He that speaks first in his own cause seems just; until his neighbor comes and examines him.
All Commentaries on Proverbs 18:17 Go To Proverbs 18
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
The just person takes note of his own weakness.… The wise person recognizes it; the foolish one does not. Indeed, the wise person is moved to repentance by his own faults, while the foolish one takes pleasure in his. “The just man is the accuser of himself,” while the unjust one is his own apologist. The just person wishes to anticipate his accuser in the admission of his sin, while the unjust one desires to conceal his. The one rushes on in the beginning of his speech to reveal his wrongdoing, the other attempts to lay the accusation to rest by the garrulousness of his speech, so as not to reveal his wrongdoing. .
