The rich man [is] wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
Ver. 11. The rich man is wise in his own conceit.] He sacrificeth to himself, as Sejanus did; a to his "drag and net," Hab 1:16 as the Babylonians did; he thanks his wit for his wealth, and takes upon him as if there were none such. 1Ti 6:17 See Trapp on " 1Ti 6:17 " Like Isis her ass, that had gone so oft to the temple of that goddess, that at length she thought herself worshipful. Every grain of riches hath a vermin of pride and self-conceit in it, and a very small wind will blow up a bubble.
But the poor that hath understanding.] That is, Well versed in the bigger volume of God's word, and in the lesser volume of his own heart - which is better to him than any expositor, for the right understanding of the Scriptures; this poor wise man searcheth him out, finds the rich man's folly, and if need be tells him of it, giving him a right character of himself. Sed divitibus fere ideo talis amicus deest, quia nihil deest.
a Seianus sibi sacrificabat. - Dio.