(The previous post covered proverbs that focused on the interaction between people. Again, a measure for excellence was the person's response to correction. In the previous post, there were several contrasts between the wise and the foolish throughout those three chapters of the Book of Proverbs. The wise loved understanding and correction. The foolish hated correction and wanted to live in the moment. This post covers the next three chapters from the Book of Proverbs which continued this teaching as well as looked more closely on how/why to manage emotions.)
Proverbs 13
1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
(A wise person (someone who made profitable decisions) would consider correction while a scoffer (someone who talked arrogantly; pride) would not consider correction.)
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.
(Our words can bring about good fruit. What words? Words with a right how/why.)
3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
(A "sluggard" was someone who was lazy, a sloth. A "diligent" person worked hard, with a right how/why.)
5 A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
(The reason a righteous man hated lying was because lying was a wrong what, the opposite of right.)
6 Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
(True riches did not come from money (physical assets) but from God. Even the poor in the physical realm could be rich, with wisdom.)
8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.
(If you made your physical assets a cause, they could be used against you. You couldn't be threatened with the physical if you had nothing, if it was not a cause in your life.)
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
(If you gained at another's expense you would pay. All injustices will be equaled out.)
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
(Despising the "word" brought destruction on yourself. Despiseth meant to "hold as insignificant." However, if you saw the commandment (word) as something to be respected and lived by, you would be rewarded.)
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.
(Good understanding, or understanding that was Right and Just, gave favor.)
16 Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
(More examples of how important it was to consider the correction given to you by God and others. Can you consider you were wrong? Can you consider others are right?)
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
20 Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
(We ought to make progress and grow with those who were making profitable decisions: the wise.)
21 Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
(A good (right and just) man left an inheritance. The man who left an inheritance would reap off, or have a share, of anything that was created with this inheritance.)
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
(A good parent was one who knew that discipline was for the benefit of his/her child. Those parents who did not give correction to their children, loved them less than they ought to.)
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.
Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
(Those who walked, or made progress, in uprightness did fear God. Those who were perverse not only did not fear God but despised Him.)
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
(The foolish used their words to build their pride.)
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.
6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
(Knowledge was easy to those with understanding because knowledge (a right what) was required for understanding (a right why).)
7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
9 A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
(Your heart did not lie. Whatever you said and did would end up coming out your heart, even if it was bitterness.)
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
(The way that seemed right to man, that led to death, was the way that caused man to think he knew all he needed to know. He thought he was in need of nothing.)
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
(The simple believed every word because they were not looking for a how/why. The prudent looked for the how/why. Do you know how/why you are doing what you are doing?)
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
(Those who acted on their anger quickly, a "bad temper," acted foolishly.)
18 The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
(The evil bowed "before" the good - Revelation 3:9 – "…behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."
The unbelievers who claimed to be believers would bow down "before" these people. They weren't bowing down to the people but "in their presence/in front of" these people.)
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
(Doing led to profit while saying without doing led to penury. Penury meant "need." This meant that if you said you would do something but you did not do it, it led to unprofitability.)
24 The crown of the wise is their riches; But the folly of fools is only folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.
26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
(Fearing God, believing He was more excellent than you, led to a flowing supply of life: the ability to repair.)
28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
(The contrast of "acting quickly on your anger" was "having great understanding." If you knew the why behind what happened and why you felt angry, you would greatly increase your chance to not act on that anger quickly.)
30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
32 The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.
(The Righteous had protection in their death. Righteousness was the measure for whether or not you had eternal life. When was the last time Righteousness came out in your actions?)
33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.
(The heart was where our actions and words came out. Does your heart have wisdom or is your heart showing your foolishness that is within you?)
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king's favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be against him that causeth shame.
Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
(A "soft answer" was non-defensive and for the benefit of the hearer. "Grievous" words were meant to inflict pain.)
2 The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
(The wise spoke right what’s (at the least) while fools spoke liberally foolish words: words without understanding.)
3 The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.
(God saw all things. God knew all the good and evil that happened.)
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
5 A fool despiseth his father's correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.
(Another example of a fool being someone who did not consider correction.)
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
(Clearly, why and how we give a sacrifice to God is what is important to Him. If not, a sacrifice from the wicked would be acceptable to God.)
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
(Those who loved God lived by His Righteousness, by His grace: the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.)
10 There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; And he that hateth reproof shall die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise.
(A scoffer, someone in pride, did not see being corrected as a value and therefore, they did not go to the wise.)
13 A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
(Those who had understanding sought out knowledge. Fools lived by their folly, by their foolishness.)
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast.
16 Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
(It was better to have little and fear God than to have a lot and not fear God.)
17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
18 A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
(Being slow to act on your anger would lead to appeasing the anger. An angry man would cause the anger to be increased. When was the last time you were angry? How did you handle that emotion?)
19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.
20 A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
(Foolishness was "joy" to those who had no wisdom while a man with understanding caused his path of life to be straight, he knew why he did what he did.)
22 Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; But in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
(Where there was no counsel (leadership), purposes were disappointed. Disappointed meant "to break, frustrate." Leadership was facilitating the purpose and progress of another person. When you had no counsel, leadership was hindered. When you had many counselors who were heard and respected, purposes were facilitated.)
23 A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it!
24 To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath.
(The wise saw life as going upward: growth.)
25 Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.
(Proof that God couldn't make us be humble. We had to choose to consider we were wrong.)
26 Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words are pure.
27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live.
(Making money or the physical a cause would lead to trouble for your house. Your actions affected others.)
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
(The heart of the righteous studied (meditated; rehearsed) the best response possible. The wicked poured out the evil things within them.)
29 Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; And good tidings make the bones fat.
31 The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise.
32 He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.
(Those who refused correction were in pride. They were unwilling to consider a perspective other than their own. Those who considered correction would gain understanding.)
33 The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor goeth humility.
(Those who want to be honored for the right reason were first humble.)
(This post covered proverbs that showed choosing to embrace correction and understanding led to the ability to manage destructive emotions. However, avoiding correction and focusing on the short term and physical led to destructive actions driven by emotion.)
Day 190
No comments:
Post a Comment