The interpretation is difficult. It seems that the destruction
must be similar to the idea of work done in a slack manner, ie a half-hearted
job. Therefore, since a half-hearted job is seldom good enough to be profitable,
it's about as good as a piece of work that has been destroyed.
Pro 18:10
Cp Jdg 9:51.
THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER; THE RIGHTEOUS RUN
TO IT AND ARE SAFE: Ref practice of an endangered man calling upon the name
of some great sheik (even if personally unknown to him). If he is then harmed or
slain by his enemy, the great sheik will be compelled to avenge him (Str Scr
77).
Pro 18:12
BEFORE HIS DOWNFALL A MAN'S HEART IS PROUD: "It is an
old and common saying, that 'coming events cast their shadows before them;' the
wise man teaches us that a haughty heart is the prophetic prelude of evil. Pride
is as safely the sign of destruction as the change of mercury in the
weather-glass is the sign of rain; and far more infallibly so than that. When
men have ridden the high horse, destruction has always overtaken them. Let
David's aching heart show that there is an eclipse of a man's glory when he
dotes upon his own greatness (2Sa 24:10). See Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty builder
of Babylon, creeping on the earth, devouring grass like oxen, until his nails
had grown like bird's claws, and his hair like eagle's feathers (Dan 4:25)"
(CHS).
Pro 18:16
A GIFT OPENS THE WAY...: Jacob sending gifts to Esau:
Gen 32:13.