Chapter 18

More like 16 and 17.  As this first verse in 18:

1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. [Pro 18:1 ESV]

This seemed to me to apply to Mom's decision about Dale.  She went against everyone's advice.

2021 - Compare this to Peterson's arguments in Chapter 1 of "Beyond Order", where he says communication - talking - to other people is one of the ways we stay sane, stay within the norm.  Because others will tell us when we're getting too far out there.  Solomon recognized this a very long time ago.  I don't know if Peterson is a Christian - he is very self-contradictory about it - but I know that he makes a lot of points with which I can put a verse. 

And then look at the next verse: 

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. [Pro 18:2 ESV]

Get on YouTube and watch people argue their points!  They don't want to understand, to discuss with an eye toward distilling the real truth from the discussion!  They just want to make their point, often loudly and repeatedly, by shouting down the other person.  This is by definition foolish behavior.  People who do this are fools.  So the next time you see a video of someone screaming about their point and actively shutting down the other person, you will know that the shouter is a fool.  If that person is a fool, then the point that person is making is a foolish point.  This would clarify so very many of the foolish ideas that are just rampant these days.

Possibly two FB posts.

Here's one to remember:

A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. [Pro 18:6 ESV]

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. [Pro 18:10 ESV]

It is not sin, nor is it cowardly, to run away to a safe place. 

More "and" statements.  I never noticed this change in the construction of the proverbs before.