circumstances and arguments. But when the neighbour cometh and searcheth him, he examines all, dissects all, swears and cross-questions every witness, and brings out truth and fact.