Commentary on the Book of Proverbs

By Brent Barnett
www.relevantbibleteaching.com
Proverbs 1
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
3To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
4To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
Davids son Solomon, the wisest man ever to live because of Gods gift of wisdom to
him, begins sharing his extensive knowledge concerning the nature of wisdom and how
we should live before God. He himself struggled to live out what he taught, and his life
became an illustration in many ways of what not to do. In Ecclesiastes, he shares of his
many regrets for not doing what he knew was consistent with wisdom. In other words,
the idea is that we should learn from his mistakes. He knew wisdom and the right path,
and he wishes that he would have taken it and that those who come after him would take
it. If we are wise, we will take his God-breathed advice and live according to how God
wants every person to live.
A wise man is one who desires to increase in learning. He takes in wise teaching, seeks
to acquire understanding, and longs for learning what wise behavior is. Wisdom will lead
to righteousness, justice, and being fair and equitable with others. These qualities are
particularly important for a king as Solomon was, but they are something every person
should seek. One does not need to be well-known or publicly exalted in order to have
exceeding wisdom. The ideal situation is one in which a youth is able to get knowledge
and discretion so that he has ample time and opportunity to pass wisdom on to others.
Too many throw away the most energetic part of their lives to waste, ruin, and futility,
but Solomon says that even youths should seek after wisdom and walk in it. A person
demonstrates his true character based upon how fervently he desires to grow in spiritual
learning and how humble he is to respond to instruction in Gods ways. In other words,
the wise seek out wisdom, while the foolish could care less.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This is really the theme of the entire book of Proverbs encapsulated in one verse. Either a
person fears God and thus seeks to learn His ways and obey His commands, or he scoffs
and mocks at Him and does his own foolish things. The wise receive instruction and
learn wisdom because they fear God. They believe that He is Who He says He is and that
He deserves attention, reverence, praise, affection, and respect. They acknowledge Him
as God and give Him thanks, rather than the others whose foolish hearts are darkened by
their own selfish lusts. Romans 1:21 says, For even though they knew God, they did not
honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their
foolish heart was darkened.
Jesus told the crowds to fear God because only God could send a person to hell (Luke
12:5). We must come before God understanding that He is the final authority, that He is
holy, and that He will punish sin because of His holiness. Thus, we should bow the knee
before Him, seek forgiveness in His Son, and serve Him fully in this life. That is where
wisdom starts, for in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
(Colossians 2:3). Without Christ and without a fear of God, mans orientation and aim in
life are misdirected as he is left to follow the deceptive nature of his own fallen heart
(Ecclesiastes 10:2).
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because we must know God Who is
holy. From that point, we can learn more about just how much God loves we who have
received Him, and we no longer have to fear His just wrath (1 John 4:17). His perfect
love drives out any fear of eternal punishment (1 John 4:18) for those who belong to
Him, though our awe and reverence for Him should only increase with time (Proverbs
28:14). Those who reject Christ prove themselves to be fools, deserving of wrath and
destruction. They hate the truth, and they hate being reminded of it. They despise
wisdom because they despise their Creator and the One Who died and rose again desiring
to be their Savior.
8Hear, my son, your father's instruction
And do not forsake your mother's teaching;
9Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And ornaments about your neck.
What Solomon would teach his own son and what God-fearing parents should teach their
children is what God has instructed us all in His Word. If our parents do not teach us
wisdom according to the Scriptures, we should not listen to the foolishness which they
spout because God is a higher authority always. But insomuch as they teach us the truth
because they are concerned for our welfare, we should listen and not forsake sound
teaching. Sound instruction is an honor, a blessing, and a protection in this life.
10My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11If they say, "Come with us,
Let us lie in wait for blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
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12Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,

Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
13We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with spoil;
14Throw in your lot with us,
We shall all have one purse,"
15My son, do not walk in the way with them
Keep your feet from their path,
16For their feet run to evil
And they hasten to shed blood.
Getting to specifics, Solomon says to beware that the world is full of sinners who seek to
trap and ensnare the young person to do evil. Wisdom says to not join forces with evil
people and not do evil things such as violence, murder, and harming the innocent. Their
purpose is to plunder them and steal their possessions because they desire money, wealth,
and spoil. Their enticements to join together for the common selfish goal of riches at the
expense of harming others must be rejected immediately by the one who desires wisdom.
Those who are this greedy and willing to harm innocents certainly cannot be trusted to
share the spoils and not harm each other. So practically such an alliance is foolish, and
before God it is an abomination, ultimate foolishness. Wise youths will keep away from
these violent, murderous types. They will look to defend the innocent rather than attack
them.
17Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any bird;
18But they lie in wait for their own blood;
They ambush their own lives.
19So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence;
It takes away the life of its possessors.
These evil people are actually ambushing themselves as they seek to plunder others.
Their souls are storing up more of Gods wrath, and thus the gains made by violence and
corruption are worth nothing eternally because of the condemnation that they bring. It is
a waste of ones life. They see the traps that they set, and instead of being instructed by
wisdom that they are actually damning their own souls, they will soon be destroyed by
their own sin, likely on earth but certainly in eternity.
20Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
21At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
22"How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?

Just as God calls all people to turn to Christ and repent of their sins, wisdom calls to all
and says to fear God and learn wisdom. Wisdom is hidden in Christ, but He wants all to
know it. Wisdom thus shouts to the masses at the city entrance and above the noisy
streets so that all can hear. Indeed, God has revealed Himself through the creation,
through the conscience of man, through the incarnation of Christ, and through His written
Word. Truth shouts to mankind and begs people to stop being nave and scoffing at God.
Still most refuse to worship God and instead take pride and joy in their own mocking.
They are proud of themselves for being so astute to have rejected truth, and they are
content with their view of knowledge, which is really the lack thereof. They delight in
their own mockery of knowledge, and this proves that they hate truth and despise
wisdom.
23"Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24"Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof;
26I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
27When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
God in His great love issues a warning to people just as Jesus warned people to repent
and believe the gospel because of the wrath to come (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:5). Wisdom
reproves sinners and scoffers because it desires to reveal Gods love and truth to them.
Wisdom wants to help people love God, gain understanding, and hear His words with
open and receptive hearts. But wisdom cannot force salvation and understanding upon
any person. Individuals must make a choice to receive understanding or not. Sadly, most
reject Gods wisdom and neglect wisdoms counsel. They dont want their errors pointed
out, and, thus, their eventual calamity, distress, and anguish is sure. There will be no
hiding from the return of Christ when He comes to judge the world in righteousness.
Great dread will come upon the whole of the world who loved foolishness rather than
wisdom, for their eternal judgment will be at hand (Revelation 6:16). Wisdom is not shy
about pointing out the consequences of sin, for the wages of sin is indeed death (Romans
6:23).
28"Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
29Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
30"They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
31"So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
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And be satiated with their own devices.

32"For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33"But he who listens to me shall live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil."
It is too late to repent when Christ returns to judge the world (Hebrews 9:27). God gives
people ample time and incredible grace and patience to repent and believe, but time
eventually runs out. Those who hate God and who choose against fearing Him spurn His
correction and refuse to receive His words. God gave Israel after Solomon many chances
to repent by sending many prophets, but eventually He sent the nation away to captivity
because of the hardness of their hearts. When God gives a time window to bow to Him,
wisdom says to take it. But the foolish dont bother because they are made complacent
and numb by their own sinful devices. Sin never satisfies, for only those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness will be satisfied in Christ. But sin can satiate and make the
stomach feel full when the soul is beyond empty. This false peace and fake happiness is
what the entire world system is built on. It is a mirage of satisfaction that is mere
satiation, a trading of the best for a hollow imitation. Taking in sinful pleasures tricks the
soul into not feeling its hunger for more, for wisdom, and for Christ. But that hunger will
always be there because only Christ can satisfy.
The nave are carried about by every wind of doctrine and by the enticement of sinners,
and thus they will suffer because they fail to seek out wisdom. Being nave is a
dangerous place to be, for the lack of knowledge can lead to destruction (Hosea 4:6).
Each person is responsible for seeking out wisdom so that he does not remain in a state of
naivet. Those who are nave who seek wisdom out will find it because those who ask
will be given and those who seek will find (Matthew 7:7). But those who are satiated by
evil desires will be destroyed on account of their lack of understanding. Complacency is
an attitude that neglects the urgency of Christs command to repent and the imminency of
His coming judgment. The fool will be destroyed, but those who hear Gods Word and
are doers as well will have no need to fear eternal punishment. Those who truly listen to
God can still expect trouble in this life (John 16:33), but they will be kept from creating
loads of trouble that come from being around the wrong kinds of people and doing
foolish things. Wisdom has a way of guarding us from evil and destruction.

Proverbs 2
1My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
2Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
3For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
What is clear in this passage is that there is a responsibility put upon man to choose the
fear of God and to seek after wisdom. God doesnt force us to do His will or to obey, but
we must choose this day Whom we will serve. We must receive Gods words and
treasure His commandments in our hearts as our delights. We must be listening
attentively to Scripture and to discerning wisdom in Christ. Our hearts must be humble
enough to be inclined to truth and righteousness rather than biased toward sin and evil.
Thus, Christ must indwell our hearts by faith. We should want wisdom and the right path
in life so badly that we cry out to God for discernment to know right from wrong and
truth from error. We should call out to God with deep urgency and desperation for
understanding so that we are wise stewards of our time on earth. Those who have Christ
in their hearts will find the Spirit constantly working in their hearts to move them to
repentance and to further sanctification. Wisdom thus breeds further wisdom by faith.
God wants people to long for wisdom more than silver, money, and treasures. With the
same eagerness that people pursue hidden treasure, we must seek after God because He is
the treasure that we all should seek. Then, having this deep driving urgency for wisdom
in our hearts, we will come upon the fear of God and discover the knowledge of God. As
we come to know the fear of God, we will grow in understanding and wisdom. But even
before the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom, the point of salvation, there is a
seeking that takes place when God calls a person to Himself. Thus, we learn that those
who practice the truth come to faith proving that it was indeed a work of God in their
hearts from the beginning (John 3:21). In other words, those who seek the truth will find
it, and Christ will manifest Himself to them. Even after salvation, we must never cease
longing to grow in truth and understanding, and our urgency and desperation for wisdom
must not diminish but grow even stronger.
6For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
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There is no alternative route to getting wisdom, for only the Lord gives wisdom. Only
those who turn from sin to faith in Christ can access His wisdom. Only from His mouth
to the pages of Scripture come knowledge and understanding. He gives wisdom to the
upright who are made righteous in Christ, and He protects those who walk in integrity.
Wisdom is a protecting force, keeping us from foolish things that could destroy us. It
helps us love justice and be just with others, thereby offering protection to the innocent.
God preserves the way of His godly ones, finishing the work He started in their hearts so
that they can finish strong and be a shining testimony of knowledge and understanding.
There is a protection that walking in wisdom brings as God keeps us from falling for evil
and from the destructive forces that accompany it (Proverbs 2:11-12). This doesnt mean
that the righteous wont have trials in this life (John 16:33), but it does mean that God
will only allow into our lives what He will cause to work for our good (Romans 8:28)
such that a legacy of His goodness and mercy will be clearly seen (Psalm 23:6). He is
faithful to sanctify His own (Philippians 2:12-13) and to not allow them to be tempted
beyond what they are able to resist by faith (1 Corinthians 10:13). The Lord is a shield to
the righteous, preserving their souls, faithfully gracious in times of trial, and constantly
working in them transformation of the heart and mind unto His likeness (Romans 12:1-2).
9Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
10For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,
12To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things;
13From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
14Who delight in doing evil
And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15Whose paths are crooked,
And who are devious in their ways;
Solomon further explains just how God preserves the way of His godly ones. He enables
them to know righteousness, justice, how to be fair, and how to know what to do in a
given situation. Wisdom from God means that we will know what course to chart when
we need to know. The heart that follows after God is filled with wisdom, and it delights
in the understanding that God provides. The sinner finds pleasure in sin, while the saved
find pleasure in the pleasantness of wisdom. Discretion and understanding watch over
the saved to keep them from the ways of evil and darkness and those who practice such
things. Many delight in darkness, perversity, and evil because the perversity of their own
hearts enjoys doing perverse things. The righteous hate evil but love what is good. The
evil hate what is good and love evil. Only the born again heart can love God and what is
good (1 John 4:7-8, John 13:34-35). The unregenerate heart rejects righteousness, walks
away from the truth revealed to it, and basks in wickedness. These are devious and
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crooked in their ways, enjoying destruction and the destruction of others. It makes them
happy to see evil harm people.
16To deliver you from the strange woman,
From the adulteress who flatters with her words;
17That leaves the companion of her youth
And forgets the covenant of her God;
18For her house sinks down to death
And her tracks lead to the dead;
19None who go to her return again,
Nor do they reach the paths of life.
One example is the adulteress. She does not seek out the welfare of her prey, but she
enjoys the destruction of the life of the fool who chooses her embrace. She enjoys
tearing families apart because the passing, empty thrill of sin. She offers flattering
speech which is made to manipulate rather than edify. She not only desires to see another
leave his companion in marriage, but she herself is unfaithful to her companion. If she
even made a covenant before God, she despises it because she despises Him. She has no
fear of God when it comes to the marriage bond and covenant, and thus its relevance to
her decision-making is not considered. Her life is one leading to death and destruction,
and those who choose to follow her path will find only pain and sorrow. Adultery is a
severe wrong with devastating results. It is not to say that a Christian who commits
adultery will lose his or her salvation, but it is to say that it can quickly disqualify a
person from ministry by discrediting their testimony (1 Corinthians 9:27). Gods grace is
bigger than any sin, and forgiveness is possible for believers. But wounds go deep, and
the destruction is not worth finding out.
20So you will walk in the way of good men
And keep to the paths of the righteous.
21For the upright will live in the land
And the blameless will remain in it;
22But the wicked will be cut off from the land
And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.
The righteous recognize the danger of evil, and they avoid it at all costs. They choose not
to desire the ways of the wicked, but they rather keep to the paths of the righteous,
choosing good company so that bad company doesnt corrupt good morals. God had a
covenant with Israel that if they obeyed Him, they would be blessed and live long in the
land that God had given them (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, 30:19-20). If they worshipped
other gods and lived foolishly, then they would be cut off from the land. Sadly, the story
ended with them being cut off because of their wickedness. They enjoyed the ways of
the wicked nations around them and adopted their practices. They forgot the ways of
God and His faithfulness to them because they loved evil more than good. Eternally, the
wicked will be cut off from God forever, but the righteous will dwell in the presence of
God forever.
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Proverbs 3
1My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
2For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
3Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
Solomons advice to his son and to youths in general is to not forget the teaching of God
and to keep His commandments. The best way to live life is to hold to truth and to be
kind with others, for this is wisdom. Those who walk in wisdom should expect to avoid
the calamities that evil people tend to bring upon themselves, and they can be at peace in
their hearts and often even with those around them. As much as it depends upon us, we
should live peaceably with others. Wisdom and kindness go hand in hand, for those who
are cruel and vindictive are foolish. Truth and kindness should be etched on our hearts
and near to us always. This pleases God and brings His favor, and people in general will
view kindness, honesty, and justice favorably as well (Philippians 4:8). But many times
people are wrong, and thus God wants us to seek His favor above all and not succumb to
the passing whims of man. What is of good repute is only ultimately defined by Him and
His truth.
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
The two verses contain potent truths. First, we are to trust in the Lord not just somewhat
or a little bit but with all of our hearts. This is why James 1:5-7 says that God will give
wisdom to those who ask in faith without doubting. We cannot trust God with our whole
hearts and at the same time doubt that He will provide us with His wisdom. We need
wisdom as we traverse this life, and God will give it to those who believe. Second, we
are told not to lean on our own understanding. We must recognize our weakness and our
dependency upon God and look to Him Who alone is sufficient. Trust must be
transferred from our own human abilities and intellect to the power and wisdom of God.
There will be things that we just wont understand because we wont see the whole
picture as God sees. We just must trust Him and believe that He understands it all.
Third, in everything we should acknowledge Him and credit and praise Him for all that is
good and perfect in our lives. We dont earn or merit His good and perfect gifts, but He
is faithful to be gracious to us even when we dont deserve it. He always deserves praise
and thanksgiving from our hearts, and we must always remember that we can do nothing
on our own apart from Him (John 15:5, Psalm 127:1). The result of our holding tightly to
these three wisdom principles is that God will make our paths straight. This doesnt
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mean that life will be easy, but it does mean that we wont make it extra-complicated by
entangling ourselves with evil. It doesnt mean that we will never suffer, but it does
mean that God will be with us every step of the way sustaining us and giving us grace to
do what He will ask of us. It means that He will make us spiritually effective and
efficient in doing His work as He opens doors and closes doors. As we walk in His
wisdom, we will see where we should go and what we should do. What was crooked and
confusing can be made straight and clear as we seek the wisdom of God.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
Being wise in ones own eyes is describing pride, haughtiness, and arrogance, things God
hates. It is an attitude that searches for wisdom and strength within the flesh rather than
from God. Trusting in self is the exact opposite of trusting in God, and inevitably it will
lead people astray and into danger. Thus, we should instead fear the Lord and turn away
from evil. The Lord will exalt the humble heart in due time, but the proud He must bring
low. When believers struggle with pride and self-sufficiency in our hearts and minds,
God will be faithful to bring us low so that we will see our desperate need and
dependency upon Him. Then, from a place of brokenness, He can heal us, use us, and
empower us for effective service by His strength despite our weakness. His power is
perfected not in our strength but in our weakness, for then it is evident to all that what is
accomplished is something that only God can do (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Then He gets
all the glory as He always should.
Turning away from evil and doing what is right is healing to our soul and also to our
bodies which can and do often reflect the state of our spiritual and emotional well-being.
Sin can make the body decay, for we are not right when we hold sin in our hearts (Psalm
32:3-4). God must allow us to break so that we do His will and confess our sin. Our
spiritual restoration can make us feel better physically also. Wisdom is refreshment not
just for the soul but even for the body. Doing things Gods way may be hard, but it takes
fear and confusion out of the stress equation. When we let Him carry the load, the
burden actually becomes easy and light. Nobody said faith was easy, but when we
exercise faith we can expect Christ to do all the heavy-lifting.
9Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
We must acknowledge that any and all wealth that we have is from God, and everything
that we have is a provision from Him. He gives us strength to work, the ability to learn,
and the energy to earn money. He owns even the cattle on a thousand hills because He
has made it all (Psalm 50:10). All that we have is ultimately His, and we must always be
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ready, willing, and cheerful to do what God asks us to do with the resources, time, and
energy He gives us. He will honor us for our faithfulness, maybe not with more
prosperity on earth as some promise but certainly with eternal rewards.
Gods covenant with Israel in Solomons time involved the people faithfully giving to the
work of the priesthood and then expecting God to bless the nation in return with much
prosperity (Deuteronomy 11:26-31). God wanted to see if the people would trust Him
enough to obey Him and then praise Him for His provision. As time went on, the people
started holding back their first and best from God, and they were carried off into captivity
(Malachi 1, 2:1-9). They forgot that God owns all and deserves to be honored and
obeyed, trusted and acknowledged (Proverbs 3:5-6). In trying to get more for
themselves, they actually missed out on the blessings of God which were far greater,
better, and longer-lasting.
11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD
Or loathe His reproof,
12For whom the LORD loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
God disciplines those sons and daughters whom He loves as Hebrews 12:7-11 explains.
We should not despise His correction, but we should humbly receive it knowing that it
produces in us further wisdom, holiness, and understanding. He is not cruel, mean,
vindictive, or wrathful towards His own, but He trains us in righteousness so that we can
learn His ways and understand that sin is harmful while good is helpful. That He
disciplines us is evidence of His delight in us, and we will see evidence of spiritual
growth and sanctification as a result of His gentle and effective surgery on our hearts.
God must also root out the hidden sins and selfish desires of our hearts so that we can
keep growing into His likeness. Discipline is not God losing His cool and lashing out at
His own. It is more like a doctor working to correct what is wrong in a patient. God will
be faithful to teach us, change our desires, and modify our behavior as we trust Him and
desire wisdom.
When God allows consequences into our lives for irreverence to Him, it is a reminder of
His love, and it is always to help His church be purified. In His love, He will hedge us in
behind and before, gently lay His hands upon us, and keep us from doing something
stupid. His protection and provision comes before discipline, for discipline is only
necessary for those who begin to harden their hearts. We dont want to take Gods
discipline lightly, for the harder we press back against God, the harder He will have to
work to humble us. Wisdom says to listen quickly, repent immediately, and enjoy the
fellowship of Christ.
13How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
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15She is more precious than jewels;

And nothing you desire compares with her.
16Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
Solomon lauds the value of wisdom and understanding because it is a great blessing to
those who possess it through Christ. It is more valuable than silver and gold and any
riches that the world can offer. Wisdom is more precious to behold than priceless jewels,
and nothing can compare with the value of God-fearing understanding. Those who walk
in wisdom will find eternal life in Christ and can expect to avoid a lot of unnecessary
pains and strife on earth. So many people suffer because of their own foolish errors and
because they do not take Gods Word seriously. They create a god of their own making
and prefer the pleasures of sin for the moment rather than a storing up on treasures in
heaven. There is a lot of pain on earth that can be avoided simply by doing things Gods
way. Those who faithfully believe in His wisdom will find that His way provides far
more joy than any of the worlds perverted ways. They will see that He does
exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). He is
that good and faithful, but sadly too many refuse to take His path of wisdom. Wisdoms
ways are soothing to the soul, pleasant to the spirit, and peaceful to the heart and mind.
The tree of life stands for eternal life (Revelation 22:2, 14), and wisdom and salvation in
Christ are one and the same because eternal life is found in wisely receiving Christ as
Savior. In Christ are pleasures forever and fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11), and happy are
those who hold tightly to His wisdom. Many think that God is a killjoy and that Satan is
more fun. The reality is that doing things Gods way is mans only hope at fullness of
joy. Happiness is found through holiness, not through drowning in a cesspool of sin and
disappointment.
19The LORD by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
20By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
Wisdom was present when God created the world because God defines wisdom. With
great purpose, intelligence, and design, God spoke the world into existence. We are not
the result of some cosmic accident or simply a bunch of evolved chemical compounds.
By wisdom we have been created and by understanding the world was made. God clearly
believes in Genesis chapter 1, and so should we. Wisdom begins in the beginning when
God created the heavens and the earth. If we rewrite or read-in to the creation account,
we will have rejected wisdom and fail to acknowledge the amazing wisdom of God
according to His creative genius (Psalm 19:1-2, Romans 1:19-21). Even the water that
was under the earth that was broken up likely at the time of Noahs flood and the rain that
now falls from the sky were systems that were thought up by God. Thus, even the
12

deepest valleys and tallest mountains and the rain from the sky should move us to
worship the God Who brought it all into being. It all shouts praise to His glory, and so
should we. Wisdom readily sees this, acknowledges it, and praises God as Creator.
21My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
23Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26For the LORD will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.
This really explains the benefits of wisdom toward those who hold tightly to it. Satan
sets all kinds of traps for us, and evil people constantly try to ensnare us in their latest
schemes and ploys. Discernment from God enables us to know how to spend our time,
how to use our God-given resources, and how to invest our talents. We wont have to
stumble into the evil ones traps and waste the time and resources God has given us if we
walk in wisdom. Sure, we will always make mistakes (James 3:2), but without wisdom
we would make endless mistakes. The longer we live and the more we grow in wisdom,
we should stumble less and enjoy the security of doing things Gods way more and more.
We wont have to fear when we try to sleep because we will know that God loves us and
that nothing can take us out of His hand (John 10:28). Even when temptation comes,
God will always faithfully provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will keep
our foot from being caught by the devils many traps. This does not mean as in the case
of Job that God will never allow bad things to happen to us, but it means that we can
honor and worship Him even in difficult times. Whether we have much or little, the
challenge is whether we will succumb to temptation or submit to wisdom. Wisdom will
always be the best policy even in unpleasant circumstances. Wisdom is not afraid of
hardship, but it does everything possible to avoid the snares of sin.
27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,"
When you have it with you.
If we have the opportunity to do good today, we should do it today rather than waiting
until tomorrow. This is unfair to the person who can benefit from good today, and it is
simply arrogant and foolish to presume on tomorrow. When God opens doors, we need
to walk through them. When we have opportunity to do good to another, we need to take
13

it. Wisdom does not keep good back from somebody unnecessarily, for our God doesnt
ever treat us that way. If we are able, we should be quick to help meet the needs of
others, and we should be even more diligent to not withhold gospel truth from those who
need to hear it.
29Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30Do not contend with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm. 31Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
Wisdom doesnt even think about harming others for no reason. Wisdom doesnt pick a
fight, and it certainly doesnt do wrong to a person who hasnt done any wrong to begin
with. Wisdom strives to live peaceably with all people, and it strives to be a peacemaker
rather than one who likes violence for the sake of violence or for selfish gain. Violent
people who like to try seize other peoples possessions and allegiances by fear are not
walking in Gods wisdom. They are simply enjoying power for selfish gain rather than
being a contributor to a secure and peaceful environment. We must never try to gain by
violence or envy people who practice violence. Somebody always gets hurt when
violence is given praise rather than wisdom.
32For the devious are an abomination to the LORD;
But He is intimate with the upright.
33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
35The wise will inherit honor,
But fools display dishonor.
Some live to devise wicked against their neighbor, but this is an abomination before God.
Those who walk in wisdom and live uprightly will enjoy His closeness and fellowship.
Those who are wicked are storing up the wrath of God, but the righteous will be blessed
of God. Blessing means seeing the abundant mercy and extravagant wisdom of God
manifested in our lives. Eternally, we will live forever with Christ if we have trusted
Him by faith, and, even on earth, we will see the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 27:13,
23:6). The wise will be honored in eternity, and they may even be recognized as having
wisdom now. Fools display dishonor, and societies that are wicked will praise
foolishness rather than view it as the dishonor that it is. This is why what God thinks is
always of absolute importance. God in heaven scoffs at the mockers and fools as they
raise their voice in arrogance toward the heavens. He is not intimidated by their boasts or
deceived by their devious ways. He knows that they will be punished, and He is faithful
to give grace to the righteous. The wicked may afflict them, but Gods grace and an
eternal perspective sustains the upright. His presence is their greatest blessing because
God will set all things right one day.
14

Proverbs 4
1

Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father,

And give attention that you may gain understanding,
2
For I give you sound teaching;
Do not abandon my instruction.
3
When I was a son to my father,
Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
4
Then he taught me and said to me,
"Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live;
5
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6
"Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
Solomon wishes that his sons and youths in general would heed the advice that his father
David gave to him concerning wisdom. He implores youths to pursue wisdom and seek
to acquire it with extreme urgency and fervency. Wisdom guards and protects those who
pursue it and walk in it because it keeps them from the many dangers and travails
associated with sin. Wisdom leads to true happiness and satisfaction, not mere vain
satiation and futility of purpose. It is of massive eternal significance, and young people
need to seek it out early and not wait until after they have made mistakes that they cannot
recover from. Wisdom sought early can point a life in a spiritually effective and efficient
direction so that one can walk circumspectly and faithfully knowing that the days are
indeed evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).
7

"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;

And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8
"Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9
"She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty."
Solomon has already emphasized that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Those who fear God and value His judgments above all else will seek wisdom because
they will want to know the truth. They will find Christ by faith because wisdom is found
in Him. But there must be an interest and a willingness to search out the truth, whereas
fools enjoy darkness, sin, evil, and the futile delusions of their own fallen minds. Those
who honestly and humbly pursue wisdom will find it by grace through faith, and they
ought to always remember its value and prize it. Wisdom will lead to future exaltation
before the Lord Who promises to honor those in due time who humble themselves (1
Peter 5:6). There will be no regrets for those who choose wisdom, only honor, grace, and
distinguishing soul beauty.

15

10

Hear, my son, and accept my sayings

And the years of your life will be many.
11
I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
13
Take hold of instruction; do not let go
Guard her, for she is your life.
Solomon has spoken over and over again about the importance of walking in wisdom for
those who wish to see their lives preserved rather than wasted and destroyed by sin and
wicked people. Wisdom points to uprightness and sanctification, and increased holiness
will always be the result of wisdoms labors. Sin and deception slows us down, makes us
waste our days, and effectively disables us from being able to bear abundant spiritual
fruit. Even abundant church service and ministry works can be rendered useless and
unprofitable if wisdom is not present. It is Christ alone Who teaches us and gives us
wisdom to know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. We may lack knowledge,
but as we pursue wisdom in the Word of God, we will grow and be able to help others
grow also. When in doubt, we must open up the roadmap of the Scriptures, and let them
be our guide. This will keep us from stumbling and from mistakenly and unintentionally
putting a stumbling block in front of others. Wisdom will keep us from falling into the
net of deceivers and false teachers, and it will allow us to make the most of our time on
earth. The Holy Spirit will point out where we lack wisdom and where sin still has a hold
on our hearts if we are humble enough to pay attention. He will work those things out of
our hearts even if the process is painful so that we can gain wisdom and enjoy life to the
fullest. Those who lack wisdom and fail to seek to acquire it with all of their being will
never be able to experience the abundant life that Christ has promised. His way always
brings the most joy.
14

Do not enter the path of the wicked

And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15
Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17
For they eat the bread of wickedness
And drink the wine of violence.
In this world, there are a few good men and women (Ecclesiastes 7:27-29), and there are
many who deceive and are deceived themselves. There are many who love evil so much
that they cannot even sleep unless they have done evil. Even as they lie in bed, they plot
their next wicked deed. It is what they live for, for they are slaves of the devil, held
captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26). It is what they seek, and they delight in seeing
others take the same paths that they have taken. They enjoy violence and harming the
innocent. They rejoice when righteous people fall into sin. Thus, those who love
16

wisdom must not join forces with these people or make common company with them.
Bad company will corrupt good morals, and, while there is a time to stand for truth and
share the gospel with the wicked, there is also wisdom in avoiding what they do and the
places of debauchery that they love. We must not make any provision for the lusts of the
flesh (Romans 13:14). Evil people view us as prey, and it is our resistance to their
beckoning to join them in wickedness that is an aroma of Christ. Those who have any
interest in truth will be willing to talk about Christ, while most will gag on the righteous
aroma (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). The Christian must always be the influencer rather than
the one being influenced, and he must go to the sick as a doctor looking to heal rather
than a fool looking to accommodate to evil.
18

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19
The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they stumble.
As the sun rises at dawn and gets brighter, fuller, and stronger, so too is the work of the
Spirit sanctifying the hearts of the righteous until they are one day glorified into the
likeness of Christ. Christians are works in process, but God will complete the work He
has begun so that they shine brighter and brighter until the full day comes when Christ
returns. The wicked are a stark contrast, full of darkness, blinding the blind and tripping
over their own vices. In Christ, light has shone into darkness, but the darkness largely
rejects Him (John 1:5). But those who love wisdom will love the Light and walk in it.
20

My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.
21
Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22
For they are life to those who find them
And health to all their body.
Some people refuse to think and listen because they have no desire to learn the truth and
consider what defines ultimate reality, true purpose, and real significance. They are
content to be swept up with whatever the world tells them is the latest and greatest thing.
But the righteous who love wisdom will keep listening to Christ through the study of His
Word, and they will keep asking God in faith for wisdom. Wisdom will always be their
focus as they long to know and do the will of God and be sanctified, which is itself the
will of God (1 Thessalonians 4:3). The commands of Scripture must be central in our
hearts, and our hearts should be ruled by the Spirit of God Who has created them anew.
He will work out any remnants of selfish desire, pride, and lust over the course of our
lives, but we must be humble enough to pay attention and repent when needed. Wisdom
is the path to eternal life, and it is the best way to live the optimal life on earth.

17

23

Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

Christ taught much on the heart, emphasizing that what comes out of a man is what
defiles him because it reflects what is in his heart (Mark 7:20). What we do, think, and
say flows from the state of our hearts. If wisdom rules our hearts, holiness and effective
gospel testimony pointing people to life in Christ will be what flows out. Truth and grace
should pour out of our hearts like springs because we are one with Christ Who Himself is
full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Because what we treasure is shown by the desires of
our hearts (Matthew 6:21), it is imperative that we guard our hearts so that we delight
chiefly in Christ. He will then give us His desires as the desires of our hearts (Psalm
37:4). We will experience the abundant life, finding ultimate satisfaction, total joy, and
grace upon grace.
24

Put away from you a deceitful mouth

And put devious speech far from you.
25
Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26
Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
27
Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.
Christ wants us to speak truth in love, not deceit, lies, or false testimony about others.
We are not to be double-tongued, saying one thing in season and another out of season.
This reflects a divided heart, one which Solomon developed himself and which would
lead to the eventual division of the kingdom. By Christs power and strength, we must
not let sin delude our minds and trick the desires of our hearts. God doesnt delight in
shifty eyes and shady dealings. He wants people who can look others in the eye and be
honest, fair, and just. If we heed the principles of wisdom, we will make sure our feet
stay on the path of righteousness, and God will use us to advance His work. God wants
us to walk straight because He makes our paths straight. Wisdom delineates between
poor choices and good choices, and there is no need to veer off course when we have
seen exactly where we should go. Rather than waste time and energy, circling about and
wandering in the wilderness, by keeping away from evil we will make the most of our
time on earth.

18

Proverbs 5
1

My son, give attention to my wisdom,

Incline your ear to my understanding;
2
That you may observe discretion
And your lips may reserve knowledge.
3
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey
And smoother than oil is her speech;
4
But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5
Her feet go down to death,
Her steps take hold of Sheol.
6
She does not ponder the path of life;
Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.
Solomon now spends a significant amount of time on one particular area where wisdom
is of paramount importance, especially given that he is focusing his attention on young
men. But women have much to learn also as they consider who not to be and how they
should not behave. Wisdom, understanding, and discretion tell a person to avoid the
adulteress at all costs. The seductress seeks to draw the unmarried into fornication and
the married into adultery. Both are forbidden in Gods sight because God knows how
damaging both are (Matthew 15:19). There is baggage, memories, and great deception
that come with sexual immorality, and it will make future healthy relationships that much
more challenging. The best path is to do things Gods way, being a virgin until marriage
and always enjoying only the wife of your youth.
God is not against sexual pleasure, for He invented it. He just knows that maximum joy
is found when two people love Him and love each other for life. Any other way is selfish
and incomplete, leading to emptiness, sorrow, and always needing more, searching for
something more or somebody else, and confusion.
If we want to hold to knowledge and not become numbed into fools who make ruin of
their lives, we must recognize the nature of the temptation. The adulteress manipulates
her prey by the movements of her lips and the words of her mouth. Through lies, flattery,
rationalizations, and distractions, she convinces her prey that she will satisfy and bring
happiness (Proverbs 7:13-21) when in reality bitterness will be the only result. She
cannot deliver what she promises because she is going against the way God has designed.
She leads a life leading to eternal destruction, she pulls others that direction, and she
doesnt even consider the relevance of Christ and eternity (Proverbs 7:22-27). She is
unstable because her life is dangerous and volatile without commitment, peace, and
security. Yet, she is so blind in her selfish passion that she doesnt even realize how lost
and empty she is. She is in danger, on earth and certainly after this life. There is just
nothing positive going on here.
7

Now then, my sons, listen to me

19

And do not depart from the words of my mouth.

Keep your way far from her
And do not go near the door of her house,
9
Or you will give your vigor to others
And your years to the cruel one;
10
And strangers will be filled with your strength
And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;
11
And you groan at your final end,
When your flesh and your body are consumed;
12
And you say, "How I have hated instruction!
And my heart spurned reproof!
13
"I have not listened to the voice of my teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
14
"I was almost in utter ruin
In the midst of the assembly and congregation."
8

Solomon is adamant that young men stay far away from such women and that they
remain sexually pure before marriage and committed to their marriage partner after
marriage. Failure to do things Gods way and falling into adultery is so devastating to
everybody involved. Its effects endure, strength is removed, and so much is lost.
Spiritually, though God is willing and faithful to forgive if we ask, we will still have
many consequences to suffer as our years are given to the cruel one (Proverbs 6:32).
Because of the pain, hurt, and poor testimony that sin carries with it, we must understand
just how big of a mistake sexual immorality is (Proverbs 6:24-29). Yes, God can restore
and still use people who have sinned as He did Solomons father David after his sin with
Bathsheba, but Davids family was a disaster. His own son Absalom almost killed him,
and he lost another as a divine punishment for his sin. Even his son Solomon who wrote
these verses struggled with many sins, including sexual immorality to a huge extent. Sin
has consequences that tend to linger, and we cannot forget that. Though consequences
may be many and diverse, they could include relational, financial, emotional, physical,
and just about any other realm. Disease is just one aspect that is associated with
immorality, some even leading to death. Whether disease happens or not, what is sure is
that there will be a lifelong regret, particularly when we reach the end of our lives as we
consider what could have been and what we wish we had done differently.
Solomons purpose is to warn people to not traverse the same road of sexual immorality
that he and his father did but to rather learn ahead of time what is right, what is wise, and
what will avoid so many regrets, harm, and hurt. Wisdom gives a jump start to young
people so that they can accomplish so much more for Christs sake than if they had not
known the truth so early. What is sad is that some who have heard wisdom still refuse to
practice it, and they will groan and loathe their decisions. Sin always brings with it ruin
and destruction, and sexual immorality is certainly no exception.
15

Drink water from your own cistern

And fresh water from your own well.
16
Should your springs be dispersed abroad,
20

Streams of water in the streets?

Let them be yours alone
And not for strangers with you.
18
Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19
As a loving hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love. 20For why should you, my son, be
exhilarated with an adulteress
And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
17

Solomons message is Gods message to Gods people to stay away from foreign cisterns,
that is, the adulteress. In addition, married persons should enjoy one another sexually
and be faithful to drink of one another by being regularly intimate (Song of Solomon
7:8). Temptation seeps in when spouses stop enjoying one another except for a mutually
agreed upon time for prayer (1 Corinthians 7:5). But special times of prayer are the rare
exception and not the rule, and intimacy is the rule. The health of a marriage has a strong
correlation to the degree to which spouses enjoy themselves sexually with one another.
Life can make us busy, worn out, tired, and stressed out, but God has given us a spouse as
our reward in this life (Ecclesiastes 9:9). The commands of God are not burdensome (1
John 5:3), for we will do well if we enjoy Him and enjoy the good gifts that He has given
us, particularly our spouse. We should rejoice in Gods genius in creating male and
female and the opportunity to express love to one another sexually. Christians are not to
be cold and distant with their marriage partner, but there ought to be passion, ecstasy, and
utter exhilaration. There is no need to seek exhilaration from some other person. That is
dumb, foolish, and horrifically dangerous. At all times, young men must seek
satisfaction with their wives, enjoying their bodies as God has so wonderfully made
them. Actually, sexual intimacy in marriage can be an act by which God is worshipped
because it is an act of obedience and because God enjoys seeing His people enjoy the
good gifts He has given them. We should never be able to get enough of our spouse, and
we should long to be physically close. Exhilaration within marriage is what we should
seek, but exhilaration with some other person is self-destructive.
21

For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD,
And He watches all his paths.
22
His own iniquities will capture the wicked,
And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
23
He will die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
We should always remember that God sees all that we do, for the fear of God is the
beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Those who fear God then
learn to love Him all the more (1 John 4:17-18) because they realize that choosing to do
things such as marriage His way brings incredible enjoyment even to the extent that it is
surprising and endlessly beyond our expectation. The wicked, on the other hand, store up
Gods wrath for themselves as God must hold all of their wickedness to their accounts.
21

Sin is a like a slow suffocation, and it leads to death (Romans 6:23), not to wonder upon
wonder of Gods grace upon grace (John 1:16). Sin always has consequences, and
wisdom is our best protection from needless pain and self-inflicted suffering. Eternal life
is knowing Christ (John 17:3), and those who know Christ will enjoy Him now by
obeying Him and keeping His principles of wisdom.

22

Proverbs 6
1

My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor,

Have given a pledge for a stranger,
2
If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,
Have been caught with the words of your mouth,
3
Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself;
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.
4
Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
5
Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
What Solomon is after here is to emphasize the high danger and risk of being coresponsible for another persons debts, bankruptcy, etc. It is one thing to give a person a
loan because the worst that could happen is that the loan would be partially repaid or not
repaid at all. But ones personal assets would not be at risk. If there is mutually shared
debt obligations, then ones persons poor financial decisions could drain the resources of
the person who made good financial decisions. It makes more sense to give to a person
in need or to offer them a loan (the Bible speaks of interest free loans to fellow
countrymen (Deuteronomy 23:19)). This mitigates the risk of a catastrophic situation.
Thus, if a person finds themselves as a co-signer or somehow bearing the risk of another
persons mistakes financially, they need to take immediate precautions to rid themselves
of any binding contracts in which they could become responsible for the debts of others.
6

Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise,
7
Which, having no chief,
Officer or ruler,
8
Prepares her food in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.
9
How long will you lie down, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10
"A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest"-11
Your poverty will come in like a vagabond
And your need like an armed man.

23

Solomon speaks out against laziness here, for we do not get eternal rewards by doing
nothing. The ant is an example of a devoted laborer. No chief ant or authority figure
forces the ant to work and gather food, but the ant has an innate instinct to labor. A lazy
person needs to learn from the ant which stores up food for itself so that it will not be in
want. A sluggard is content not to work, and this will lead to having no money or food to
eat. Laziness leads to poverty and quickly at that.
12

A worthless person, a wicked man,

Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth,
13
Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet,
Who points with his fingers;
14
Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil,
Who spreads strife.
15
Therefore his calamity will come suddenly;
Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.
Wicked and worthless go hand in hand as far as character qualities that we do not want to
possess. Examples of these qualities include shady dealings, false promises, reneged
commitments, and lots of lying. Through subtle signals a person, while saying one thing,
is clearly communicating another thing to others. This deceitfulness is a perversity
before God, and it is indicative of a heart that is constantly devising evil plans and
intentions for others for selfish gain. This leads to pain for others and to much harm.
Eventually, those who lay traps for others end up being harmed by their diabolical
lifestyle as they make a mistake, suffer at the hands of violent men, or receive divine
punishment of some kind. Regardless of what they may get away with on earth, God sees
all and will hold them accountable in eternity.
16

There are six things which the LORD hates,

Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19
A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.
God hates, first, haughty eyes because pride is the opposite of humility which is what He
desires. Second, He hates those who lie because Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44).
He, being the truth, tells us to rejoice in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). It is the truth
which sanctifies (John 17:17), while lying only creates harm and leads to destruction.
Third, God hates violence and murder because He loves life and the dignity of His
creation. Hands that are quick to do others harm are an abomination to Him. Fourth, a
heart that is constantly trying to craft evil ideas and plot their next indulgence of sin is not
honoring to God. This is the natural state of mans heart, and this is why all men need to
repent and be changed from the inside out. Fifth, God despises a lackadaisical attitude to
24

Him and to His commandments such that a person doesnt even attempt to avoid evil and
temptation. Those who see evil and run to it, seeking it out wherever they are and
whenever they can, is wickedness before God. Sixth, God hates those who say wrong
things about others, painting an incorrect picture about a persons character and integrity.
We are supposed to stand up for the truth and for the innocent even if it will cost us.
Seventh, God hates those who create enmity, strife, anger, envy, and bitterness among
one another, whether family, friends, church associates, business associates, neighbors,
etc. Gods will is that we pursue peace with all men as much as is possible and insomuch
as it depends upon us. We are to be peacemakers rather than those who stir up division
and who provoke a fight. Evil people like seeing people hurt one another, but God wants
people to get along in peace and harmony.
20

My son, observe the commandment of your father

And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
21
Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22
When you walk about, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.
Getting back to the recurring theme of the importance of seeking wisdom with extreme
urgency and fervency, Solomon says to hold to Gods commands and teachings firmly
and to not let them go. Insomuch as parents teach the truth of God and His Word, we
must treasure that instruction and apply it rigorously. As we meditate on Gods Word,
we will be able to know wisdom and make wise decisions. Even as we sleep, wisdom
has a way of sorting things out in our minds so that we know what to do when we wake.
23

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;

And reproofs for discipline are the way of life
24
To keep you from the evil woman,
From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25
Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
26
For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread,
And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.
Gods Word is for teaching, training, and correction so that we will be made complete
and mature and able to know and do the will of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is a lamp to
our feet, and a light to our paths. One thing that Scripture is very clear about is that
young men do not destroy their lives by committing adultery. And young women need to
avoid becoming a woman that tries to get men to lust after her. There is nothing wrong
with looking ones best and trying to be attractive, but it is another thing altogether to
portray that one is easy and that one is willing to have sex outside of marriage. The
attraction is to be for the spouse alone, not for others.

25

The adulteress is an evil woman, and she speaks flattering words of false promises of
vain hope. Yet she makes it sound so good that it is difficult to resist. That is why
wisdom avoids the adulteress and doesnt linger to hear her out, just as Joseph fled the
advances of Potiphars wife. A key rule of thumb for life is to not desire the beauty of
another woman in ones heart. Lust is more than just seeing a pretty face and attractive
form. It is lingering in thought, starting to devise evil plans, fantasizing, and being
captured by envy. The adulteress bats her eyelids, beckoning the fool to speak to her and
listen to her temptations. A person who falls for these guises is reduced to being her food
as she seeks to devour the precious life for selfish gain. We can walk in wisdom, or we
can be somebody elses breakfast. There is no love here, only selfish, fleeting lust that
will leave the soul empty, dry, and with deep sorrow.
27

Can a man take fire in his bosom

And his clothes not be burned?
28
Or can a man walk on hot coals
And his feet not be scorched?
29
So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife;
Whoever touches her will not go unpunished.
Solomon cannot be any clearer that those who play with the fire of lust and allow
themselves to be seduced will suffer consequences. Just as it is impossible to hold a
burning coal in ones hands and not get burned, adultery scars a person for life.
30

Men do not despise a thief if he steals

To satisfy himself when he is hungry;
31
But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold;
He must give all the substance of his house.
32
The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense;
He who would destroy himself does it.
33
Wounds and disgrace he will find,
And his reproach will not be blotted out.
34
For jealousy enrages a man,
And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35
He will not accept any ransom,
Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.
One of the major consequences of adultery is the wrath of the husband who has been
cheated on. Jealousy enrages a man, and he will be tempted to take revenge. There is no
amount of gifts or peace offerings that can undo the damage that has been done. Damage
is also done to the adulteress and to the adulterer, and only a fool who lacks sense would
dare do something this destructive that brings such great wounds, shame, and disgrace.
People can forgive a person who steals bread because he is hungry, though even then they
will likely levy a consequence. But it is not too difficult to repay that kind of a debt.
Adultery, however, is not so easily undone and forgotten.

26

Proverbs 7
1

My son, keep my words

And treasure my commandments within you.
2
Keep my commandments and live,
And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3
Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
And call understanding your intimate friend;
When the Bible keeps saying the same thing over and over, it is usually because it is
extremely important. Here Solomon continues hammering the same theme home of
loving wisdom and holding it dearly as the apple of ones eye. The commandments of
God are what will keep young men and women from making horrible mistakes with their
lives. Gods commands are our protection, not a burden, and they give life, joy, and
eternal blessings.
5

That they may keep you from an adulteress,

From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6
For at the window of my house
I looked out through my lattice,
7
And I saw among the naive,
And discerned among the youths
A young man lacking sense,
8
Passing through the street near her corner;
And he takes the way to her house,
9
In the twilight, in the evening,
In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10
And behold, a woman comes to meet him,
Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
11
She is boisterous and rebellious,
Her feet do not remain at home;
12
She is now in the streets, now in the squares,
And lurks by every corner.
Solomon recounts a story of watching a nave young man lacking sense and not heeding
the commands of God. This young man did not treasure the wisdom of Christ, and he
passed into a danger zone where an adulteress was known to frequent. He passed her
corner, took the way to her house, and did so as it was getting dark so as not to be seen.
As expected, she came out to meet her prey for the night dressed in seductive clothing
clearly signifying that she was content to play the harlot. Her heart was cunning as she
laid the trap, drawing her next victim in. She was boisterous and rebellious in that she
was not content to love her husband and be faithful in her responsibilities to her home.
She would rather be a loud-mouth, gossip, and harlot. She did not stay at home when her

27

husband was away, for she went out on the prowl on the streets. Satan prowls like a lion
seeking whom he might devour, and his minions do the same (1 Peter 5:8).
13

So she seizes him and kisses him

And with a brazen face she says to him:
14
"I was due to offer peace offerings;
Today I have paid my vows.
15
"Therefore I have come out to meet you,
To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.
16
"I have spread my couch with coverings,
With colored linens of Egypt.
17
"I have sprinkled my bed
With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18
"Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with caresses.
19
"For my husband is not at home,
He has gone on a long journey;
20
He has taken a bag of money with him,
At the full moon he will come home."
21
With her many persuasions she entices him;
With her flattering lips she seduces him.

Recognizing a ready victim, she makes the move and draws him in by kissing him and
giving him the look that says Im available. She couches her immoral lusts in language
that self-justifies and rationalizes, and she tries to make her victim feel like she has real
feelings for him such that she has actually sought after him. Making the young man feel
that he is wanted and worth something to her, she baits the hook by painting a visual
picture of what lustful pleasure they might have in her bed which she has purposely
prepared for him. She says that they can be free to indulge sin without fear of being
caught and enjoy the passing pleasures of sin all night long as they caress one another.
After all, she says her husband is gone away and wont be home for a while. She has to
convince her prey that there will be no consequences and that they can get away with it.
She keeps persuading him and enticing him with flattery such that his selfish ego is built
up and confident enough to do something stupid.
22

Suddenly he follows her

As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
23
Until an arrow pierces through his liver;
As a bird hastens to the snare,
So he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths.
26
For many are the victims she has cast down,
28

27

And numerous are all her slain.

Her house is the way to Sheol,
Descending to the chambers of death.

Foolishly, this young nave man who does not hold tightly to wisdom sets off with this
woman to make a huge and dangerous mistake. Just as a bird flies into a trap or a wild
animal is shot down with an arrow, this foolish young man goes like an ox to the
slaughter. Death can literally come in many ways on account of sexual immorality, with
disease or the wrath of the husband being but a couple examples. Likely, the supposedly
secret act will come to light. Reputations will be ruined, and much scorn will take place.
This passing relationship or one-night-stand can never satisfy, and it is like allowing
Satan to get his claws hooked into the soul. An unbeliever is fast on the way to eternal
destruction, for adultery usually happens again and gives birth to many other sins as well.
Should a believer err as David did, forgiveness is possible (1 John 1:9). However, there
are still consequences as David failed to lead his family and suffered divine punishment
as well. Many have fallen victim to adultery, and the seductress has many slain to her
credit. The world trains young women to play the seductress and to wear their shame as a
badge of honor. But it is not becoming of a woman of God, and young men must choose
their company wisely. Certainly, they must not venture into dangerous territory where
they know temptation lies in wait.

29

Proverbs 8
1

Does not wisdom call,

And understanding lift up her voice?
2
On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3
Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4
"To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5
"O naive ones, understand prudence;
And, O fools, understand wisdom.
6
"Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7
"For my mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8
"All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
9
"They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10
"Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
11
"For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
12
"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
Wisdom cries out to people everywhere through the conscience, the created order, and
the canon of Scripture, and yet people typically refuse to listen. God wants the nave to
gain understanding, and He wants fools to become wise. If only people will search out
wisdom and heed the commands of Scripture, they can know truth, learn righteousness,
and discern good from evil. God doesnt mince words or waste words, and He cannot lie.
Thus, we can take His commands as life, freedom, joy, and hope, and we can have total
confidence in what He tells us to do. Gods way is clear and straightforward for those
who desire righteousness, but those who love wickedness will find wilderness, death, and
destruction. Gods Word and His wisdom are worth more than gold, silver, and precious
gems, and the cumulative collection of all that the world considers valuable pales in
comparison to the worth of wisdom. Wisdom makes it possible to actually enjoy life to
the full, whereas Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), just like the
adulteress (Proverbs 5-7). In Gods Word is wisdom, prudence, discernment, discretion,
knowledge, understanding, insight, and all that we need to know in order to be able to
make wise choices, find satisfaction, enjoy life, and be filled in our souls.
13

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;

Pride and arrogance and the evil way
30

And the perverted mouth, I hate.

"Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
15
"By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16
"By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
14

Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, and it involves the hatred of evil. God hates
evil, and so must we. Pride and perversion are abominations before Him. In Christ are
hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and those who wish to make wise
decisions and judge rightly will hold to that divine wisdom. A king cannot rule with
fairness and justice without the wisdom of God. Wicked kings inevitably create injustice
and harm for their people, but leaders that seek after wisdom create an environment of
equality and justice.
17

"I love those who love me;

And those who diligently seek me will find me.
18
"Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19
"My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.
20
"I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21
To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
Those who lack wisdom have only themselves to blame, for God says that those who
diligently seek for wisdom will find it. James echoes this truth concerning God giving
wisdom to those who ask in faith, and Jesus said that those who seek will find. We
cannot blame God if we do foolish things, but we must seek out His wisdom. He will
give it to us.
Those who love wisdom will find that it brings with it many benefits. Beyond the
certainty of eternal life, even on earth there is practical and even financial benefit to
living according to Gods commands. God doesnt promise that faith leads to wealth, but
wise choices and hard work is far more likely to lead to financial well-being rather than
poverty. Wisdom does not guarantee riches, but it does bring with it godliness and joy.
Godliness with contentment, after all, is worth more than mere money (1 Timothy 6:6).
The value of wisdom is of itself more than mere money, gold, silver, or jewels. Wisdom
says that pure monetary wealth is not the endgame to be sought after, but those whom
God blesses with means should take care of those who lack. God blesses some
financially so that they can bless others, not so that they can hold back (Proverbs 3:27).
But the point of emphasis is that wisdom gives treasure that is eternal, and righteousness
and justice inform a person how to store up eternal rewards which are enduring and not
31

susceptible to thieves and decay on earth. Wisdom highlights what matters most and
enables a person to view money not as the be-all-end-all but as a tool to be used in the
advancement of the kingdom. Wisdom will always have righteousness and justice as its
fruit whether a person is poor or wealthy.
22

"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,

Before His works of old.
23
"From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24
"When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25
"Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth;
26
While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27
"When He established the heavens, I was there,
When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28
When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became fixed,
29
When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
30
Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31
Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men.
God created the world in wisdom. His wisdom was seen in His creative genius through
which He made the world and called it good. Wisdom was there even before God made
the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1 because it is part of Who God is. His wisdom is
made clear in the majesty of the created order which clearly points to Gods design, plan,
forethought, and wisdom (Psalm 19:1-2, Romans 1:19-21). Wisdom was there through
the six days of creation, and it still defines everything that God does. God delighted in
what He had made, including Adam and Eve. Man is no cosmic accident or result of
chance events, but He is a divine purpose and plan of God. Interestingly, Solomon
references a circle to define the creation of the planet, a scientific understanding several
millennia ahead of its time. Wisdom takes delight in Gods genius and power, whereas a
fool rejects the Creator. Wisdom values human life because it is created by God, and
wisdom informs a discerning heart to worship and love the Creator.
32

"Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,

For blessed are they who keep my ways.
33
"Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
32

34

"Blessed is the man who listens to me,

Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35
"For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the LORD.
36
"But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death."
Wisdom adores God and is caught up with His majesty. Wisdom says to pay attention to
what God does and to glory in Who He is. Wisdom says to listen to His instruction and
to keep His commands. Fools neglect Gods counsel and Him as well, but those who
love wisdom love God. Those who desire wisdom will find it, and they will find
blessing, life, and favor from God. Those who reject and hate wisdom prove that not
only do they hate God but themselves. Rejecting wisdom is self-defeating and selfdestructive, but doing things Gods way by faith is a treasure trove of grace upon grace
(John 1:16).

33

Proverbs 9
1

Wisdom has built her house,

She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2
She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine;
She has also set her table;
3
She has sent out her maidens, she calls
From the tops of the heights of the city:
4
"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!"
To him who lacks understanding she says,
5
"Come, eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6
"Forsake your folly and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding."
Again (Proverbs 8:1), we see that God desires all men to repent and come to the
knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:9). Wisdom is not something that can be bought or earned
or that only the privileged few can have. Wisdom extends her offer to all who pass by
her city, and she invites them into her home. She preaches to them concerning
understanding, and beckons them to find shelter in Christ. But rather than choosing the
food and drink of wisdom, many continue on and pass her by. Yet she keeps calling for
sinners to repent and for fools to seek wisdom. If sinners would only forsake their folly
and turn from the error of their ways, God stands ready to forgive and to pour out grace
and mercy along with understanding.
7

He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,

And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
8
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
When a righteous person who loves wisdom is corrected for doing something against
Gods commands, he learns from it and makes the necessary adjustments. He is grateful
for the correction and appreciates the person who had the boldness to tell him of his error.
The correction will make a wise man only wiser. But a fool despises instruction, and a
scoffer will lash out and insult any who would dare correct his thinking and behavior.
Those who want to keep growing will always appreciate hearing wisdom principles from
Gods Word, but fools will always scorn the truth.
10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11
For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
34

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
understanding. In other words, one cannot have insight into what life is about and
regarding what really matters without coming to know Jesus Christ. John 3:21 says that
those who practice the truth will come to the Light. Those who fear God and want to
know wisdom will find it in Jesus. Wisdom tends to lead to a longer life on earth as
peacemaking is a better life-giving strategy than violence and murder. Wisdom also will
bring eternal life as well as rewards from God for faithful living (2 Corinthians 5:10, 1
Corinthians 3:10-15). God holds us accountable for how we ourselves have lived. The
righteous will inherit eternal life based upon their faith in Christ, but the wicked will
enter eternal punishment on account of their evil deeds. Each will be judged according to
their own accounts (Romans 2:6).
13

The woman of folly is boisterous,

She is naive and knows nothing.
14
She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by the high places of the city,
15
Calling to those who pass by,
Who are making their paths straight:
16
"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,"
And to him who lacks understanding she says,
17
"Stolen water is sweet;
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
18
But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
The boisterous woman is an allusion to the adulteress mentioned in previous chapters
(Proverbs 5-7) who wanders the streets calling out as a sort of anti-wisdom, reaching out
to the fools who desire evil instead of good. The anti-wisdom woman is full of folly, she
is nave, and she knows nothing. Sins of all types beckon the righteous, but in Christ we
can stand firm and resist the snares of the devil. So on one hand there is the woman of
wisdom (Proverbs 8:1, 9:1) calling for people to repent and believe in Gods wisdom. On
the other hand, there is the boisterous seductress of sin calling out to take shortcuts, to
steal, and to do evil in secret. The anti-wisdom woman claims that her way is pleasant
and sweet, but she is wrong. The wise person knows that she lies, but the nave does not
know that destruction and death are her food and drink. The fool doesnt realize that his
eternal destruction fast awaits.

35

Proverbs 10
1

The proverbs of Solomon

A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

Some parents actually think its funny when their kids do bad things, but the reality is
that parents who have any sense whatsoever pertaining to the wisdom of God will rejoice
in children who walk in wisdom and sorrow in those that do not. For those who love
wisdom, it should be a godly ambition to long to see ones children grow up to follow
God with all of their hearts. This should bring parents great joy.
2

Ill-gotten gains do not profit,

But righteousness delivers from death.

Making money by stealing, cheating, or taking advantage of people does create a cash
pile at least as long as one doesnt get caught or brought to justice, but in light of eternity
that cash is trash. There is no profit to evil because God will render to each according to
his deeds (Romans 2:6). There is also no satisfaction in a dishonest living, but earning
money by honest labor and doing it for Gods glory is actually meaningful to the soul
(Colossians 3:17, 23). Righteousness is what matters and what has value when the
judgment comes. Righteousness is only found by grace through faith in Christ, and this
profits abundantly in terms of eternity. Even now, the pursuit of righteousness satisfies.
3

The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger,

But He will reject the craving of the wicked.

The righteous will never have to hunger again because their souls will be satisfied with
the Bread of Life. Their thirst will be quenched forever having drunk of the Living
Water. The Lord meets the deepest desires of the soul, and He is also faithful to supply
our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Psalm 37:25, Matthew 6:31-32,
Philippians 4:19). The church must see to it that they do all that they can to care for their
own (2 Corinthians 8:14, Galatians 6:10), especially when it comes to getting enough
food. But the emphasis is on spiritual food, for that is what Jesus was most concerned
about, even after feeding the five thousand (John 6:28-29). The wicked crave many
things such as money, fame, fortune, and all kinds of evil deeds. But their hearts will
never be satisfied, and their souls will languish and eventually end up in eternal anguish.
While on earth, they might have their fill and find satiation with their sin (Luke 16:25),
but satisfaction will elude them. The Lord will see to it that they are also empty inside,
and in eternity they will crave and never have their cravings satisfied. Like the rich man
in the story of Lazarus, the thirst he felt while in the flames of hell would never be
quenched (Luke 16:24). Such is the destiny of the wicked.
4

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,

But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
36

Those who do not do their fair share of work and labor can expect to struggle financially
in life. Those who do not work tend to find it tough going to find food to eat. Getting
rich quick typically requires taking advantage of people or gambling, which is not
desirable. But one can gain wealth by hard work, and honest labor honors God.
5

He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,

But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

Harvest time is a time to work and take in the crops that the Lord has provided. But those
who fail to do the labor required waste food, will lack what they need, and act
shamefully. It is a dishonorable thing to waste, and it is disrespectful to God to fail to use
the time, energy, and gifts that God has given us. We will be held accountable for how
we invest the talents which Christ has entrusted us with. The Lord wants laborers sent
out into His harvest, not those who sleep on the job (Luke 10:2).
6

Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7
The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
God will honor the righteous, and he will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the
living (Psalm 27:13) and in heaven. The righteous person lives to demonstrate the love
of Christ to others, and thus it is he who brings good news of hope and healing to the
world (Romans 10:15). In stark contrast is the wicked person, who might say he brings
peace while concealing violence and treachery. His legacy will be one that most often
brings derision, whereas the name of the righteous and the memory of a good person
typically ends up being a source of blessing and joy. God knows all and will settle all
accounts, and it is ones legacy according to God that ultimately matters.
8

The wise of heart will receive commands,

But a babbling fool will be ruined.

The wise prove their wisdom by receiving instruction from Gods Word. They are
willing to listen, absorb, think critically, and apply the truths of Scripture. A fool, on the
other hand, is too busy running his mouth to listen and grow in truth and wisdom. He
speaks nonsense, even if he attempts to wax eloquent with the faulty wisdom of man.
Gods wisdom may be foolishness to fools, but it is life to the righteous, bringing
blessing. The fool will be ruined by his own folly.
9

He who walks in integrity walks securely,

But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10
He who winks the eye causes trouble,
And a babbling fool will be ruined.
11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

37

Those who walk in integrity and arent busy lying and deceiving and exploiting people
dont have to live in fear that somebody will seek vengeance on them. There is peace and
security that comes from living humbly, quietly, peaceably, and honestly. Those who
have integrity also dont have to live in fear that one day somebody will find out about
their deceit and treachery and wreck their lives and legacy. God sees all, and even if a
person gets away with sin for a time, he will eventually pay. We should watch out for
those who arent straight up with others and who like to make shady underhanded deals
and communicate contrasting messages with hidden signals. Those relationships lead to
trouble, for these people babble nonsense and not wisdom. Ruin is the endgame in said
relationships. The righteous speak truth, and their words are like a fountain that gives
life. The wicked, on the other hand, have a hidden agenda, a violent motive, and a will to
destroy others.
12

Hatred stirs up strife,

But love covers all transgressions.

Those who hate enjoy creating division and destruction. They delight in seeing
relationships go awry. Love, on the other hand, is willing to bear with others (Colossians
3:12-13), to be patient, to be compassionate, to forgive, and to seek restoration in
relationships. By being willing to forgive sin and not keeping a record of wrongs, love
covers all transgressions (1 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Peter 4:8). As Christ has forgiven us, so
we should forgive others (Ephesians 4:32). (see also Proverbs 19:11)
13

On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,

But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.
14
Wise men store up knowledge,
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15
The rich man's wealth is his fortress,
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16
The wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.
17
He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18
He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool.
Solomon expands upon the contrast between the wise, righteous person and the wicked,
foolish person. The wise speak discerning things that can edify and encourage others,
whereas the fool needs discipline, instruction, and training in righteousness. Those who
love wisdom continue to value truth and to grow in knowledge, but the fool does more
worthless talking than humble thinking, bringing ruin upon himself. Those who operate
by wisdom principles tend to store up savings that they can invest in the kingdom of God,
but the fool wastes his life. Through his laziness, he can expect to suffer from lack of the
necessities of life. The rich man should not boast in his riches as if his riches can save
him in the day of judgment, but he should recognize and bow to the Giver and true
Owner of all things. Those who heed wisdoms call and walk righteously before God by
38

faith will gain an inheritance of eternal life, but the wicked store up Gods wrath and
punishment for themselves. The wise are humble enough to admit when they are wrong
and to learn from the wisdom of others, but fools ignore sound teaching and reproof and
are led astray into destruction. The righteous speak truth and avoid lies, but the foolish
hate in their heart, do nothing to restore relationships, lie about others, and speak ill of
others, slandering them and gossiping.
19

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,

But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20
The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21
The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of understanding.
There is nothing inherently wrong with being more verbal than others, and there is
nothing inherently wrong with being less of a talker than others. But what does tend to
happen is that those who get in the habit of running their mouths at warp speed are prone
to not doing quality control on what comes out of their mouths. There is wisdom in
limiting what we say or at least being exceedingly careful to evaluate what we say before
we say it. The looser we are with our mouths, the more we can say something we will
regret, even if by accident. Sometimes the best policy is just to keep our mouths shut and
our thoughts to ourselves. The righteous speak words that encourage and edify others,
and their speech is wholesome and undefiling (Ephesians 4:28). The wicked demonstrate
the evil in their hearts by the words that they say, for it is what comes out of a man that
defiles him (Mark 7:20). Wisdom, needed reproof, correction, and training in
righteousness come from those whose minds and hearts are saturated in the Scripture and
driven by the glory of God. Others will be pointed to worship God and know Him more
by what the righteous say. Fools, on the other hand, have nothing of value to impart to
others, their lives bear that out, and they will die with no understanding to their credit and
even because of their own lack of wisdom.
22

It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich,

And He adds no sorrow to it.
23
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
24
What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25
When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Sometimes it may seem like the wicked get away with their evil, but God will settle all
accounts in eternity. Thus, getting ahead in life through evil and deceit will bring with it
eventual sorrow and emptiness along the way. But Gods provisions, gifts, and blessings
in life, financial or otherwise, are true riches to the soul (Ephesians 1:3, 3:20). There is
no sorrow, grief, fear, or regret when doing things Gods way. Fools find wickedness to
be a sport because they scoff at God and view life as a cosmic joke. The righteous stand
39

in stark contrast, finding great fun, fulfillment, and excitement from following God and
seeing the devil flee. The wise enjoy gaining ever more wisdom. The wicked must live
in fear because violent people beget violence and because they have no hope of life after
death. They dont know when calamity will strike, and eventually sins devastating
effects catch up to them. One day the wicked will die and face the judgment, and they
will be cast into the lake of fire. The righteous have the hope of Gods help and
provision in life along with the promise of answered prayer. The righteous have great
hope and confidence because their lives are built upon an eternal foundation of salvation
through Christ.
26

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

So is the lazy one to those who send him.

Vinegar by itself is repulsively bitter, and smoke in the eyes is a stinging pain. So is the
one who is sent and relied upon to accomplish a particular task, but, who, because of his
laziness, doesnt do it. It brings loathing and grief to the one who counted on him for
help.
27

The fear of the LORD prolongs life,

But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28
The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.
29
The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright,
But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
The righteous fear God, and doing things Gods way avoids a lot of needless pain and
even possibly a premature death due to a dangerous, destructive lifestyle of evil. The
righteous have joy in the depths of their hearts that brings them hope anew everyday
thanks to the new mercies of God every morning. The wicked have no God to renew
their strength and to show them compassion, for, in their vitriol against God, they incur
His judgment. They love darkness and put their hope in the passing pleasures of sin, but
their hope in sin as a means to satisfaction and life will fail. They will face Gods wrath
when they die. Doing things Gods way is a protection for the righteous and a source of
strength in which they draw confidence and hope. But because the wicked are at enmity
with God, their iniquity will bring them eternal ruin.
30

The righteous will never be shaken,

But the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31
The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
32
The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
Nothing can take the believer out of the hand of God because God will never forsake His
own. By being strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Ephesians 6:10), the
righteous can stand firm against whatever the devil may throw his way (1 Corinthians
40

10:13, James 4:7). Believers are inheritors of an eternal kingdom, but the wicked are part
of the devils failed pseudo-kingdom. They will not dwell in heaven with the righteous.
The righteous speak forth wise words, for out of the heart the mouth speaks. But evil
people with perverted hearts will suffer Gods wrath in eternity, for God hates evil
speech, a lying tongue, and especially leading the innocent astray. Righteous people will
say righteous things, and evil people will say evil and deceitful things. This is expected
based upon the state of each heart. We can know the righteous from the wicked based
upon their fruits, including what they say or dont say (Matthew 7:20).

41

Proverbs 11
1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight.
God hates dishonest weights and measures because He hates when people steal from
others and conduct business in a dishonest fashion. Honest, justice, fairness, and
integrity are what pleases him. Trying to get ahead financially by cheating cannot bring
Gods blessing which is free from sorrow, fear, and grief. God sees all, and He will
render to each according to His deeds.
2

When pride comes, then comes dishonor,

But with the humble is wisdom.
The Lord must bring low the proud and arrogant, but He promises to honor those who
honor Him. Those who humble themselves under His mighty hand, not relying in their
own strength but in His power, will be exalted in due time. God is faithful, and in
eternity the scales of justice will recognize the faithfulness of those who love wisdom.
The person who is humble and contrite of heart and who trembles at Gods Word, God
will look to bless (Isaiah 66:2).
3

The integrity of the upright will guide them,

But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
The Holy Spirit in the heart of the righteous works to lead the people of God in the way
of integrity (Romans 8:14). The righteous are sensitive to their conscience, and they
listen to God teaching them right from wrong. By faith, they turn away from evil, and
they let God guide them according to His wisdom and according to what is good. The
will of God is our sanctification, and those who are upright in heart pursue that route by
faith and are guided by the Spirit into all truth (John 16:13). The Spirit works relentlessly
and tirelessly to sanctify our hearts and minds to more fully align with the will of God.
He will always keep working to lead us into all truth according to the Scripture. On the
other hand, the wicked are destroyed by their own lies, deception, and trickery.
Continuing to do evil defiles and desensitizes the conscience and hardens people against
God. They will pay in eternity for their evil deeds.
4

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

But righteousness delivers from death.
The point is that those who pursue riches at all costs and do evil to get wealth will
recognize that it accounts for nothing because it wont buy their way out of hell. It is
salvation by grace through faith in Christ that brings holiness to a heart and that delivers
from the second death.
5

The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,

But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
42

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,

But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
Wisdom is a guide for life and continuing to strive to do what is good takes a lot of
needless pain and strife out of the course of life. Gods commands are not burdensome,
but the burden of sin is. Jesus yoke is light and burden easy, for He wants us to cast our
cares upon Him. He makes our paths straight (Proverbs 3:6), and He preserves the way
of His godly ones (Proverbs 2:8). The wicked, on the other hand, will be brought down
by their own evil, probably in life and certainly in death. Even getting away with evil in
the short term might be a shot in the arm of pleasure to them, but it brings decay to the
inner person day after day. In Christ, we can be renewed inwardly day after day (2
Corinthians 4:16). One way or the other, the wicked will be held to account, and greed
always destroys.
7

When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,

And the hope of strong men perishes.
The wicked have sacrificed their souls for sinful pleasure now, and all that they may have
thought that they had gained will be lost at the point of death. The wicked have no hope
of heaven, and, even if they erroneously have hope of something good after they die, they
will be gravely disappointed. Even those who boasted in their strength, money, and
accomplishments in life will have nothing real to hope in. The wicked have mortgaged
their eternal future for a few sinful years now. They will pay.
8

The righteous is delivered from trouble,

But the wicked takes his place.
9
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
God does allow the righteous to suffer, but when He does, it is always for a purpose.
What we know is that there is countless trouble that He protects us from (Psalm 28:7),
but the wicked have no such divine protection. More importantly, with a focus on the
afterlife, the wicked have eternal trouble awaiting them, whereas the righteous are
delivered from death and hell. Even in life, despite the slander and false testimony of evil
people, truth vindicates the righteous. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:19b when He was
falsely accused, Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. Those who desire wisdom will
find it and be able to sort the truth from the lies.
10

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

43

In general, people appreciate and value honest, generous, kind-hearted people. When a
good person dies, people genuinely miss such a person. But when people who exploit
others or rule by cruel force die, there is general rejoicing. Even those who dont
recognize or love wisdom benefit by the lives of the upright because honesty doesnt steal
from them and because love is always others-focused. The wicked lie, steal, and take
advantage of others, and an entire city or nation can suffer at the hands of dishonest
leadership.
12

He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,

But a man of understanding keeps silent.
Wicked people like to pick a fight and make fun of others. This stems from a lack of love
and concern for others in their hearts. The believer should stand in stark contrast because
he should love his neighbor and look out for the interests of others even more than his
own (Philippians 2:3-4). His love should be a defining mark that He knows Christ (John
13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-8). Thus, in demonstration of the wisdom residing in his heart, he
refuses to mock, deride, lie to, or speak ill of his neighbor.
13

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,

But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
When others tell us something in confidence, they deserve our faithfulness to keep their
secret (barring, of course, that there isnt some imminent threat to a person, for example).
A talebearer is one who needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. His blabbering of others
secrets loses their trust and makes having a relationship of any depth or value impossible.
Trust is a critical part of the foundation of friendship.
14

Where there is no guidance the people fall,

But in abundance of counselors there is victory.
It is the nave and untaught who are prone to suffer the most because they lack wisdom
and wise counselors and teachers to give them guidance. Whole churches and groups of
people can be led astray by poor teaching or the lack of good teaching. But when truth is
multiplied amongst Gods people because of a plurality of godly counselors and teachers,
the body can be strengthened and protected from deception. Even outside of the church
walls, we need to be careful who we listen to as our counselors, for even if we have a lot
of them, they could all be wrong if we are listening to the wrong people. Thus, an
abundance of counselors who speak wisdom because they fear God and value Scripture is
the goal. Rehoboam had several friends that gave him advice, but the advice was terrible
(1 Kings 12:8). Moses heard wisdom but from one man, his father-in-law, Jethro, and it
was helpful (Exodus 18:17). The Scripture is sufficient, and it is enough to equip the
man of God for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and to know wisdom and
understanding. Counsel must always be weighed against the truth of Gods Word. I
have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. (Psalm
119:99)

44

15

He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,

But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.
Solomon reiterates a point he made in Proverbs 6:1-5 concerning ridding oneself of being
a financial guarantor for a stranger or neighbor. There is security in not allowing the
whims or misfortunes of another to rid an honest, hard-working person of all of his hardearned wealth due to mutualized debt accountability. There is a place for giving another
a gift or a loan, but putting all of ones assets on the line for another is a risk not worth
taking.
16

A gracious woman attains honor,

And ruthless men attain riches.
17
The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm.
Gracious women tend to be well-respected in the world, and it is good to be gracious.
Among men, it is the cruel, cutthroat, and ruthless ones who seem to make it to the top.
They even tend to garner respect, if even through fear. This is a warped reality, but it is
nonetheless a true observation. Solomon is quick to point out that men should be
merciful just as women should be, and cruelty does both others and oneself harm.
Cruelty is the opposite of love, and it is indicative of a soul that needs redemption.
18

The wicked earns deceptive wages,

But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19
He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life,
And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
It might seem like the wicked are prospering as cruelty and violence can be used to get
ahead on earth. However, these are deceptive wages, for the wages of sin is death.
And death and wrath awaits the wicked. The righteous, even if they are poor on earth,
will have a great reward in the coming life. The fact remains that those who are righteous
by faith will inherit eternal life, and the wicked will be sentenced to eternal pain and
destruction in hell.
20

The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,

But the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21
Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.
God delights in the righteous, and He is honored by our obedience before Him. This is
our praise to Him, and it brings Him glory. The evil are a stinky aroma to His nostrils,
and they store up His wrath and punishment. God doesnt view evil as innocent mistakes
but as an abomination that will not go unpunished. The righteous and those who believe
in God through their testimony will be delivered from death into eternal life.
22

As a ring of gold in a swines snout

45

So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

There is nothing wrong with being externally beautiful. Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel in
the Old Testament were described as being physically beautiful, for example. Gold is
also beautiful, but, when fashioned into a ring and put in the snout of a pig, its beauty
becomes discounted, perverted, and covered in filth. There is something just wrong and
repulsive about putting a valuable and beautiful gold ring in pig snot, mud, and grime. A
beautiful woman who takes the beauty that God has fashioned her with and acts
promiscuously and without discretion is doing to herself what the pig does to that ring. It
is taking something that could be so astounding and a great treasure for a husband and
making it undesirable and used. Of course, God is able to cleanse the soul with mercy
and forgiveness, but why play around with fire? Taking the principle of Proverbs 6:27
and applying it in reverse for the seductress/adulteress, Can a [woman] take fire in [her]
bosom And [her] clothes not be burned? The goal of a young man who desires to be
married should be to find a woman who is beautiful in his eyes and who praises the Lord
with her life. As Proverbs 31:30 says, Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a
woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
23

The desire of the righteous is only good,

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
When we are saved by Christ, we are given new hearts, indwelt by the Spirit, and
regenerated into a new creation in Christ. We are controlled by His love (2 Corinthians
5:14). We still stumble and we battle the flesh daily, but the Lord changes our desires
toward only what is good (Psalm 37:4). We just have to learn to trust Him as He sets us
free from what we thought were our desires. He will free us from our deception and give
us His desires as the desires of our hearts. The more we delight in Him, the more our
desires will align with His. But the key is that our new heart is capable of this. It doesnt
have to be forever bound to the depraved nature it was once characterized by. A
depraved heart wouldnt even be able to look forward to heaven, but in Christ it can now
desire what is good. A righteous heart doesnt rejoice in evil but rejoices in the truth (1
Corinthians 13:6). It abhors evil and clings to what is good (Romans 12:9). It loves
others, thinks on what is good, right, and pure (Philippians 4:8), and wants what is best
for others. It stands in stark contrast to the heart of the wicked which always desires evil
and is constantly incurring more divine wrath (Jeremiah 17:9). Given the promise of
heaven which we are to set our hope completely upon, we have a very good desire to look
forward to. The wicked have no such hope.
24

There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
25
The generous man will be prosperous,
And he who waters will himself be watered.
26
He who withholds grain, the people will curse him,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

46

2 Corinthians 9:6, 11 says, Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Now He who supplies
seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and
increase the harvest of your righteousness. The idea is that as God gives ability, we
should be generous in terms of giving to the kingdom, both financially and with our time
and energy. The more seeds we plant, by Gods grace, the more we will see a harvest of
souls. God loves a cheerful giver. We are not supposed to be foolish and impoverish
ourselves, but we are to be generous where we can be generous. There is no point in
dying with a bank vault full of cash or with a gospel that we never shared. God will
honor us and remember us for our generosity. Some people try to steal and skim from
what should belong to others. This does not earn them the favor of others, and it
definitely does not please God. But there is blessing on those who dont keep back what
they dont need and who make sure that others can benefit from it. Those who are kind
and generous toward others will find that others will be more likely to be generous with
them than if they were stingy and greedy in their time of need.
27

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor,

But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
A person who diligently seeks good is one who desires Gods blessing. But those who
seek after evil will find it and be destroyed by it.
28

He who trusts in his riches will fall,

But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
There is nothing wrong with having riches, but there is wrong in holding back from those
in need when a person is in a position to help. There is also wrong in trusting in money
for protection or happiness when God alone is to be trusted for life, joy, and peace.
Money doesnt go to heaven, and it cant buy a persons way out of hell. But it can be
used for a lot of good while on earth. The righteous, whether they have a lot of the
worlds means or not, will have all that they need and more given the spiritual riches that
they have in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Godliness with contentment is not just a net neutral,
but it is great gain. Like a tree that is healthy, mature, growing, and green thanks to
ample sun and water, so too will the righteous be (Psalm 1:3).
29

He who troubles his own house will inherit wind,

And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.
It is not God-honoring or indicative of a redeemed heart for a person to cause trouble to
those in his own house, especially his wife and children. A person should look after his
family like a shepherd, seeking to meet needs and demonstrating the grace and generosity
of God. God does not hold back with us, nor is He stingy, cruel or unjust. An earthly
father should imitate that attitude of our heavenly Father. Inheriting heaven, which the
righteous will, is much better than inheriting nothing, which the cruel, selfish, and corrupt
will. A Biblical theme in the gospels is that the last will be first, and the first will be last
(Mark 10:31). The idea is that those who wisely made themselves the servant of all will
47

be great in heaven (Mark 9:35), and those who sought to get power and control no matter
the method on earth will pay their dues in eternity.
30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

And he who is wise wins souls.
The tree of life is the Biblical symbol of eternal life in Genesis 3 and in Revelation 22.
The lives of the righteous should be a tree of life to others as they live out and preach the
gospel to others. Thus, they bear fruit leading to eternal life for those who receive Christ
as a result of their testimony. They reason with people concerning Christ and eternity so
that souls can be won to Christ.
31

If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth,

How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Righteousness doesnt always go recognized and rewarded on the earth. Sometimes it
brings ridicule and persecution, and wickedness is exalted. But insomuch as
righteousness is valued on earth (and it will certainly be rewarded in heaven), how much
more will evil people pay for their evil! Even on earth, people long to see murderers,
oppressors, and tyrants executed, but how much more to be feared is the eternal lake of
fire and the second death! The wicked may gain fame and fortune while on earth, but
that will be the extent of their reward. Eternal punishment is a far more significant
reward than all of the vain glories of the world combined.

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Proverbs 12
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid.
God disciplines those sons Whom He loves not because He is cruel or vindictive but
because He desires to teach us and train us in righteousness (Hebrews 12:9-10). Those
who appreciate Gods discipline love knowledge. Children should appreciate the
discipline of their parents because it teaches them right from wrong and how to have life
to the full. It would be stupid to hate kind and faithful correction and those who lovingly
do the correcting and teaching. Reproof is a protection, and it reaps a future blessing. To
spurn, reject, or hate it is just plain stupid.
2

A good man will obtain favor from the Lord,

But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
3
A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.
The Lord loves His own, and Gods favor rests with the righteous. He delights in their
obedience, and they will be rewarded for it. Those who do evil stand condemned before
God because He is holy and must punish sin. Man needs to be connected to His Creator,
but sin separates man from God. The righteous have Christ in their hearts, and their lives
are built upon the foundation of His salvation. The wicked have no such foundation, for
their lives have been foolishly built upon the sand rather than upon the Rock of Christ
(Matthew 7:26). Thus, their destruction will come, but the righteous will be saved.
4

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
The character qualities of the excellent wife are described at length in Proverbs 31, and
such a woman is a priceless and rare find. She is like a crown to her husband because the
fact that she loves him and is committed to him is such a glory, a prize, an honor, and a
blessing. But a wife who shames her husband by disrespecting him, mocking him,
cheating on him, and just plain simply failing to love him brings deep pain and agony to
his soul. A good and godly wife can do so much good for her husband, but it is equally
true that a shameful wife can do great harm and pain to him.
5

The thoughts of the righteous are just,

But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
The righteous think about what is good, right, pure, noble, and of good repute, and this
will lead them to speak according to what is in their hearts and minds. The wicked cant
even speak honestly and helpfully when they get together, because the summation of
foolishness is just more foolishness. As they deceive their hearers and deceive one
another, how can anything truly productive get accomplished?

49

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7
The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.
The wicked are interested not in the well-being of others and definitely not in caring
about others interests ahead of their own. They lie in wait for blood to ambush the
unwitting person physically and/or verbally. They love violence, and their words and
evil deeds will come back to judge them. The righteous prove that they are new in Christ
by words that are edifying and indicative of new life in Christ. They will be delivered in
the day of judgment because Christ lives in their hearts.
8

A man will be praised according to his insight,

But one of perverse mind will be despised.
Insomuch as people have eyes to see and ears to hear, people appreciate someone with
insight to help them, but they hate people who are out to get them and take advantage of
them.
9

Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant

Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
It is okay to be ridiculed when one knows that he is doing the right thing before God, for
it is actually a blessing of God to be persecuted for the sake of Christ. It doesnt matter
what people say or think if we know that we are successful according to the standards of
God. It is foolish, however, to brag about who one is and what one has when one is
living a lie and accomplishing nothing of eternal value. Giving oneself approval is
meaningless, and the approval of man is deceitful and passing. But the approval of God
is what matters, what lasts, and what we should seek.
10

A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,

But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
In Genesis 1:28, the Lord put man in charge over the created order to care for it and be
responsible. We are to be wise stewards of the created world, doing our part to look after
what God has made. Wicked people have no compassion for animals or other parts of
creation, and they treat them abusively and with cruelty, delighting in their violence and
the suffering of the creatures. But a righteous man cares for the life of his animal and
does his part to give it what it needs to be well. But the wicked doesnt know such
compassion, only cruelty. They couldnt even be truly compassionate if they tried.
11

He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,

But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.

50

Those who labor to grow crops will have food to eat when harvest comes, but those who
waste their lives on worthless things will struggle to make ends meet. Beyond just the
physical aspect of these principles is a spiritual one as well. Those who sow spiritually
will also reap spiritually, for we will store up eternal rewards as a result of our faithful
labor. Those who care not for eternity and who spurn the weight of glory will not bother
to fear God and keep His commandments, and they will suffer for it (Galatians 6:7-8).
12

The wicked man desires the booty of evil men,

But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
Wicked people enjoy what wicked people value, and they are not bothered if their goods
were gained through theft or other evil means. The righteous, on the other hand, refuse to
take part in sharing in possessions gained by evil means and violence. They dont need
such things, for they have Gods provisions in their lives as a result of His faithfulness.
As they obey Him by faith, they will have much spiritual fruit that will amount to great
spiritual rewards. The righteous view these eternal prizes as far greater and more
valuable than the short-lived and ill-gotten booty of evil men.
13

An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

But the righteous will escape from trouble.
Evil people dont guard their speech, and they will be ensnared by their words. Some get
caught in lies, others condemn themselves, and others mistakenly reveal hidden and
deceptive motives. Their souls will be condemned, and their words will be just one
reason why. The righteous, on the other hand, will avoid the entrapments of sin by
speaking truth, speaking graciously, and speaking of what is good and pure. God will
save the soul of the righteous from the trouble of eternal fire because of his faith in Christ
leading to obedience, part of which is speech that is honorable to God and edifying to
others.
14

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,

And the deeds of a mans hands will return to him.
It is a joy to be able to speak the wisdom of God and actually see somebody benefit from
hearing what we have said by the grace of God. There is great satisfaction in propagating
wisdom and the gospel and seeing people edified and encouraged. We can only reap
according to how we sow and how we water. God will give the growth, but our
faithfulness and our rewards require that we participate and do some planting and
watering. That way, when some seeds grow and some plants begin to produce fruit of
their own, we can rejoice that God was faithful to be able to use us in His service.
Bringing God joy and glory and seeing others glory and have joy in Him is a great
measure of satisfaction to the righteous person.
15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

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It is easy to think we are right if we dont compare our beliefs to the authority of
Scripture. A fool just goes along in his own folly not bothering to think through what he
thinks and believes in light of what Scripture has already said. Even fools can think they
are wise if they dont value the wisdom contained in the Scripture. The wisdom of God
is viewed as foolishness by the world (1 Corinthians 3:19). When confronted with the
truth of Scripture, a fool will disregard it and put more confidence in his own faulty
conclusions. A wise man, when confronted with counsel consistent with Gods Word,
will listen and humbly submit to the truth.
16

A fools anger is known at once,

But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
A fool lashes out when facing apparent dishonor, and he is ready to fight at the smallest
provocation. A wise man is able to swallow his pride and recognize that a gentle answer
turns away wrath. There is a time to stand up to defend himself or his own, but most of
the time all that is required is to just forgive in his heart and effectively forget the wrong
he has just suffered.
17

He who speaks truth tells what is right,

But a false witness, deceit.
Those who speak the truth do right before God, portraying things as they are and in a
manner consistent with the truth of Gods Word. Those who bear false witness are liars,
distorting reality and leading people astray. This is clearly wrong and can put the
innocent in harms way.
18

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,

But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Some use their speech to tear people down as with thrusts of a sword, but our speech
should be wholesome and for the edification of others (Ephesians 4:29). The sword of
the Spirit, that is, the Word of God, cuts to teach and build up (Hebrews 4:12), but evil
speech delights in provoking anger and discouraging others. Those who speak from
wisdom do so in a way that is seasoned with salt so as to bring grace to the hearers
(Colossians 4:6), accomplishing restoration, renewal, revival, and regeneration.
19

Truthful lips will be established forever,

But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
Those who practice the truth find the Light of Christ, and those who speak truth and love
truth as a way of life demonstrate the reality of their faith. Those who lie and never seek
Gods forgiveness will suffer the wrath of God. Life is but a vapor, here and then gone,
and spending it lying is an absolute waste.
20

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

But counselors of peace have joy.
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Those who devise evil plans do so from hearts that love to deceive others for their own
person gain or to see others suffer. Their hearts enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, and
thus they sin by deceiving others. A godly counselor has joy in his heart in that he knows
that what he says will bring healing, life, and blessing to those who heed sound wisdom.
21

No harm befalls the righteous,

But the wicked are filled with trouble.
In this life we will have trouble (John 16:33), for Satan tempts, God allows trials (James
1:2-4), evil people are everywhere, and the earth is cursed and fallen. Even those who
love God and have been redeemed by Christ will suffer and be persecuted for their faith
(2 Timothy 3:12). But there is a difference between the trials of life, which we should
take joy in because of how they produce in us godly character, and creating unneeded
difficulty for ourselves. A lot of trouble and harm on this earth can be avoided by
making wise decisions, not associating with the wrong people, and by living a quiet,
peaceable life. The wicked may prosper for a time on earth, but their eternal destruction
is sure. Even on earth, they must constantly look over their shoulder to see if they are
about to get backstabbed, caught, or suffer harm. Wisdom protects those who love it by
avoiding a lot of unnecessary snares and needless suffering. The foolish and the wicked,
on the other hand, run to trouble.
22

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
One of the ten commandments is that we ought not to bear false witness because God
hates lies, for lies stem from the father of lies, Satan himself. He hates deceit and seeing
people taken advantage of or betrayed. Those who honor friendships and agreements by
dealing faithfully and truthfully honor God. Our world is full of those who are
professional liars and who have great skill at skirting the whole truth. They pick their
words carefully to sound honest while covering the truth up. This is not right, and it
angers God.
23

A prudent man conceals knowledge,

But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
The heart of a wise man is filed with knowledge and understanding. He knows when to
share that understanding with others, and he knows when not to because he would be
throwing pearls before swine who would only turn and try to tear him to pieces (Matthew
7:6). Jesus kept silent before Pilate because there wasnt anything else worth saying that
would make any difference (Matthew 27:14). There is a time to preach to a person, and
there is a time to focus our efforts elsewhere. Foolishness is in the heart of a fool, and he
blabbers it so that others who know wisdom will know he is foolish. Other foolish
people may think he is wise, for fools do delight in their folly and the erroneous wisdom
of man. Even the choices that a foolish person makes reveals his lack of wisdom even if

53

he tries to keep his mouth shut. What is in the heart ultimate comes out and reveals the
true state of a person.
24

The hand of the diligent will rule,

But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.
It is unusual for lazy people to end up in positions of great responsibility. Typically,
those who work really hard and devote themselves to a cause rise up the ranks. Those
who dont apply themselves and dont reward those who employ them will end up doing
the jobs nobody else really wants to do. Diligence is a value even the world recognizes.
Sadly, too often they like those who are diligent and deceitful, a dangerous combination.
25

Anxiety in a mans heart weighs it down,

But a good word makes it glad.
The Lord tells us that worrying and being anxious is worthless and accomplishes nothing
(Luke 12:25, Philippians 4:6). He wants us to just focus on seeking the priorities of the
kingdom (Matthew 6:33), and He says that He will take care of the rest. In life, there is
so much to worry about, but ultimately our freedom comes in remembering and
acknowledging that we are not in control and that God is. He is good and faithful, and
being reminded of that is a very good word indeed. As we recall to mind the truths of
Gods Word, the mercies of God, and the wisdom of God, we can be set free from
anxiety and have joy in our hearts. There is great peace and joy in believing the promises
of God and acting upon them in faith.
26

The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,

But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
A godly testimony is the result of a righteous heart and life. Even believers are
imperfect, but there should be clear evidence of ongoing sanctification and love. Our
good works shine the Light of Christ to those around us (Matthew 5:16) because a godly
life points to Christ because of the inherent miracle that it is (Hebrews 12:14). Wicked
people draw on the wickedness of others and lead them astray. Whether our neighbors
like the light we shine or not, we need to shine it so that the darkness can be exposed by
the Light. The darkness may not comprehend what the Light reveals, but the gospel is
powerful to change lives and open peoples hearts to the truth (Romans 1:16).
27

A lazy man does not roast his prey,

But the precious possession of a man is diligence.
A person who is lazy doesnt have food because he hasnt caught it or had the
wherewithal to cook it if he did catch it. He can expect to go hungry. The opposite of
laziness is diligence. Diligence is a valued character trait because God values faithful,
honest labor in matters of everyday life and in matters of the kingdom. Diligence is a
stark contrast to the lazy heart, for it demonstrates a valuing of eternity, the weight of
glory, and the reality that God will hold us accountable for how we use the time and
54

opportunities He gives us. Diligence itself doesnt save or sanctify anybody, but when it
is combined with wisdom, it is something we all should seek.
28

In the way of righteousness is life,

And in its pathway there is no death.
Those who have the fruit of righteousness in their lives reveal themselves as having been
transformed by the gospel of Christ. These have the promise of eternal life, for they
know Christ. Their physical bodies will one day die, but Christ will raise their souls alive
to be with Him forever. In Christ, death has no victory or sting (1 Corinthians 15:55), but
it is merely the time when the perishable is traded for the imperishable new resurrection
body that has as its inheritance heaven (1 Corinthians 15:42).

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Proverbs 13
1 A wise son accepts his fathers discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
Discipline done by a loving father is always for the well-being of a child to teach him the
danger of sin and the joy of obeying God. A wise son will respond humbly to the
instruction and training, and he will love his father for being willing to discipline him
when he does wrong and when he defies the instruction of the Lord. Our heavenly Father
disciplines us as sons whom He loves, and wise parents will discipline their children also.
Those who hate wisdom and love foolishness scoff when they are confronted with truth
or correction. They despise righteousness and live only for themselves, and this will end
badly for them.
2

From the fruit of a mans mouth he enjoys good,

But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
Those who speak kind, encouraging words of wisdom and edification will see good
accomplished as they bear fruit for the kingdom. It will bring joy to their hearts. They
will be peacemakers, giving gentle answers even when being provoked by violence,
treacherous people who like to see others harmed.
3

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;

The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Wisdom is demonstrated by an ability to control what one says and when and to be able
to be discrete when necessary. Not lashing out verbally or provoking others is smart
because it will avoid putting ourselves in a position where people would want to harm us
out of anger. Those who cant keep secrets betray friends and maybe lose friends, and
those who like to cast insults make many enemies. The wise person uses his mouth to
encourage, heal, and promote peace.
4

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
Laziness keeps people from having food to feed their physical bodies, but it also leaves
the soul empty. This is because there is joy in doing the work of God and in bringing joy
to His heart by fruitful labor. There is a reward for those who bother to seek out the
truth, for they will find eternal life in Christ (Hebrews 11:6). The spiritually lazy person
doesnt care about the truth, and he will suffer loss (Romans 6:23). Those who eagerly
seek to know God will be blessed with every spiritual blessing and the promise of eternal
life (Ephesians 1:3). Their souls will be satisfied, for they will have hungered and
thirsted for righteousness. In Christs presence, they will find fullness of joy (Psalm
16:11).
5

A righteous man hates falsehood,

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But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.

There is a clear dichotomy between the righteous and the wicked. There is a clear
dividing line between what is good and what is evil. Wise people choose righteousness,
and they tell the truth because they hate lies. Wicked people act foolishly, shamefully,
and disgustingly because such is the nature of sin. Evil harms people and destroys the
soul, the ultimate disgusting habit, especially in light of the holiness of God.
6

Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless,

But wickedness subverts the sinner.
Following the commands of God doesnt mean no trials or travails will befall a believer,
but it does mean that he will avoid a lot of the needless suffering and traps that those who
love sin and violence create for themselves. Wickedness is not something that the
wicked control, but their wickedness controls them. They are captives of the devil, and it
will destroy them one way or the other eventually. The wages of sin is death.
7

There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;

Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.
Some people like to act like they are rich because they think that they need to do so in
order to make people like them or to find satisfaction. The reality is that they have
nothing. The sad reality is that even if they were poor, they could be rich spiritually
through godliness and contentment which is great profit. Other people who have a lot of
money prefer to act poor because they are afraid that people will only like them for their
money, try to steal their money, or try to leech off of them, among other things. By
giving in secret to the Lord and to those in need and living a quiet life (1 Timothy 2:2)
without being overly lavish and materialistically indulgent, a person who has a lot of
material wealth can avoid some of the deceitfulness of wealth (Matthew 13:22, Proverbs
30:7-9).
8

The ransom of a mans life is his wealth,

But the poor hears no rebuke.
Building on verse 7, the poor dont have to concern themselves with being taken for a
ransom because they have no money to pay a ransom. There is nothing for someone else
to steal or envy. The poor person has his own things that he can worry about, but ransom
and threats from people concerning money is probably not going to be one of them.
9

The light of the righteous rejoices,

But the lamp of the wicked goes out.
The lamp of the wicked is short-lived because eternal punishment in hell will put out
their arrogance and boasting with permanence. The righteous can rejoice, however,
because the light that they have is the Light of Christ in their hearts, and He guarantees
their future eternity in heaven. Thus, even if they suffer loss on earth, they can still
57

rejoice because they can never lose their Savior or their promise of heaven. The wicked
may prosper on earth, but God will settle all accounts so that justice will be served. The
righteous will be rewarded.
10

Through insolence comes nothing but strife,

But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
Stubbornness to receive wise counsel from the Scripture is foolishness, and, since Gods
commands are given for our good and for our protection, those who reject them can
expect to miss out on many of Gods blessings. Sin creates division, partiality, death, and
destruction, but those who listen to Gods Word and receive it in humility will enjoy the
fruits of wisdom, peace, joy, and avoiding so much needless pain.
11

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,

But the one who gathers by labor increases it.
Some people commit fraud and make a lot of money dishonestly. This is, of course,
wrong and against Gods command not to steal. None of this will benefit a person in
eternity, and the wealth gained by dishonest means will rot the soul. Its benefits will
dwindle until eternity swallows it whole. Those who earn a living by honest labor will
find joy in their work, and they will please God as they do their work for Him, rather than
for the approval of people (Colossians 3:23). Honest labor is the only way for wealth to
increase simultaneously with joy and spiritual reward. Even on earth, where fraud
sometimes goes without prosecution, fraudsters constantly have to look over their
shoulders to make sure nobody has found them out or if their associates are going to
backstab them. It makes the bounty gained by fraud of less and less actual value because
of the fear and strife that it brings with it.
12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
It is difficult to wait for something good, but, when it finally arrives, it is well worth the
wait (see also verse 19). For example, many young people dont want to wait until
marriage to consummate the marriage even though God says to do so. The waiting can
feel agonizing to the heart, but, once the wait is ended, it makes the reward that much
more wonderful. The same is true of heaven. It is difficult to long for the day when all
pain and suffering will end when it means waiting, but we must continue to hope in
heaven and labor faithfully. Then, when that day finally arrives, it will be so much better
for we will have prepared our hearts for it.
13

The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,

But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
The debt of our sin was nailed to the cross, and those who put their faith in Christ can be
forgiven of their sin. God will hold man to account for his evil deeds, and only the shed

58

blood of Christ can wipe out the penalty for sin. Those who believe in Christ and who
follow Him in obedience and faith will be rewarded for their faithfulness.
14

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

To turn aside from the snares of death.
Those who know wisdom seek to share it with others so that they can be turned from
their sin to life in Christ. Even believers need to keep hearing the truth of Gods Word,
for they, too, can make sinful decisions which can cause them great harm. Wisdom
always points to truth, to life, and to what is good and what pleases God. The greatest
blessing will always come from obedience to God and wisdom.
15

Good understanding produces favor,

But the way of the treacherous is hard.
Jesus said that following Him is easy in that His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). That
doesnt mean that it is easy to keep from sinning, but what is means is that His commands
are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). Sin is what saps a persons hope, joy, and vitality
(Psalm 32:3-4), but doing the commands of God from faith brings new strength and
renewed joy (Nehemiah 8:10). Continuing to sin and to self-justify, rationalize, and
cover up evil is highly stressful and dangerous. That is a hard way to live. But doing
things Gods way brings life and healing to relationships, hope in eternity, and a purpose
for this life. It leads to others being blessed by our lives as well, but the favor of God is
the blessing we should seek above all else. In His favor is great blessing and life to the
full (John 10:10).
16

Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

But a fool displays folly.
The wisdom of the wise will be evident by how they act and by what they speak. It will
be evident that they have understanding and insight that most lack because they know the
Word. The world may reject that wisdom, preferring their own wisdom which is actually
foolishness. In so doing, they prove themselves to be fools before those who have eyes to
see. The world has many things that they hold to as being truth and wisdom, but they are
false and without knowledge. Gods wisdom is for His people, for in Christ are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). By our fruits, whether those
of wisdom or of folly, we will be known (Matthew 7:20).
17

A wicked messenger falls into adversity,

But a faithful envoy brings healing.
A messenger is somebody that others have to put their trust in. If he is wicked and
doesnt give the message that he was supposed to give, many will be harmed. Those
whom he betrayed will seek to destroy him, and those who benefitted from his treachery
and betrayal wont have any reason to trust him either. Either way, an untrustworthy
messenger is a person who is in great danger. Those who prove themselves faithful to do
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what they were asked to do and to say what they were asked to say are a great blessing to
those who depend upon them. Their lives are a benefit and encouragement to those who
trusted them.
18

Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline,

But he who regards reproof will be honored.
Those who are lazy and who lack diligence because they have no reverence for God and
thus no self-control will suffer loss, whether financial, relational, or a wide variety of
ways. These refuse to be trained by the wisdom of others because they love their evil
ways more. But those who listen to the training of God and the reproof of His Word will
be blessed. God will honor those who honor Him.
19

Desire realized is sweet to the soul,

But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
Fools cannot handle turning away from evil and waiting upon God for provision,
protection, and blessing. They would rather take shortcuts, lie, and deceive than do
things Gods way. They have no patience for the plan of God, and thus they are willing
to settle for less than His best. But those who are willing to wait upon God and do things
His way will find in Him what they really wanted (Psalm 37:4, Ephesians 3:20), and He
will give them the desires of their hearts. He will do beyond what they could ask or
imagine because He is faithful, and He leaves a legacy of goodness and mercy in the lives
of His children (Psalm 23:6). When we realize that God is our chief desire and delight,
we will find sweetness in our souls. When we trust God for His good and perfect gifts
(James 1:17) rather than take sinful shortcuts or half-measures, we will find that our cup
overflows with joy.
20

He who walks with wise men will be wise,

But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33), for being around fools leads to
foolishness multiplying, which never ends well. But being around those who love God
and His wisdom will find that to be contagious if they are humble enough to be taught by
it.
21

Adversity pursues sinners,

But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
Those who make dumb and foolish choices will find that they create needless strife and
adversity for themselves. Those who love righteousness and walk in it will find spiritual
prosperity, and, by avoiding needless pitfalls, God will supply their needs as they seek
first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19). (see also Proverbs 22:5)
22

A good man leaves an inheritance to his childrens children,

And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
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Not everybody will have the worlds goods to be able to pass on to their children, but
those who are able demonstrate wisdom and kindness to pass that wealth on to their
children and grandchildren. But what is more important than financial resources is
passing on the wisdom of God. The joy in giving children financial resources will be
hard to come by if money is going to fools. Thus, wisdom is more valuable of an
inheritance to pass on because its worth is far more than gold, silver, or precious jewels.
Passing on some resources to offspring who love wisdom is simply a means of putting an
opportunity for good and generosity into the hands of those who will steward it wisely. It
is a chance to propagate wisdom and generosity. The most important reward is not
money but eternal, and those who invest their talents wisely will receive honor from
Christ in heaven. The wicked who do not bear fruit and earn a return on the Masters
investment will give what they had been entrusted with to those with many rewards
already (Matthew 25:28). Even on earth, God delights in giving more opportunities to
those who have been faithful with what they have been given already so that they can be
faithful with more. Their opportunity for more spiritual gain may come at the expense or
loss of one who loves evil and sin.
23

Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,

But it is swept away by injustice.
A just thing to do would be to give the poor a chance to work the fields that are lying
fallow for no good reason. Then, they can provide an income for their families, and they
can provide a return on the investment of those who in justice have provided the funds to
begin farming. But injustice scorns the poor and lets opportunities for mutual benefit go
wasting. In evil peoples love for selfish gain and lack of love for those in need, they can
often be blinded by the benefits of helping others.
24

He who withholds his rod hates his son,

But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Just as God disciplines those sons whom He loves, so, too, an earthly father disciplines
his children when they do wrong and rebel against the commands of God. They must
learn that His commands are not burdensome, but they are for their good and well-being.
Thus, discipline demonstrates love, and it needs to be done fairly, without wrath,
consistently, and diligently. It is the parent and child fighting sin together with
understanding, gentleness, and explanation, not a parent lashing out at a child. That is
not discipline but abusive anger.
25

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,

But the stomach of the wicked is in need.
God provides for His children physically (Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians
8:14), but He is most concerned that we are satisfied with righteousness. The wicked
hunger for increasing evil and the latest fix or temporary satiation. Their appetite is never
satisfied because feasting on evil never can satisfy. Hungering and thirsting for
61

righteousness, which is characteristic of the righteous, does provide satisfaction rather

than passing satiation. Wickedness can lead to poverty and hunger, but righteousness is a
blessing to all.

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Proverbs 14
The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31:30), and she is one, whether
married with children or not, who advances the kingdom and orders her life according to
what pleases God. Christ is the only foundation worth building on. The foolish not only
attempt to build their lives on sand, but they also by their sin and poor decisions destroy
themselves. In regard to those women who are married with children, a woman who
fears God will respect her husband, work hard, do her best to not let career overtake her
responsibility to love and care for her children, and be a spiritual glue that holds a home
together in reverence for Christ. She will pass on truths of righteousness, gems of
wisdom, and be an example of love and devotion. A foolish woman spurns her husband,
invites immorality, and regards her children as a burden and a nuisance rather than as a
gift of God.
2

He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,

But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.
The fear of God leads to wise choices and following the commands of God. Those who
do not fear God wont be motivated to turn from sin by faith and obey God. Obedience
before God is evidence of true heart change and indicative of the presence of wisdom.
Those who trick people, lie, and find any way possible to sin prove that they lack wisdom
in their hearts because their hearts are full of hate toward God. Wise people love God,
and foolish people hate Him.
3

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,

But the lips of the wise will protect them.
Foolish people say dumb things, and it gets them into trouble. Wise people control the
words of their mouths so that they dont say things that they will regret.
4

Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,

But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
There is no honor before the Lord in being a servant who goes and buries the talents God
has entrusted him with. God doesnt merely want His initial investment back, for that
takes no faith. Since faith is what pleases God, we must bear fruit and give Him a return
on His investment. This is difficult, it is not always neat and pretty, and there will be
struggles and trouble along the way. A barn might stay nice and clean if there arent any
oxen in it, but oxen are needed despite their messes to generate profit and plow fields.
There is no profit in an empty barn, even if it is spotless and sparkly clean. We must
understand that we are to be workers, we must be willing to spiritually sweat, and we
need to bear fruit by faith.

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A trustworthy witness will not lie,

But a false witness utters lies.
Those who are trustworthy do not change their story as a witness or cover up the truth.
They will speak the truth and protect the innocent life so that justice can be served.
6

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,

But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
A person who lacks faith and the humility to actually want to know the truth can read and
study all they want and yet never come to the truth. But those who humble themselves
before God and seek His wisdom will find it. Those who practice the truth will come to
the Light (John 3:21). They will find the knowledge that they seek in Him. Scoffers
rarely seek wisdom out, but those who actually ask some questions will be too blinded in
their pride and arrogance to identify wisdom when it hits them squarely in the face.
7

Leave the presence of a fool,

Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
Going to a fool to get knowledge is a great way to gain foolishness and be corrupted. We
must be aware that those who love evil and rejoice in error are contagious in terms of
spreading foolishness, and we must avoid their negative influence. We may go to them
with the gospel, but we may not look to them for insight or influence.
8

The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,

But the foolishness of fools is deceit.
God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), for He wants us to know wisdom.
He will give it to those who ask in faith (James 1:5-7). He wants us to understand how
we can best invest our lives and what meaning and purpose is all about. Those who are
wise know what life is about, and they actively seek to do Gods will. Fools wander in
their own deceit, deceiving others along the way, not knowing what they are here for and
not really bothering to care. They are fools to despise the wrath of God and His
judgment, and they do not adjust their lives according to the fear of God. Thus, they have
no wisdom as they reject the revelation of God to them through the creation, through
Christ, through their consciences, and through the canon of Scripture. The Word of God
is a light to the path of the righteous, and His wisdom is a beacon for direction.
9

Fools mock at sin,

But among the upright there is good will.
Fools dont take sin seriously because they dont fear God. They think evil and danger
are almost humorous because they do not care about the goodwill of their fellow man.
The righteous are not consumed by selfishness, but they actually care about the welfare
of others, even ahead of their own (Philippians 2:3-4). Thus, they want others to avoid

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the perils of sin and fear God. It is the only way to life, and His love is the only reliable
motivator for people to care about their fellow man (1 John 4:7-8).
10

The heart knows its own bitterness,

And a stranger does not share its joy.
In the heart is what we really think, feel, and desire. It is the core of who we are and
what drives us. A close friend might be able to be allowed in to know who we really are
and what we are all about. Then he or she can rejoice with us when we rejoice and
mourn with us when we are sad. But the true heart is kept from a mere stranger because
trust is a needed foundation for opening up the insides of our hearts. God knows our
hearts already, and He is trustworthy. Thus, we should always be open, honest, and
vulnerable before Him. Our hearts are safe with Him, and as we delight in Him, He will
give us the desires of our heart.
11

The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

But the tent of the upright will flourish.
Eventually, the wicked will pay for their evil deeds. They may walk into their own traps
and suffer affliction as a result of their evil deeds on earth, though many get away with
evil at least for a time in this life. What is certain is that in eternity God will settle all
accounts, and the boasting of the wicked will be destroyed. The upright may have
trouble in this life, but they will avoid a lot of needless adversity that doing evil and
foolish things creates. The ultimate expression of the blessing and favor of God will
come for the righteous in eternity, when they will inherit their promised eternal life. That
is a house with a foundation built on Christ that will last, and even death and Satan
cannot interfere to destroy that house.
12

There is a way which seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.
Man needs to understand that in his natural state as a captive of the devil and as one born
with a sin nature (Romans 3:23) and deceitful heart (Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 17:9) that he
is prone to do wrong and to love evil more than good. Original sin is a reality ever since
the fall, and those who have a nature bent toward sin go ahead and commit sin. The
wages of that sin is death and eternal condemnation in hell. Man laughs at God, the Bible,
and Jesus even though the evidence is everywhere to validate what is true in creation, the
conscience, the canon of Scripture, and the cross. Thinking he is wise, he is in fact
foolish, for his wicked and fallen heart has led him astray. (see also Proverbs 16:25, 21:2)
13

Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,

And the end of joy may be grief.
It is possible to laugh even when the heart is struggling with great sorrow, pain, and grief.
That doesnt mean that a person is actually joyful inside just because he is drowning his
sorrows with some distraction or coping mechanism. True joy means dealing with the
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sorrow in the heart and finding joy in Christ. The ironic thing, though, is that there is a
cost to finding true joy and satisfaction in Christ, and it is that the gospel brings a sword
of division between those who follow Christ and those who do not. Thus, there is grief
that follows finding the joy of Christ as Christians may suffer, lose friendships, suffer
persecution, or even be disowned by family on account of their faith. But, as Paul said,
the joy of knowing Christ is of such a greater value than all that we might otherwise
consider gain (Philippians 3:8). The joy of knowing Christ ultimately outweighs the cost
of following Him.
14

The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied with his.
True Christians will have fruit to validate the reality of their faith (Matthew 7:20). They
will stumble in many ways (James 3:2), and they may even seem to go backward in their
faith for a while. But true believers will endure to the end because Christ will finish the
work He began in their hearts (Philippians 1:6). This is not to say that they cannot make
shipwreck of their faith (1 Timothy 1:19) or become disqualified in terms of their
Christian testimony (1 Corinthians 9:27). But it is to say that true believers by the grace
of God will persevere to the end because God will perfect what He started (Hebrews
12:1-2). Not even Satan can take a believer out of Gods hand (John 10:28), and even
those believers who finish life with a whimper spiritually will still be glorified with God
in Christ. But they will persevere in that Christ will keep them and constantly work
through His Spirit to convict their hearts of sin. Those who harden themselves against
the truth because of a chosen rebellion to sin must be, after confrontation by other
believers, put out of fellowship and turned over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh
with the hope that it will preserve their soul (1 Corinthians 5:5). That is, if a person is
truly saved, the junkfood of Satan just will not be enough, and people who truly know
God and the choice delicacies of His Word will return to fellowship and repent.
However, there are others who go away from the family of God because they never were
of the family of God (1 John 2:19). They were faking it, initially getting excited about
Jesus but never really surrendering to Him. These backslide because they go back to
being who they really are in their hearts. Allowing them to continue in fellowship is the
worst thing possible because they dont have any fellowship and could be deceived into
thinking that they are eternally safe when they are not. Sin must be confronted and
pointed out.
In Christ, we are new creations with new hearts that are controlled by love (2 Corinthians
5:14) and which possess the desires of the heart of God. Thus, a good man is a man with
a changed heart and who is indwelt by Christ and controlled by His love to do the good
works that He has prepared for him to do. His desires align with Gods increasingly as he
delights in Him, and he is satisfied with doing the work of God and enjoying Him. He
recognizes the futility and stupidity of sin and its inability to satisfy, and he increasingly
sees the abundant wisdom of God and the benefits of doing His will.
15

The naive believes everything,

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But the sensible man considers his steps.

A nave person is overly trusting of people because he underestimates the nature of the
heart of sinful man. He is easily taken by deception because he isnt looking out for his
steps. He is not expecting to be tricked, trapped, or devoured. He thinks that people are
generally good, and his view of sin, Satan, and evil is warped. The nave are prone to
destruction because of their lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6), and this is why learning the
Scripture is so important (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17). It is also wise to prepare children
and those we are responsible to teach of the reality of living in a fallen world. They need
to be taught to think through what they are doing and why and what they believe and
why. Otherwise, they will likely fall into deceit, get taken advantage of, and suffer great
harm. We can get into trouble by rebelling against God or by being deceived on account
of being nave. Both are dangerous, and the cure for being nave is wisdom and
Scriptural understanding. We should be innocent of evil but experts in righteousness
(Romans 16:19). We should be shrewd as serpents (Matthew 10:16) when it comes to
dealing with the serpent, Satan, and his followers as well as his captives, fallen man.
16

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,

But a fool is arrogant and careless.
Scripture commands us to consider the days as being evil so that we can walk
circumspectly as one who is wise (Ephesians 5:15-16). This means that we are to be
aware of the reality of the spiritual battle going on around us, we ought to possess an
urgency to advance truth and the gospel, and we must carefully consider how we spend
our time and invest our talents. A wise person turns away from evil because he realizes
that God sees all, and he wants to bring the heart of God joy and gain eternal rewards.
He is concerned about his testimony because he doesnt want to interfere with being able
to shine the light of Christ. Fools take dumb risks and do dumb things because they
overestimate their strength and ability, and they dont think through things, particularly in
light of what God would think or what would matter in view of eternity. Fools have a
very shallow, selfish, and short-sighted perspective, but the wise live in light of the life to
come.
17

A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,

And a man of evil devices is hated.
A foolish person is easily provoked to anger and to acting out rashly in wrath and
revenge. Those who harm others and make them live in fear and oppression because of
their many evil devices are hated by those whom they harm and by those who wish to see
them come to justice.
18

The naive inherit foolishness,

But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
The consequence of being nave is more foolishness, and the results of foolishness are
destruction, shame, and dishonor. Those who act in good sense, meaning that they value
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the Scripture and live according to the fear of God, will inherit the crown of life (James
1:12) and increasing knowledge and understanding.
19

The evil will bow down before the good,

And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
In life, sometimes evil people rule over the good, but ultimately all people must bow
before the Savior (Philippians 2:10). The righteous will be honored on the day of
judgment, while the evil will be cast into the fire of hell. Finally, the good in Christ will
be honored and exalted as fairness and justice are executed by the Savior. The wicked
will not enter the gates of heaven, but the righteous will be granted entrance and eternal
honor.
20

The poor is hated even by his neighbor,

But those who love the rich are many.
People in their natural state are selfish to the core because of their wicked hearts. They
like the worlds goods, and they hate those who are needy, poor, and who can offer them
nothing to make them feel better about themselves. But wealth is deceptive because
many people associate with rich people because of their money. It makes wicked people
feel better about themselves to have friends in high places, and they hope they might
share in the bounty. Rich people get much attention, fame, and worship in this life, but
the poor are often neglected and forgotten. This is why part of being a Christian is to
value those whom the world doesnt value and to love those whom the world scorns
(Proverbs 14:21, 31; 31:20). This doesnt mean that the rich dont need the love of Christ
also, for they do. However, it means that Christianity is distinct in that it doesnt promote
partiality and favoritism toward the rich, the famous, and the noble of the earth (James
2:9).
21

He who despises his neighbor sins,

But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.
Love for all people is characteristic of true believers (John 13:34-35), and loving our
neighbor as ourselves is one of Christs two greatest commandments, the first being to
love God with our entire being (Matthew 22:39). Those who love God by necessity are
transformed by that love such that they are moved to love others (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Those who do not do so act sinfully and in contradiction with the nature and will of God.
Those who love God and act on that love by giving to those in need and showing them
that they care for them will find great joy in their selfless act of worship in being gracious
to the poor. The ultimate gift is seeing a persons heart open and glorify God on account
of the Christians faithful and good works (Matthew 5:16).
22

Will they not go astray who devise evil?

But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

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Those who devise evil may get away with it for a while, and some may not suffer duly
throughout the course of their entire lives. Typically, evil leads to needless pain and
suffering, but even if it does not on earth, it will earn them an eternity in hell. But those
who seek to come up with good things to do as God leads them will find that promoting
kindness and truth is a very fulfilling and worthwhile objective. It will be accompanied
by many eternal rewards as well.
23

In all labor there is profit,

But mere talk leads only to poverty.
Those who work faithfully, quietly, and honestly will find benefit, financial and spiritual,
in their labor if they do what they do to the honor and glory of Christ. In work, it is
tempting to focus on making others happy when the ultimate focus needs to be on making
God happy through what we do (Colossians 3:17, 23). He is honored by a good heart
attitude and a testimony that reflects the fruit of the Spirit. Those who dont work and
value laziness instead will find that just merely running their mouths will not make
money or feed their stomachs. Some people talk big of themselves and what they are
going to do in their lives, while others get to work and actually do the will of God.
24

The crown of the wise is their riches,

But the folly of fools is foolishness.
Wisdom may lead to earthly prosperity, but following Christ is no guarantee of health,
wealth, and prosperity. A large bank account does not validate whether or not one has
wisdom. Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds (Matthew 11:19), meaning that a life lived
for Christ and in light of the many spiritual riches that we have in Christ is what counts.
The riches of eternity are far more valuable than any dollars we might accrue on earth.
Storing up treasures in heaven as a result of wise living is a crown of honor and true
wealth. Fools, on the other hand, commit folly because they love foolishness. It is who
they are, it is what they do, and it is what they love. It will end badly for them.
25

A truthful witness saves lives,

But he who utters lies is treacherous.
Those who tell the truth allow justice to function properly, but bearing false witness is a
treacherous act and a betrayal against the innocent, the justice system, people in general,
and certainly against God. The truth might hurt, but it also protects, preserves, sets free
the innocent, and saves.
26

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,

And his children will have refuge.
There is great confidence in knowing that we are the Lords and that we will go to be
with Him forever in eternity. In life, we will always be able to find comfort in His
presence, confidence in His promise, and certainty in His Word. There is great refuge in

69

knowing that we belong to the Sovereign of the Universe. Not even Satan himself can
pluck us out of His hand.
27

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

That one may avoid the snares of death.
The fear of the Lord leads to eternal life and eternal rewards, and it avoids a lot of
needless trouble on earth that being a fool necessarily involves. Those who live
according to Gods commandments because they want to please Him above all else
knowing they will be held to account for how they live their lives are wise. As their lives
demonstrate the power of the cross and as they speak boldly the truth of Christ, life can
come to others as well.
28

In a multitude of people is a kings glory,

But in the dearth of people is a princes ruin.
A king that doesnt have the backing, support, and devotion of his people is in trouble,
but those who have the affection of their people will see that their rule can be established.
As more people come to the kingdom to enjoy prosperity, justice, and opportunity, a
kings glory advances because his country advances.
29

He who is slow to anger has great understanding,

But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
It is wise to not be easily provoked to anger. Some people like a good fight to prove how
tough they are. But those who give a gentle answer turn away wrath and show people
that the peace of God is more important than promoting selfish gain. It is evidence of
foolishness to have a short fuse and quick temper.
30

A tranquil heart is life to the body,

But passion is rottenness to the bones.
A heart filled with Gods peace that surpasses understanding is a healthy place to be.
Gods peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ. It protects us from being consumed
by evil passions and desires which eat us away spiritually, emotionally, and physically. It
is good to be zealous for God and for good works, but the fire of hate, wrath, and
vengeance destroys. Christians should be those who have forgiven others because they
have been forgiven in Christ, they should not hold grudges, they should not be driven or
consumed by unrighteous anger, and they should be quiet in spirit, tranquil of heart, and
peaceable by nature.
31

He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,

But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
Taunting God is never a wise decision, for vengeance is the Lords. He will pour out the
wrath which He stores up on account of the wicked deeds of evil people. One sure way
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to mock God is to exploit and extort those in need. When the rich take advantage of the
poor and cause them to suffer unjustly, it angers God. God cares about the poor just as
He cares about all people. Since He is love, He longs to see people get enough food,
drink, clothing, shelter, etc. Kindly helping the poor is a way to love Jesus Himself if
done with a heart that worships Him (Matthew 25:31-46). Good societal works is not the
gospel, but it is evidence of the gospel and a way to see God open doors for the gospel
(Matthew 5:16, John 13:34-35). Those who are gracious to the poor honor God. As a
church, we should be sure to care for those in the household of faith (Galatians 6:10), but
we should also be focused on those who are rejected and neglected by our society. God
is a gracious God, and true religion is meeting the needs of orphans and widows in their
distress (James 1:27). Christianity that has no compassion or desire to help the hurting is
a sorry picture of the love and grace of God.
32

The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,

But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.
The wicked may prosper in life, and this can be very frustrating for a good person (Psalm
73). Furthermore, the righteous may suffer disproportionately in this life. But ultimately
the righteous person has a refuge in Christ when he dies, but the wicked with be cast
down to hell on account of his wrongdoing. God will render to each according to his
deeds. He will pour out His just wrath and take vengeance on evil people. He will see to
it that the righteous are rewarded.
33

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,

But in the hearts of fools it is made known.
Fools reveal that they are fools by their deeds and by what they speak. Eventually what
is inside a persons heart overflows into their actions. A person can pretend for a time in
regard to who they are and what they love, but eventually the heart will win out. Those
who have wisdom in their hearts will see fruit in their lives that bear that out. The wise
treasure understanding in their hearts, but the fool mocks, laughs, and is provoked to
anger when wisdom knocks on the door of his heart.
34

Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a disgrace to any people.
The funny thing about people who are born with a sin nature and are bent toward sinful
behavior is that, because they do have a conscience and because sin is destructive, they
do see righteousness in general as a good thing. They just dont adhere to it very well.
However, it is also true that they confuse what is wise and what is right, but it is a rare
person who will actually say that honesty, justice, fairness, etc. are bad things. It is rare
that even an unsaved person would prefer to live in a nation that ignores liberty and
individual rights, for example. Righteousness does exalt a nation, for godly values create
a better living environment. Nations ruled by wicked people and who have no rule of law
are viewed by those who have any sense as unjust, undesirable, and even backward. Sin
is a disgrace to a country certainly by Gods standards but often even by those of fallen
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man. As a nation moves away from God and His righteousness, it can expect more
turmoil, more division, more trouble, more destruction, more uprisings, and more
difficulty. Righteousness brings stability, peace, fairness, justice and better conditions
for living and prosperity overall. When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But
when a wicked man rules, people groan (Proverbs 29:2).
35

The kings favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,

But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.
A servant who does good for the kingdom and adds benefit to the welfare of all is a value
to a king with any sense at all. His favor should be upon such a person. A servant who is
lazy, corrupt, or dishonest should anger a king who has any value for righteousness.
Regardless of how people respond, it is always the right thing to do what we do for God
according to what honors Him. Daniel did this, and it cost him a night in the lions den
because of the foolishness of King Darius. But the king also was fond of him because he
knew that he was a man of wisdom who had never done the king any wrong. Daniel had
the kings favor because he acted wisely and did the king no harm but only good, though
He always served God above all.

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Proverbs 15
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
When somebody is trying to get a rise out of us, we fall right into their trap if we react
with a quick temper, with violence, or with an angry outburst. A harsh word in response
to a person who likes to pick fights only stirs up anger by adding fuel to the fire. We are
better off giving a gentle answer to show that a person is better off picking a fight with
somebody else who will make a better sparring partner. Other times, we are best to just
walk away or say nothing.
2

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,

But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
Part of wisdom is trying to convince and reason with others to show them what is good
and right. Sinful people are blinded toward the truth of Scripture, and there is a time to
reason with them according to wisdom so that they can discern knowledge by the grace
of God. They need to see that what they are saying against God and His Word is plain
folly and that it indicts them as being foolish. The commandments of God are given to
show the fool the exceeding sinfulness of his sin and the error of his ways (Romans
7:13). Wisdom comes as people come to see the truth, fear God, and seek His
forgiveness.
3

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Watching the evil and the good.
God sees all and will render to each according to his deeds at judgment time. He will
also support in this life those whose hearts are wholly His. He will enable them to bear
abundant fruit to His glory. God keeps account of all the evil that evil people commit,
and they will face His wrath one day. The righteous will not face Gods wrathful
judgment for their sin because Christ paid the penalty for it (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2
Thessalonians 1:9-10). Christians will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ on the
basis of their faithfulness and stewardship (2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15),
while unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire upon facing sentencing at the Great
White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). There is wrath to come for the unsaved.
4

A soothing tongue is a tree of life,

But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Those who speak the truth encourage, equip, correct when necessary, and empower with
words of life (Hebrews 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:6).
Truth and the promises of God are like soothing ointment to a confused mind or wounded
heart. Those who speak lies and deceit, who are devoid of wisdom, or who just have
nothing of value to say discourage those who could use a good word (Proverbs 12:25).

73

A fool rejects his fathers discipline,

But he who regards reproof is sensible.
Wisdom is proven by ones ability to respond humbly and obediently to training in
righteousness and to the truth of Gods Word. Loving fathers who fear God will teach
and train their children according to the commands and ways of God (Deuteronomy 6:7,
11:19). A foolish child will spurn that teaching, but a wise young person heeds sound
doctrine (Ephesians 6:1).
6

Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,

But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
The righteous will store up treasures in heaven and eternal rewards, but the wicked will
suffer great loss and spend eternity in hell. No amount of wealth can outweigh the
trouble that evil brings, particularly in light of incurring Gods wrath. Believers, even if
they are poor in this life, have great eternal riches in Christ and every spiritual blessing
(Psalm 16:11, Ephesians 1:3).
7

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

But the hearts of fools are not so.
Wise people want others to understand wisdom because they recognize that its value is
far beyond anything this world has to offer. They want others to have the joy and hope
that they have. They want to teach others the ways of God and how to follow Him.
Fools could care less about following God and about wisdom. Full of selfishness and
delight in their sin, they could care less about the welfare of others. Fools are unable to
offer others the help of valuable knowledge and insight even if they wanted to because
they do not know wisdom in Christ.
8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
God delights in obedience more than sacrifice because to Him it is the heart that matters
(1 Samuel 15:22). Any person can perform some religious ritual to attempt to externally
cleanse himself or to impress God, but God wants to clean up the inside of a person by
regenerating his heart. Thus, those who perform empty religious acts by maintaining a
form of godliness while still denying the power of God (2 Timothy 3:5) to change their
hearts make God very angry. What people think is a checkmark in the column of
goodness in their file of hoping to earn enough points to get into heaven is actually an
abominable act before God. Even the righteous sacrifices of a fallen heart are displeasing
to God and like filthy rags before Him (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23). Only the cleansing of
the blood of Christ can please a holy and perfect God. He desires to give grace to the
humble, but the proud who are confident in their self-generated and self-aggrandizing
deeds must be brought low. God delights in the prayer of those who are upright in heart
because Christ intercedes for them and allows them to bring their requests before God
(Hebrews 4:15-16). God looks forward to hearing them cast their cares upon Him, for He
74

cares for them (1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6-7). In their humility, they seek Gods help,
while the arrogant choose not to depend on God for anything. Even prayer from a
wicked person is a repulsive thing to God. If an entire country started going to church,
praying, and doing some good deeds, it wouldnt please God if their hearts did not belong
to Him. A true gospel is everything because only the gospel can change a people from
the inside out and make their good works pleasing to God because they will be generated
by the Spirit and not by some selfish, pride-filled motive. Only the heart that has freely
received of Gods freely given grace can freely give such grace and love to others (1 John
4:7-8). Obedience to the gospel is what counts, not vain religion.
9

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

But He loves one who pursues righteousness.
There are two distinctions throughout Proverbs and throughout the Bible. On one side is
the righteous, wise person who is loved and accepted by God on account of his faith in
Christ. On the other hand is the foolish, wicked person who continues to store up Gods
wrath for himself. One lives a life of abomination, and the other pursues righteousness
by the grace of God which is at work in his heart. There is no in between category of a
person that is basically or mostly good, for these people still fall into the category of
being abominable. When man comes to see that he is so far short of Gods standards and
grace and that his very life is an affront to God, then maybe he will be motivated to value
the cross and respond in faith. The proud must see the sinfulness of their sin so that they
fall upon the grace of God (Romans 7:13).
10

Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;

He who hates reproof will die.
Those who hear the truth of the gospel and yet reject it will find an eternity in hell. The
only unforgiveable sin is to reject the call of the Holy Spirit by blaspheming Him with
hard hearts that love sin and spurn the grace of God (Luke 12:10). Those who do not
respond in faith and humility to the revelation of God to man (God has revealed Himself
through the conscience (Romans 1:32), through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17), through
Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2), and through the creation (Psalm 19:1-2, Romans 1:18-21)) will
pay, for they have made a mockery of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Those who are
unwilling to respond to the truth when it hits them squarely in the face will suffer and pay
the penalty. On the other hand, those who seek the truth and practice it will find the
Light in Christ (John 3:21).
11

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord,

How much more the hearts of men!
God has the power to cast into hell, and thus the wicked need to learn to fear Him and
turn from their sins (Luke 12:5). He alone has the power over death, yet man thinks very
little about life after death. He sees the real state of all peoples hearts, for they lie open
before Him. It is foolishness to believe that God cannot see or that God is irrelevant or
absent. Nothing escapes His notice, and those who are sensitive to His Word will
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respond humbly and obediently to seek His forgiveness. People must understand that
Satan doesnt rule over hell like some sort of crime boss, but he will be sentenced to
suffer in it along with those whom he has deceived (Revelation 20:10). It is God Who
has the power to cast into hell, for hell is the way He will pour out His wrath on
unbelievers.
12

A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,

He will not go to the wise.
The fool scoffs at truth and hates to be confronted with correction. He is not going to
seek out wisdom from the Bible or from people who could share with him wisdom from
the Bible. He enjoys his folly and error and the company of other scoffers and mockers
of truth.
13

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,

But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
It is possible to force a smile even when the heart is sorrowful, but a joyful heart leads to
a true, full, and genuinely happy and uplifted countenance (Genesis 4:7). A sad heart
breaks the spirit by sapping energy, hope, and passion. There is a time to mourn with
those who mourn and weep with those who weep so that they can be comforted and
encouraged to press on. It is not wrong to be sad as a Christian or to feel discouraged at
times. It is how we respond when we are in the valleys of life that counts. We need to
remember that Jesus traverses the valleys of death with us and comforts us with His
presence (Psalm 23:4-6). It is by His strength that we can endure, His mercies are new
every morning, His faithfulness is great (Lamentations 3:22-25), He does exceedingly
beyond all that we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), and He is an expert at turning
sorrow into gladness and weeping into joy (Esther 9:22).
14

The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
A high intelligence doesnt equate to having true knowledge, just as a fast processor on a
computer doesnt equate to having lots of data stored on the hard drive. Real knowledge
comes by those who study the world with Scripture as a foundation and faith as a
magnifying glass. Many very smart people end up saying very dumb things and creating
foolish theories because they lack wisdom. They hate God enough that they try to reason
Him away, and they ignore the Bible enough that they come up with some ideas that are
actually useless and even sometimes harmful. Their foolish hearts cause them to want to
feed on error, so they study other peoples error and further advance error. Thinking they
are wise, they have become fools (Romans 1:22), for they loved the wisdom of the world
which is foolishness before God (1 Corinthians 1:20). They preferred the approval of
man rather than the approval of God.
15

All the days of the afflicted are bad,

But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
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Jesus said that we will have trouble in this world. Some Christians spend much of their
life in pain, in prison, or with some form of suffering. Much that is bad characterizes
their lives. Yet, even so, their hearts can have a continual feast and celebration that this
life is not all that there is, that they have been counted worthy to suffer shame for the
sake of His name, and that hope fast approaches with heaven promised to them. The
believer has Jesus Himself in his heart in Whom there is fullness of joy and eternal
pleasures and treasures. What is earthly affliction compared to that? In the heat of the
battle and in the depth of affliction, that may be tough to remember, but we must recall it
to mind so that we can endure and worship God until our final breath.
16

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
Great treasure is eternal treasure, and it is better to lack the resources of the world and to
still have that treasure than to have all the resources of the world but have nothing after
death. Eternal treasure far outweighs and outranks the treasures of this world. The stuff
wicked people put their hope and confidence in will one day burn when God creates a
new heaven and earth, but eternal treasure will exist forever. Even on earth, one can find
greater joy with fewer possessions but with the abundant life of Christ than with all that
the world has to offer but without He Who alone satisfies the soul.
17

Better is a dish of vegetables where love is

Than a fattened ox served with hatred.
It is better to lack the luxuries of life and have loving friends and family than to sit at the
table of rich fools who hate each other, you included, and the poor.
18

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
This verse corresponds to verse 1 by emphasizing that those who are quick to anger add
fuel to the fiery rampage of violent men. Those who dont get worked up quickly and
easily because they dont like fighting and prefer to be peacemakers tend to calm disputes
and help leveler heads prevail. Christians are to do whatever they can to live peaceably
with others, not to stir up strife (Romans 12:18).
19

The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,

But the path of the upright is a highway.
Walking into a hedge of thorns hurts, but being able to journey down a cleared highway
is much smoother. A lazy persons life is unproductive and held back by sin from
bearing fruit for the kingdom. Sadly, too many like this are content with thorns because
they view a highway as too hard, too much work not worth their while, and not valuable
enough. The righteous are filled with the Spirit and operating by the strength and power
of God to advance the church. God has cleared a way for His gospel such that the gates
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of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18), and He opens doors for the effective
furtherance of the gospel (1 Corinthians 16:9). He will not be thwarted, and those who
are wise travel His highway with the pedal to the metal (1 Corinthians 9:24). (see also
Proverbs 16:17)
20

A wise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish man despises his mother.
For parents that have any sense, having a child that grows up to love the Lord is a great
joy, and there would be little to compare to the sorrow that would accompany seeing
ones child reject the gospel.
21

Folly is joy to him who lacks sense,

But a man of understanding walks straight.
Fools like their sin and doing dumb things. They like to try to get others to approve and
validate their spiritual idiocy. Their passion and desire are for dysfunction, sinful
pleasure, and destruction. Those who have understanding hate sin, error, and the
devastating effects of sin because they know it grieves Gods heart and saps their joy.
They long to see others fear God also and begin to take His Word seriously. But fools
enjoy the error of their ways, and it is very difficult to make a person who is happy being
stupid see joy in being wise.
22

Without consultation, plans are frustrated,

But with many counselors they succeed.
The number of counselors is futile unless wisdom is present in their hearts. As many
who know and love God get together, pray together, and dissect His Word together, wise
decisions can be made that benefit all and honor God. When planning, it helps to have
those who can offer wisdom and insight so that plans, choices, and actions can be most
reflective of what God would want. That defines true success (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
23

A man has joy in an apt answer,

And how delightful is a timely word!
Wisdom enables a person to give sound advice and encouragement when it is needed, and
it is life and joy to those who are humble enough to receive it (Ephesians 4:29,
Colossians 4:6, Proverbs 12:25).
24

The path of life leads upward for the wise

That he may keep away from Sheol below.
Those who are wise believe the gospel and seek to bear abundant fruit for the kingdom.
They keep persevering in righteousness and growing up to maturity in the truth. The fear
of God motivates them to love Him, and the love of God for them motivates them to rest
in His embrace all the more (2 Corinthians 5:14). Gods kindness leads them to keep
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repenting and growing (Romans 2:4), and they are thankful that God has saved them
from the fire of hell. The fear of God is the beginning point for wisdom, and it starts
when fools fear the God Who has the authority to cast their souls into hell. The gospel
takes a life that is in a downward trajectory in regard to eternity, and it redirects its vector
in an upward direction through faith in Christ. Paul said that it was his goal to keep
pressing on according to the upward call in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). We should
want to keep growing in how we mirror His likeness and bring Him glory.
25

The Lord will tear down the house of the proud,

But He will establish the boundary of the widow.
Widows, like orphans, tend to get neglected and forgotten. Womens property rights like
many of their rights were easily violated if they even existed at all. Proud, wicked people
could and would try to take their possessions and even their land. But God will one day
make the proud, violent, and oppressive people pay, and a widow that fears God will be
highly exalted in heaven even if considered low on the food chain on earth.
26

Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,

But pleasant words are pure.
It is an offense against God to ponder wrong thoughts and start plotting evil deeds.
Rather, we should meditate and reflect upon the pleasant words of Scripture, for they will
help us to purify our hearts and not be double-minded (James 4:8). Christians are to
think on what is good, noble, right, and pure, not on what will defile our minds and
consciences (Philippians 4:8). From a pure heart come good and edifying words that
please God.
27

He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.
Those who gain by illicit means will often suffer as a result. Obviously, there are eternal
consequences, but when committing crimes and cheating people out of money, one
should not underestimate the wrath of other evil people. Even family and loved ones can
be harmed on account of taking shortcuts and stealing. Taking a bribe means entering a
world of deception, lying, and looking the other way when evil is committed. If
somebody thinks that the bond of secrecy is broken, it might cost a person his life.
Wickedness doesnt pay, even if people get away with it in the short run. It is not a
peaceful way to live, but it is a life of fear, bondage, and looking over ones shoulder.
28

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Being a wise person doesnt mean that we always have the answer right away. It may
mean that we need to slow down, meditate on Gods Word, and think through what God
has to say on a matter. A fool is quick to open his mouth and give dumb advice that will
in all likelihood have some rather adverse consequences. Sometimes we need to keep
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searching things out according to the Scripture until we know for sure what we must do.
God promises to give wisdom to His children who ask Him in faith without doubting.
God will never hold back wisdom from those who need it and ask Him for it (James 1:57). He wants us to know what we should do, but sometimes we must be patient.
29

The Lord is far from the wicked,

But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Those who are not washed in the blood of Christ cannot approach the presence of God
because of His holiness. But those who have been redeemed can boldly approach the
throne of grace to offer their requests in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). God hears the
prayers of His children because He sees them in the righteousness of Christ. The wicked
cannot ask anything of God until they ask for His forgiveness. Until then, they are
enemies with God and separated from Him on account of their sin.
30

Bright eyes gladden the heart;

Good news puts fat on the bones.
True joy is contagious, and people who are encouraged in the Lord are the best
encouragers of others. Being a Christian is not about the power of positive thinking and
just trying to always put a rosy spin on life. Joy is sourced in truth and the promises of
God, and it is the gospel, the Scripture, and the testimony of believers as they have seen
God deliver on His promises that provides the best encouragement (Psalm 32:11, 35:9,
Philippians 4:4).
31

He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof

Will dwell among the wise.
Those who are humble enough to have ears to hear the wisdom from God will turn from
their sins, love Jesus, and seek to grow in wisdom according to His Word (John 10:10).
32

He who neglects discipline despises himself,

But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.
Wise people respond to the teaching of Scripture and to the godly discipline of godly
parents and teachers. To refuse to humble oneself before Gods Word and His authority
is not just to hate God but to hate oneself because sin always destroys. The result of
heeding sound teaching and reproof is growth, joy, wisdom, and understanding so that a
person can be ready for every good work that God has for him to do (2 Timothy 3:16-17,
Ephesians 2:10).
33

The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,

And before honor comes humility.
The fear of the Lord motivates a person to get his soul right before God by receiving the
gospel, and it encourages the believer to live a life pleasing to God so as not to be
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ashamed at Christs coming (1 John 2:28). The Christian doesnt have to fear the fire of
hell, but he will suffer regret and sorrow if at the judgment seat of Christ he has little that
endure the fiery test (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10). God will honor those
who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30) with their lives by faith and because of their
transformation through Jesus Christ. Seeking to order ones life in a way to honor God is
evidence of a humble heart. This stands in contrast to the wicked heart that hates
correction, truth, and the commands of God. In pride it stands in scoffing defiance
against God, and destruction will be its end.

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Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Man can think what he is going to think, but it requires the grace of God to be able to
speak something honoring to God. He ultimately deserves all the credit for how He
works in and through His servants to do good. A man in his natural state will find that
his wicked heart overtakes even the best laid plans and his most noble intentions. As
Gods grace works in a humble heart that wants to practice the truth, God will reveal
Himself through Christ to that heart (John 3:21). A man plans his way, but the Lord
directs His steps (Proverbs 16:9). Ultimately, we are all needy creatures who are
dependent upon our Creator for life, breath, strength, and doing good (John 15:5). By
grace through faith in the finished work of Christ is how any enduring good happens.
2

All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,

But the Lord weighs the motives.
Man in his natural state doesnt realize how evil he is. He is prone to rationalize and selfjustify, not realizing that he has broken, for example, all ten commandments when it
comes to the thoughts and intentions of his heart. The Lord sees all including the motives
of the heart. None of us will pass Gods test for holiness, for we have all sinned and
fallen short (Romans 3:23). We all need the grace of God manifested through the gift of
salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).
3

Commit your works to the Lord

And your plans will be established.
We can plan all we want, but unless we are doing what God wants, we cannot expect His
support and power behind what we are doing. Psalm 127:1 says that those who build
labor in vain unless God is building the house. The idea is that we must submit to Gods
will for our lives, acknowledge our insufficiency while casting ourselves on His
sufficiency, and trust Him in all our ways. As we desire what He desires, we will do
what He wants us to do (Psalm 37:4). We must always be willing to adjust our plans as
God leads. But if he has made it clear that we need to do something, it will be sin for us
if we do not do it (James 4:17). When we know we are doing Gods will, we must not let
ourselves be swayed. Satan will definitely try to sway us, distract us, discourage us,
deceive us, or throw us off course, but we must take advantage of the opportunities that
God gives us.
4

The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,

Even the wicked for the day of evil.
God desires that none should perish and that all would come to receive His Son (2 Peter
3:9), but the reality is that a majority will not because they love darkness more than light
(John 3:19). Still Jesus was willing to die and rise again so that those who would believe
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could be saved (Romans 11:32). The wicked will suffer in the day of the Lords wrath,
but that is not Gods fault but their own. He will not force anyone to believe in Him.
Neither will he force them not to believe. God does harden hearts, but it will be
deservedly so. No man goes to hell for crimes he didnt commit.
The Lord has a purpose and plan in all that He does, and given how much smarter He is
than we are, our best strategy is not to make plans independent of Him but fully in
consultation with His Word. Life is not random, and the world is not a product of chance
and chaotic accidents. God is sovereign over all, and nothing happens without His
oversight. Gods sovereignty is really more than our minds can fathom, but it should be
our comfort because it means that Satan is not calling the shots and that God is always on
the throne. We can rest in the fact that He causes all things to work for our good. That
God is sovereign should be a fear factor for the unbeliever but a source of comfort for
those who have submitted to His plans. Even each and every believer has specific good
works that God prepared beforehand for them to do (Ephesians 2:10).
5

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;

Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
Punishment is what happens to those who have stored up Gods wrath for themselves on
account of their pride and arrogance. They will be brought low because one day all knees
will bow before Jesus. Their pride will blind them from turning to Christ for salvation,
and they will suffer the wrath of God in the day of judgment. As believers, we need to be
mindful of the work of Christ so that we dont start to put confidence in the flesh, a form
of pride, thereby inviting the loving discipline of God. We need to be cognizant of our
dependency on the sufficiency of Christ and of His strength despite our weakness. He is
sovereign, He has planned everything with a purpose (v. 4), and He directs our steps (v.
9).
6

By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,

And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
This verse is critical to understanding the gospel. Lovingkindness encapsulates Gods
unchanging merciful and gracious nature and just how much He loves the world and
desires them to repent. But because of His justice and holiness, He cant just give people
a free pass and let them into heaven. Then He wouldnt be just any longer, and God
Himself would have fallen, something that obviously never will happen. Thus, God must
punish sinners. However, God did make a way for sinners to be saved through the
sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ. Though He never sinned, all of our sin was placed
upon Him so that our sin debt could be repaid. So God demonstrated His mercy in
sending Jesus to atone for our iniquity, and in so doing He also upheld truth, justice, and
holiness. Furthermore, those who come to God for salvation have only one road through
which they can enter, that of the shed blood of Christ. He is the truth, singular, and there
is no other way for salvation. If people desire to have their sins wiped away, they must
come believing in Gods merciful forgiveness through the truth of the necessary sacrifice
of Christ which alone can appease Gods justice. Those who fear God and His power to
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justly cast into hell will turn from evil and seek out salvation through His Son. Those
who do not fear God demonstrate that they hate truth, are not afraid of His holiness, and
could care less for His mercy, even the very fact that He gave up His Son to die for sin.
This pride and selfishness will not go unpunished.
7

When a mans ways are pleasing to the Lord,

He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
The fullness of this truth applied to Israel in the Old Testament based upon the covenant
of blessing or cursing in Deuteronomy 11:23, 26-27. God would drive out their enemies
before them if they were obedient to His commands. But it is also true that God is a
protector of His children. He is our Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:1), warding off threats and
guarding the sheep. He hedges us in behind and before, and lays His hand on us (Psalm
139:5). Nothing can take us out of His hand, and we are told not to fear because He
upholds us with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). The wicked have no offer or
hope of divine protection, but God protects us in ways that we are not even aware of. He
does give us favor with our enemies at times, just as He did with Joseph in a foreign
country, and He does watch over His own. The best way to get along with people who
would be our enemies is to be kind to them. Proverbs 25:21-22 says, If your enemy is
hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will
heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you. People are much more
likely to show kindness in return to a person who they genuinely believe is not a threat to
them but a help. A wicked man will betray a trust and give reason for enemies to seek
out ways to attack.
8

Better is a little with righteousness

Than great income with injustice.
Since wealth is temporary and subject to decay and since eternal rewards last forever and
thus have far greater worth, we are wiser to pursue righteousness even if it will cost us
the chance to get rich than to seek out lots of money by ways of corruption and injustice.
(see also Proverbs 15:17)
9

The mind of man plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps.
Ultimately, God is sovereign and in total control, and His plans cannot be thwarted.
Some rebel and go against His desires, but others seek out what He wants and submit to
His desires. Being directed by God is a privilege and a protection (Romans 8:14), a
chance for bearing spiritual fruit. To only have the hope of being smart and using human
wisdom to make plans is a weak foundation, but to know that God is at work and to align
ourselves with Him brings great comfort. (see also Proverbs 20:24)
10

A divine decision is in the lips of the king;

His mouth should not err in judgment.

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The Bible does not teach that kings have divine right or the ability to speak for God or to
be unaccountable for their decisions. Proverbs 21:1 says, The kings heart is like
channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. Kings of
the world might think that they are all powerful, but they are ultimately subject to the
sovereign will of God. They are very much accountable for the position which God has
allowed them to have, and wisdom would acknowledge that reality and seek God for
wisdom in rendering judgments and decisions. Governmental authorities should not err
in their decision-making, for the consequences are far reaching. The kings of the earth
are not the ultimate sovereign, but God does intervene and hold kings to account. Some
intervention happens on earth (e.g. Daniel 4), while other consequences are left for
eternity. Christians are called to pray for those in authority, including earthly political
leaders, so that they will lead rightly and let people live in peace and according to
godliness (1 Timothy 2:1-2, Proverbs 16:12).
11

A just balance and scales belong to the Lord;

All the weights of the bag are His concern.
God hates stealing, and He desires that business dealings are done in honesty and
integrity. Just as He is just, we are to imitate Him by being equitable and fair in all
aspects of life, including money.
12

It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,

For a throne is established on righteousness.
Kings that act wickedly betray their throne and their people. A king that wishes to rule
well and be loved by His people must act according to righteousness. Those who rule
with an oppressive hand and who enjoy being cruel tyrants will not bring joy and blessing
to their servants and to their people (Proverbs 29:2).
13

Righteous lips are the delight of kings,

And he who speaks right is loved.
Kings need people who are willing to be open and honest with them, and they will be
more prone to get that if they are trustworthy, fair, and just in all of their dealings.
People who subvert their rule and go behind their backs undermine a kings rule, but
those who are honest with him even if they disagree with him are a source of pleasantness
for a king. People will not agree on everything, but if there is freedom to disagree and for
there to be an open marketplace of ideas, peace can happen.
14

The fury of a king is like messengers of death,

But a wise man will appease it.
When a king gets angry, he has the power to deal with the person who angered him
quickly and powerfully. A wise person will appease the king by admitting his error and
showing good will of some kind if he has indeed done wrong. He will use his

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understanding to convince the king to take a different course of action. A fool will keep
mocking the king, and he will encourage his own destruction.
15

In the light of a kings face is life,

And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.
No one should seek to be on a kings bad side unless he has been forced to anger the king
on account of defying an unrighteous decree. It is good and a blessing to have the favor
of the king on account of doing good and being a benefit and helper to the kingdom and
to his rule. A king that loves justice and good will appreciate others who also love
righteousness.
16

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!

And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
Gold and silver were commonly recognized as money and as having significant value, but
wisdom and understanding make any of the worlds wealth pale in comparison. Wisdom
leads to blessings that money cannot buy and to eternal blessings and benefits that only
Christ can offer (Psalm 16:11, Ephesians 1:3).
17

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;

He who watches his way preserves his life.
The righteous flee from evil and resist the devil so that he will flee. Rather than stumble
and bumble along on the thorn-filled path of iniquity (Proverbs 15:19), they choose the
highway of Christ and the freedom from enslavement to sin. They trust in the sufficiency
of Christ and the Scripture to make their way straight (Proverbs 3:5-6) and to discern
truth from Satans lies. Wisdom compels people to think through what they hear and
what they are being told, for lies are everywhere. Wise people realize that Satan
masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and that sometimes wolves come
dressed in sheeps clothing (Matthew 7:15). Wise people walk circumspectly (Ephesians
5:15), navigating the pitfalls of life according to the commands of Scripture.
18

Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
The arrogant and proud will be brought low because all people must bow before Christ
when judgment time comes. They will pay for their evil deeds. Arrogance and selfsufficiency makes a person not depend on Jesus or bother to trust in Him because they
think that they are strong, powerful, and able to sin without getting hurt. They think that
they can be complete without Christ. They are wrong, and when they stumble, there will
be no Savior to pick them up, strengthen them, and help them persevere. Only the
righteous have the benefit of the God of the universe working on their behalf. They
recognize their weakness and that He is their strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), and they
make Him their boast. They humble themselves before Him, bow before Him, and

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tremble before His Word (Isaiah 66:2) knowing that in Him alone is life and life to the
full.
19

It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly

Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
It profits a man nothing to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul (Matthew 16:26).
To have much but to be proud and foolish is useless in terms of eternity. Being humble
leads to wisdom and honor even if it involves a life spent with those whom the world
neglects, rejects, and despises. Paul knew that he was viewed by most of the worlds
elite as the scum of the earth (1 Corinthians 4:13), but that didnt bother him because he
knew he was rich in Christ.
20

He who gives attention to the word will find good,

And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
This is such a simple statement, but it is so powerful and profound. Those who pay
attention to, listen to, and study Gods Word will find that good results from it. Their
lives will still have difficulties (John 16:33), but they can rest assured that they will see
Gods kindness, goodness, and mercy follow them all the days of their lives (Psalm 23:6),
protecting them from doing dumb things, guarding their hearts from evil, sanctifying
them (Romans 8:28-29), giving them good and perfect gifts (James 1:17), and looking
out for their best interests. There is great blessing in trusting in the Lord, for He will
honor those who honor Him, even though the fullest portion of that honor might have to
wait until eternity.
21

The wise in heart will be called understanding,

And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
Though the world in its foolishness does not recognize the wisdom of God, wisdom is
still the best way to live life and to interact with people, whether they realize and
acknowledge it or not. Living with others in an understanding way (1 Peter 3:7) is
simply love in action. It is meeting them where they are at, or, as Paul said, being all
things to all people in order to win some to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). That does not
mean adopting sinful behavior, false doctrine, lying, or creating false pretenses. Rather,
it means that wisdom is discernment and knowledge applied, being able to be gracious
and truthful with people and to speak words of wisdom according to the needs of the
hearer (Colossians 4:6). Wisdom is thus sympathetic (Hebrews 4:15), compassionate,
understanding, and relevant. This is what makes speech sweet. It is actually the opposite
of the salesman mentality of telling people whatever will close a deal or make a sale.
That is not sweetness of speech but bitterness and ugliness (James 3:10-11). Paul said
that believers should not rely upon persuasive words of human wisdom (1 Corinthians
2:4), but they are rather to speak words of Gods wisdom and trust that any good that is
accomplished will be accomplished by God. This allows faith to be built on a foundation
of confidence in God, not some human sales pitch or methodology. We should reason
with people and try to convince them of the truth (Acts 17:2, 18:19), and we should
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contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). This should be done with wisdom, understanding, and
sweetness of speech, relying on God to open hearts, knowing that He is the ultimate best
persuader. (see also v. 23)
22

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,

But the discipline of fools is folly.
Understanding is a fountain of life because those who possess it are indwelt by the Spirit
of God Who keeps teaching them according to the Scripture, Who keeps empowering
them to live wisely by guiding them into all truth, and Who uses them to win souls. New
life in Christ continues to transform the believer, and it overflows into their interactions
with others with gospel testimony and proclamation. This love for others actually
controls the believer by the power of Christ in him, and it is more effective against sinful
lusts than the discipline of fools. Fools dont even like discipline, and any hope of mere
behavior modification changing a life that is ruled by a fallen heart is futile. Fools are
instead guided by error, folly, and stupidity rather than the wisdom and instruction of
God. Believers are led by the Spirit in them, and He keeps working to transform their
lives according to His glory and likeness.
23

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth

And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
A wise person instructs his mouth by controlling what he says and when. He thinks
through what he is going to say before he spews out something that would be foolish. He
studies Gods Word so that when the opportunity arises to speak a good word, he is able
to encourage others. He is able to learn not how to sell somebody something or trick
them into believing something but how to persuade them that they should seek wisdom
from God. There is persuasion that is the manipulation of man, and then there is
reasoning with somebody according to the wisdom of God. The latter is what a righteous
person should seek. (see also v. 21)
24

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
In order for speech to truly be healing, restoring, and edifying, it must be consistent with
the truth of Scripture. There is no ultimate soul healing to be found in the power of
positive thinking, contemplative prayer, or other forms of eastern meditation, for
example. Meditation on Gods Word and hearing other people open up Gods truth to us
is what is needed to encourage the soul. Believers can also encourage one another with a
good word, reminding them of the promises of God and stimulating them toward good
deeds with a godly example and consistent love.
25

There is a way which seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

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Mans natural instincts because of his innate sin nature are flawed and wrong (Romans
3:23). Mans heart is wicked and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), and he is prone to error and
unable to change his own heart apart from trusting in the salvation provided through
Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus changes hearts and desires, and He opens eyes to the
truth and the way which is actually right. Sadly, many continue to be deceived by their
sin and fallen hearts, and the consequences of sin is death and hell (Romans 6:23). Man
must put his hope in the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ by
surrendering to Him in humble faith and repentance. (see also Proverbs 14:12, 21:2)
26

A workers appetite works for him,

For his hunger urges him on.
The grumbles of an empty stomach have a way of motivating a person to earn money by
working so that he can afford to buy food. This verse is not an excuse to create a sweatshop or slave-driven type of work environment where people are going hungry and are
abused. Rather, it means that God has given people an incentive to work, and that is to
eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, For even when we were with you, we used to give you
this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. Obviously, there
are exceptions for those who are unable to work, but even these should be encouraged to
be as productive as they can within reason.
27

A worthless man digs up evil,

While his words are like scorching fire.
A worthless person is a foolish person who rejects Gods wisdom and enjoys bringing
division, destruction, and harm to others. His life adds no blessing or value to others
because he only tries to promote evil, error, lies, and wickedness. His words bring only
pain, shame, hurt, and an attitude that likes to stir up trouble. His life bears no spiritual
fruit that would have eternal value, and he is like the fig tree that Christ cursed and made
to wither up and die on account of its lack of fruit (Mark 11:21). He is kindling that
deserves to be taken up and burned because nothing good is coming from his life, only
evil (John 15:6).
28

A perverse man spreads strife,

And a slanderer separates intimate friends.
Those who delight in evil and destruction pursue not peace but strife. They seek division
often by slandering and speaking ill of a person. Their desire is to separate close friends
by coming up with something that will make them doubt one another or hate one another.
Christians shouldnt slander or gossip, but, if they have an issue with somebody, they
need to go to that person and work it out (Matthew 18:15-18). The goal of the believer is
peace and reconciliation, not speaking ill of others and spreading malicious lies.
Christians should identify false teachers, and they should be willing to confront sin in a
spirit of grace and humility. That should always to be done in compassion and love
rather than in jealousy or anger which would only create tension and aggravate any
relational issues.
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29

A man of violence entices his neighbor

And leads him in a way that is not good.
Those who love violence seek people whom they can be violent towards, and they seek
out people who like violence also. Violent people set traps for their neighbors and drag
them into places and situations that are not for their good. They try to convince others
that violence is fun and desirable, and these people must be avoided. God delights in
peacemakers, not those who use, abuse, and harm. If we truly love others, we will
always have their best interests in mind, even valuing their welfare above our own
(Philippians 2:3-4).
30

He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;

He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
Solomon speaks of people who deal in deceit and dishonesty, winking or using other
hidden signals to plot someones exploitation or demise. God is honored when we are
forthright and honest, but evil people lie as a way of life. It is who they are. Their inner
perversity and the hidden machinations of their thinking lead to violence, hatred, and all
sorts of evil. They are driven by rage, revenge, and the lust for violence, and even the
subtleties of their countenance reveal their evil intent.
31

A gray head is a crown of glory;

It is found in the way of righteousness.
Gray hair should be a sign of wisdom gained over the course of life, but some who live to
old age continue to live for themselves and to reject God. As Ecclesiastes 7:5 says, I
have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes
in his righteousness and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.
However, those who follow Gods commands will avoid the needless traps and travails
that come from the consequences of sin. Thus, in that sense, they are more likely to make
it to old age. For gray hair to truly be a crown of glory, one has to have grown in
wisdom. There is nothing inherently noble in getting old or having gray hair unless it is
accompanied by a growing and deepening relationship with God.
32

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
It takes a lot of military might and prowess to win battles or take over a city. But it is a
sign of greater accomplishment in terms of eternal value to be able to have self-control, a
fruit of the Spirit. Many have fought well in earthly battles, but they have not been able
to keep their thoughts and intentions of the heart in line with Gods standards. This is
because apart from Christ it is impossible. Only by faith in Him to save and change a
heart can righteousness and self-control come into the life of any person. This is
something of great and eternal value, and it is something worth seeking out. Victory over
sin and death belongs to the believer in Christ Who leads His own in His victory
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procession as more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Being strong in His might spiritually
is what counts most of all (Ephesians 6:10). The battle for souls and for the
righteousness which can only be found in Christ (Romans 1:16, 10:17) is more important
than the battle for cities.
33

The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the Lord.
Christians should not cast lots or pick straws to determine the will of God, for we have
the Holy Spirit to lead us (Romans 8:14) and the Word of God to teach us (2 Timothy
3:16-17). Casting lots was practiced in the Old Testament (Joshua 18:10, 1 Chronicles
25:8, Nehemiah 10:34) and even as the disciples were used to establish the church (Acts
1:26) as one of the diverse ways that God spoke to His people (Hebrews 1:1-2). Now
that He has spoken to us in His Son and through His written Word, we do not need to cast
lots. Those who did that in times past in faith recognized that God was in charge of the
way the lots were cast and the results of the process. They submitted their will and way
to the instruction and guidance of the Lord. We should have an attitude of humility to
approach Gods Word in trembling and ultimate reverence, and we should submit
ourselves to it (Isaiah 66:2). If we want our decisions to be from God and of God, we
have no other choice than to align ourselves with the teaching of Scripture. That is where
wisdom and direction are found.

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Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
Peace and healthy relationships are more valuable than having a lot of the worlds goods.
Even being near poverty but with many godly friends and loved ones is better than
having great feasts but enmity, hatred, division, and spite. (see also Proverbs 15:17)
2

A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
Some masters will be cruel to their servants simply because they are cruel people, but
there may be cases where a servant becomes a great friend to a master, even like a son
due to his faithfulness, kindness, honesty, and genuine service. He might even end up
sharing in the family inheritance, effectively being adopted as a son.
3

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts.
Just as a refiners fire removes the impurities in order to separate gold and silver from the
dross, the Lord knows the hearts that are His and those that are wicked. He knows the
difference between worthless deeds and God-honoring deeds of faith (1 Corinthians 3:1015). He will have no trouble separating the sheep from the goats on the last day, for He
sees all. It is also true that God works to sanctify believers by continuing to refine,
transform, renew, and purify the desires of their hearts. He will allow believers to be
tested so that they can see how they need to grow and change and to be able to rejoice
when they see victory emerge and spiritual fruit result (Judges 3:4, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter
4:12).
4

An evildoer listens to wicked lips;

A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
Those who want to do evil and speak evil and lies use other peoples destructive methods
and words as justification and reason for their evil speech and actions. Those who have
corrupt desires in their hearts are more susceptible to being led away by the false and
misleading teaching of others. Wise people dont believe folly spewed forth because they
pay attention to Gods Word, and they advocate for what is true, right, and good.
5

He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;

He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
God cares about all people, and He despises when the downcast and downtrodden are
taken advantage of, mocked, insulted, and persecuted. It is evidence of Gods love to
care for the needy, the poor, and for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27).
This does not mean that looking after the needy is more important than the gospel, but it
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is a way to demonstrate the love of the gospel and have open doors to share it (Matthew
5:16). It is also not loving to laugh at other peoples misfortunes. No one should be
happy that wicked people will go to hell. That is a just proposition, but it is not a source
of joy for those who have compassion for the masses as Christ did (Matthew 9:36). It is
fine to be happy with seeing justice meted out on account of the fact that justice is good,
but that is different from delighting in a persons adversity.
6

Grandchildren are the crown of old men,

And the glory of sons is their fathers.
Old men should be thrilled if their children and grandchildren walk after the Lord, for it
is a testimony to Gods faithfulness to honor those who honor Him by being able to see
children grow up and walk in the ways of the Lord. It is also true that a godly parent is
an honor to a son because it is such a wonderful blessing and resource to have a Godfearing parent to go to for wisdom and understanding. It is a privilege to enjoy God
together across generations.
7

Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,

Much less are lying lips to a prince.
Those who are in positions of authority need to devote themselves to the truth and to
speaking honestly, for their example carries a lot of influence and because God holds
them responsible for their stewardship of the positions that He entrusts them with
(Proverbs 16:10, 12). We should not expect a fool to speak words of wisdom, and even
the most eloquent speech if founded upon foolishness is still worthless babble.
8

A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner;

Wherever he turns, he prospers.
The fool who takes a bribe thinks that he has a charmed life with easy money and
prosperity around every corner. In his mind, he has struck it rich because all he has to do
is lie about something in order to keep getting money or privilege. He does not realize
that his charm is a curse that is leading his heart astray. Those who put their hope and
confidence in riches do so only in their imagination (Proverbs 18:11), for only God is an
anchor and only for the righteous.
9

He who conceals a transgression seeks love,

But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
There is a time to be discreet and to keep a confidence out of love and concern for
another person. If there is an imminent threat or somebody is going to be in danger
because of secret information, then it doesnt make sense to keep that information hidden
even if it costs a friendship. But other things are meant to be kept private, and they are
only shared in the first place with that understanding. Those who violate that bond of
trust and intimacy are likely to lose that friendship. Love is able to cover a multitude of
sins (1 Peter 4:8) by not keeping records of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5), broadcasting the
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mistakes of those they care about, and being willing to forgive and through kindness help
those they care about to repent and change (Romans 2:4).
10

A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding

Than a hundred blows into a fool.
Fools are so hardened by their love for sin and evil that they can hear the truth a hundred
times and not respond to it in the slightest bit. A wise man hears the truth and eagerly
applies it the first time.
11

A rebellious man seeks only evil,

So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Violence begets more violence, and those who like to flaunt their rebellion and harm
others as a result of their evil ways will likely become victims of revenge or the wrath of
others. Christians should seek to be peacemakers and those who bring good news, but
the wicked stir up strife. There is a strong likelihood that their cruelty will eventually
cause them harm in return.
12

Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,

Rather than a fool in his folly.
Fools dont receive instruction or rebuke well at all, and a person who seeks to offer truth
and correction to a fool is better off facing the wrath of a mother bear after her young
have been stolen. One must not cast their pearls before swine lest the swine turn and tear
them to pieces (Matthew 7:6).
13

He who returns evil for good,

Evil will not depart from his house.
Never is it right to do others evil, especially if they have done us good. This stores up
Gods wrath, and it makes a person gain a lot of enemies on earth.
14

The beginning of strife is like letting out water,

So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
Just as a dam has first a small trickle of a leak before the whole thing comes crashing
down, so too does strife begin as a few small words that can lead to fighting, war, death,
and disaster. Thus, it is better off to make peace quickly before things get out of hand.
15

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,

Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
God hates injustice, whether it be justifying the wicked on account of their wickedness or
condemning the righteous on account of their righteousness.

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16

Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,

When he has no sense?
Wisdom cannot be bought with the things of this earth, but it is given by God to those
who fear Him and seek to know and obey Him (Colossians 2:3, James 1:5-7). Fools
prove their foolishness by trying other roads to wisdom besides the only true way in
Christ.
17

A friend loves at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.
A true friend is there not just because good fortune has come to a person, but he is there
even during adversity. He is there not to judge as Jobs friends did but to listen and show
compassion. A good friend is like a devoted brother, mourning with us when we are sad
and rejoicing with us when there is reason for joy.
18

A man lacking in sense pledges

And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
Solomon several times in Proverbs makes the point strongly that it is dangerous and
foolish to be a co-debtor with another person (Proverbs 6:1-5). If calamity befalls them,
then the co-signer is on the hook for all the damages and could lose everything. It is not a
wise financial move, and there are other better ways to help a neighbor financially such
as by offering a loan or a gift.
19

He who loves transgression loves strife;

He who raises his door seeks destruction.
Those who love sin should expect the strife, pain, and consequences that harming others
and acting selfishly entails. Those who associate with evil people and lower down the
walls of resistance against the enemies of God can expect to suffer harm. Christians
should resist the devil so that he will flee (James 4:7), and we should abhor evil and cling
to what is good (Romans 12:9).
20

He who has a crooked mind finds no good,

And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
Those who love sin also corrupt their consciences and their thinking. They seek only
what is evil, and they have no appetite for what is good. They crave immorality and evil
speaking. Their corrupt language reveals the true state of their hearts. They fall into evil
because they love it.
21

He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,

And the father of a fool has no joy.

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It brings no joy to a parent who has any sense whatsoever to raise a child who spurns
wisdom and loves to be a fool. There is great joy, however, in seeing ones children
grow up to fear God and keep His commandments.
22

A joyful heart is good medicine,

But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Our spiritual health can and does affect our physical health. If we are broken in spirit
from sin or discouragement, it can take a toll on our physical energy, strength, and
stamina (Psalm 32:3-4). If we are filled with the joy of the Lord and not living in sin and
rebellion against God, then it is like medicine to our bodies (James 5:16).
23

A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom

To pervert the ways of justice.
A wicked person takes a bribe while trying to keep the act of receiving it a secret. Bribes
mean cover-ups and perverting justice.
24

Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,

But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
Fools can search the entire world for wisdom if they wanted to and not find it because
they are looking for the wrong thing and in the wrong places. They are blind to the truth,
and they might as well stare at the horizon all day. Those who fear God will find wisdom
and understanding, for they will see Gods truth revealed everywhere, from the creation,
to the conscience, to the Scripture, and to the cross.
25

A foolish son is a grief to his father

And bitterness to her who bore him.
Raising a child takes a lot of work, and even the pregnancy and delivery is an investment
and sacrifice. But a child that turns out rotten in heart brings only grief and bitterness, for
what pain there must be for a mother and father knowing that their child will spend an
eternity in hell. This is why parents must focus on teaching their children wisdom from
early on, being careful not to underestimate what they are capable of learning according
to the Scriptures.
26

It is also not good to fine the righteous,

Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
It is unjust to penalize somebody for doing something good. Laws that promote evil are
thus wrong, and leaders who look the other way at evil are doing evil. A wicked person
seeks to levy an unjust charge or to slander a righteous person for no reason, and this is
not good.
27

He who restrains his words has knowledge,

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And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

A wise person evaluates what he is going to say before he says it, and he knows when to
keep quiet. He is not easily riled to wrath or anger, and he knows how to keep a cool
head in a heated moment. This can lead to problem-solving and peacemaking.
28

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;

When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
A foolish person who doesnt say anything may be able to fool people for a while that he
actually is thinking valuable thoughts or that he has something of wisdom to add to the
discussion. Eventually, his heart will root him out, but he may be able to get people to
think that he is prudent for a time.

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Proverbs 18
He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
There is wisdom in separating from the evil patterns of the world so as not to make
provision for the lusts of the flesh (Romans 13:14). There is wisdom in pursuing truth
and taking the narrow road even when the majority are taking the highway to hell
(Matthew 7:13). However, there is not wisdom in rejecting good counsel and the wise
advice of others and going off and doing something against Gods will. This is
quarrelling against sound wisdom. It is wise to seek out others who love God and keep
His commandments, and that association is an encouragement to help us continue to
persevere in good works (Hebrews 10:24-25).
2

A fool does not delight in understanding,

But only in revealing his own mind.
Those who are wise listen to the Scripture and to those who speak according to it. Fools
do not delight in understanding and being transformed according to the Bible. They are
interested only in what their own mind tells them even if it is contrary to Gods Word.
They follow the natural sinful bent of their fallen heart, and they boast in their own
pseudo-wisdom. Their opinions are unchangeable because of their stubbornness and
callousness to the truth. They are eager and ready to share their opinions with no regard
for whether they are true or not. If they cared about truth, they would be more interested
in seeking understanding, which they are not.
3

When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,

And with dishonor comes scorn.
People may align themselves with wicked people out of fear or greed, but wickedness
does not bring with it any honor but only contempt, dishonor, and scorn. Wickedness is
typically recognized as the cheap, shallow, shortcutting method, and it does not carry the
respect that those who work hard, maintain honest character, and care for others typically
receive even from the world. Ultimately, however, we should be more concerned with
what God thinks, for He will judge the living and the dead.
4

The words of a mans mouth are deep waters;

The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
What we say is important and powerful. James compares the tongue to a small spark that
can start an entire forest on fire or to a small rudder that can steer an entire ship (James
3:4-6). The tongue can do great damage and lead others astray, or it can help others
navigate safely through life and into eternity in heaven. Like water continuously and
faithfully bubbling through a stream, there is always wisdom to be found from the Lord
for those who are humble enough to seek it and receive it. (see also v. 21)

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To show partiality to the wicked is not good,

Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.
Partiality in judgment is the sign of an unjust judge. The God of the universe is
completely impartial, and Christians should reflect His nature by not showing personal
favoritism (James 2:1). It is wrong to unjustly accuse the righteous, and it is wrong to
fail to impart justice to the wicked.
6

A fools lips bring strife,

And his mouth calls for blows.
7
A fools mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8
The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
The fruit of the lips can either be praise to God and the edification of others, or it can be
destructive, insulting, and without thanks toward the Lord. A fools speech always brings
strife because he enjoys division, destruction, fighting, and taunting God and His people.
His speech will prove to be his ruin because it is evidence of a person who has not given
control of his heart to the Lord. It proves that his soul is snared by the devil. Some try to
stir up strife by slander, gossip, and spreading rumors. It can make one feel really
important to be privy to something that is none of his business. Gossiping is not viewed
highly in the Bible (Proverbs 20:19, 1 Timothy 5:13, Titus 2:3), for it is a sign of wasted
time and effort, it is evidence of a lack of discretion, it is indicative of a condescending
attitude, and it is indicative of hearts that would rather analyze others than deal with their
own hearts. But it can make a person feel a lot better about himself just by contrasting
himself to others who are more dysfunctional. We should not try to evaluate the state of
our hearts in light of another persons failure as if we are rejoicing in their errors, but we
should look into the mirror of Gods Word and come away changed ourselves. We need
the food of Gods Word, not the morsels of self-deceit.
9

He also who is slack in his work

Is brother to him who destroys.
Some people out of selfishness just enjoy wrecking things, while other people enjoy
doing nothing and being lazy. One breaks things, while the other does nothing while they
rot and decay. Neither are doing Gods work or laboring honestly, and both are
dishonoring God by the course of their lives.
10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

The righteous runs into it and is safe.
11
A rich mans wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.

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The righteous puts his boast and confidence in the Lord Who is his strong tower. He
rests in Gods protection, while a self-confident man puts his boast in his money. He
thinks it will keep him safe, and he is fully confident in his own ability to protect himself,
in this life and in the next. But his wealth is no protector, for it can be here one day and
gone the next. It is like a high wall only in his imagination. Wealth offers no protection
against the wrath of God, and on earth it is prone to being stolen and to rot and decay
(Matthew 6:20). But the proud keep boasting in their own strength, possessions, and
accomplishments, and they will be brought low by their own eventual destruction. Those
who humble themselves now under Gods mighty hand, resting in Him for protection,
wisdom, and strength, will be exalted at the proper time (1 Peter 5:6, Galatians 6:9).
13

He who gives an answer before he hears,

It is folly and shame to him.
Cutting a person off when they are sharing something with us is rude, shameful, and
lacking wisdom. It communicates that we are not interested in what they have to say and
that we dont care. It says that we like what we have to say more than we like being sure
that we understand their needs and predicament. It says that we are too ready to fix them
by hammering them with Scripture before mourning with them and being compassionate.
It also speaks of an attitude that is not interested in learning and which thinks it knows it
all already.
14

The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,

But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
Physical sickness and pain is difficult, but it can be endured, especially if one has a
proper faith in God and an eternal perspective (2 Corinthians 4:17). It is possible to
maintain a good attitude and a thankful heart even despite health conditions, albeit very
difficult. This verse is not minimizing the challenges of enduring health complications,
but it is pointing out that a broken spirit and downcast heart is more damaging. It can
take a toll on a persons physical well-being, and it can make a person shut down and fall
apart more quickly and more powerfully than a sickness, disability, or disease. Dealing
with physical ailments is one thing, but dealing with the heart attitude and the proper
mindset is another altogether. Christians must focus on guarding their hearts and
encouraging the hearts of others, particularly in times of distress. Persevering well also
means holding tightly to the hope that God cares, that God rewards, and that God is
faithful. Hope is the antithesis of despair, even in times of physical sickness. We may
not get better, and we may even get worse physically. Our bodies decay day after day,
but God renews the inner person each day with mercies anew (2 Corinthians 4:16). With
Him as our confidence and strength, we can honor Him in sickness and in health. The
joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
15

The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,

And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

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Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds, meaning that those who seek out understanding and
knowledge prove that they have wisdom already driving that pursuit. Fools dont bother
to seek out ultimate answers, but the wise keep seeking, asking, and knocking as they
study the Word and look to the Lord for wisdom. Wise people recognize when they lack
wisdom and ask God for it, knowing and believing that He will supply it to them. Fools
bask in their folly because they prefer being in perpetual error and sin.
16

A mans gift makes room for him

And brings him before great men.
People can buy their way into influence and prominence, for people like bribes and gifts.
This doesnt mean that it is always wrong to offer a gift or expression of good will, but it
does point out that human nature enjoys receiving things before giving something out in
return. It is often money that gets a person a seat at the table of other influencers and
people in positions of power. Gifts do hold power in terms of the way the world works.
17

The first to plead his case seems right,

Until another comes and examines him.
A person can seem innocent based upon telling very convincing stories and lies, but upon
further examination and some tough questioning, the truth can come out.
18

The cast lot puts an end to strife

And decides between the mighty ones.
One way the Lord spoke in the Old Testament was through the casting of lots through
which Gods will would be clearly defined (see also notes on Proverbs 16:33). Now, we
have the whole Bible to use for making decisions (Hebrews 1:1-2), and by harmonizing
ourselves with what the Bible says, peace can be achieved. The Bible stands in authority
over all men, even the mighty ones. God cannot be bought off, and we dont need to
bring a gift to sit at His table. His Word stands in judgment over us all, and Christians
must make their decisions and establish their theology based upon the whole counsel of
God. We are sanctified in the truth which is the Word of God (John 17:17). It must
always have the final say.
19

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,

And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
We need to be very careful with the relationships that God has given us in life. We are
stewards of these family bonds, friendships, and other connections. We need to
recognize that each life impacts the next, and we need to avoid sinning against our
brother, our neighbor, and our fellow man. When we do err, we need to go to the one we
have sinned against and, in true repentance, seek their forgiveness by explaining how
sorry we are and that we see that we what we did was wrong. We should do whatever we
can to restore the relationship and fix what was lost. By Gods grace, relationships can
be restored, wounds can be healed, and contentions can be resolved. Gods grace is
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needed because sometimes the invisible bars of rejection can be far stronger than the
walls of a strong city.
20

With the fruit of a mans mouth his stomach will be satisfied;

He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
A wicked person who enjoys creating strife through his words will be pleased with the
results of his sinful efforts. A righteous person will rejoice when truth that is spoken
leads to encouragement and to life for the hearers. He will find that his hunger for
righteousness (Matthew 5:6) results in deep soul satisfaction as he reaps according to
what he has sown.
21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.
A small rumor can divide a church, destroy a relationship, or set the world to war. It can
also bring the world to peace, restore a relationship, and unite the body of Christ. The
words we choose are powerful, and we are responsible for everything we say. We will
reap according to how we sow, so we need to make sure our speech sows seeds that point
to eternal life and godliness. (see also v. 4)
22

He who finds a wife finds a good thing

And obtains favor from the Lord.
A godly wife is a gift from God in this life (James 1:17), and no amount of money or
influence can buy or merit such a gift. It is the grace of God that provides a godly
woman for a godly man. The Bible does not tell people that they must get married, but
those who do marry a godly spouse have done well. This doesnt mean that a single
person cannot have the favor of God, but it means that marriage is something that pleases
God and that He desires to bless. He is pleased when marriage reveals His selfless love,
and when children are raised up according to Biblical principles.
23

The poor man utters supplications,

But the rich man answers roughly.
Not every person who is rich is cruel to the poor, but it is not in the nature of fallen man
to be generous to the poor. Sure, some people enjoy charitable giving for causes that they
care about, for garnering the favor of a deity or their church, or for the honor it brings
them. But actually loving the needy with the love of Christ is dependent on first knowing
the love of Christ (1 John 4:7-8). This is rare and specific to the Christian (John 13:3435), and it is a great testimony that opens doors for the gospel (Matthew 5:16). The
church should not forget the poor because they need the gospel just as the rich man does.
Favoritism is not becoming of the Christian.
24

A man of too many friends comes to ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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That which is popular is not necessarily right, and those who do whatever they can to get
people to like them will find that they have to compromise their heart and soul. Wealth
can buy a lot of friends (Proverbs 19:4), but they will be gone as soon as the money dries
up. A true friend is a valued relationship because it is not dependent on circumstances
but upon real love, care, and concern. A person is rich in terms of friends even to have
one such friend who is trustworthy and loyal like a brother (Proverbs 17:17).

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Proverbs 19
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
Because the scales of eternal justice will balance, what is of most value in this life is the
state of our hearts before God. A poor man who loves God is far wealthier than a fool
because of the weight of glory and the devastation of hell.
2

Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,

And he who hurries his footsteps errs.
Being nave makes a person vulnerable, and those who make hurried decisions without
thinking through them and without considering the wisdom of Gods Word will likely
make mistakes.
3

The foolishness of man ruins his way,

And his heart rages against the Lord.
Man chooses to do things foolishly according to his own desires and the way that seems
right to his fallen heart. Sin disappoints and leads to destruction, and yet the fool has the
nerve to blame God for his own bad decisions. In eternity, he will be forced to kneel
before Christ and acknowledge Him as Lord, but that will be too late to keep him from
the fire of hell (Philippians 2:10). It is one thing to be forced to bow the knee, and it is
another to like it. The rage of man against God can endure forever.
4

Wealth adds many friends,

But a poor man is separated from his friend.
Some friendships are shallow enough to be based upon whether a person has money and
lots of toys or not. People tend not to be friends with poor people because they are afraid
that they will catch whatever financial disease they might have. They dont like being
around people who need things, and they dont like being asked to be generous. Thus, it
is a test of our hearts whether or not we value and love the poor, the orphan, and the
widow. Love compels a person to give as he is able and to share the gospel whenever
possible, whether a person is poor or rich. (see also v. 7 and Proverbs 18:24)
5

A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who tells lies will not escape.
Those who bear false witness may not get caught on earth. If they do, they will probably
suffer on account of it. What is certain is that God will punish liars one day by sending
them to hell unless they have been forgiven by the shed blood of His Son.
6

Many will seek the favor of a generous man,

And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
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People like associating with a generous, gift-giving person because they think that they
might get something out of the friendship. There is nothing wrong with a person being
generous, but he who is generous must not be swayed by the approval of man (Matthew
6:1). He should not give to be given to or to get something selfish out of his giving. In
fact, the Bible says that gift-giving is best done secretly so that God gets the glory
(Matthew 6:3-4). The applause of man actually voids eternal rewards (Matthew 6:2).
7

All the brothers of a poor man hate him;

How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
Even family members tend to respect more and associate more often with the ones who
have done well for themselves financially. The poor among them tends to get scorned
rather than loved and helped. The world is an every man for himself kind of place, and
people give out their love and friendship based upon success. But the poor should be
treated as equally valuable, especially among family. It is one thing to deal with sin
issues that make a person poor, and it is another just to not like a person anymore because
they have found calamity not of their own making. Some just dont possess the talents or
skills that will make them wealthy in this life, and this doesnt make them worth any less.
After all, some of the most important jobs dont make people rich. The poor and less
regarded desire friends and family, but too often they vanish.
8

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;

He who keeps understanding will find good.
Those who care about the state of their own hearts and who realize that God loves them
will seek after wisdom. The kindness of God leads people to repent as they realize that
God loved them so much that He gave up His Son to die for them and to give them
eternal life. The love of God changes everything, and those who follow Christ by faith
and continue to pursue the wisdom that only He can give will find that God leaves a
legacy of goodness and mercy in their lives. Those who love foolishness hate their own
soul enough to condemn it.
9

A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who tells lies will perish.
Those who lie as a lifestyle do so because Satan is their master, and he is the father of
lies. God hates lying and false testimony, and He will punish those who refuse to repent
and turn to Jesus for forgiveness.
10

Luxury is not fitting for a fool;

Much less for a slave to rule over princes.
A fool will only destroy what is good, exploit power, misuse influence, and waste wealth.
He cannot properly steward the opportunity to have the worlds goods. A slave who has
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wisdom and the fear of God would do a better job ruling than many of the worlds
princes. However, the idea is that the thought of such a scenario happening is so
repulsive and unfitting to the general person who is partial and who ranks people by job
status, nation, social tier, etc. The repulsion that people feel naturally to the social order
being turned on its head is the repulsion that they should feel for a fool being given
luxury, power, or the title of prince.
11

A mans discretion makes him slow to anger,

And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
It shouldnt be a surprise that a Christian is willing to forgive and even delight in the fact
that he has the opportunity to show the grace of God by overlooking a persons personal
offense toward him. This doesnt mean taking an attitude that minimizes sin, for this
would also minimize the glory and value of forgiveness. By being slow to anger, it
demonstrates wisdom and discretion, the ability to have self-control and to value the
needs of the other person even while one is being poorly-treated by them. It is always
viewing life as a chance to bring forth the aroma of life. (see also Proverbs 17:9)
12

The kings wrath is like the roaring of a lion,

But his favor is like dew on the grass.
The idea is that it is not pleasant to be at strife with the most powerful person in the land,
but to have his favor, support, and backing is like wind in the sails. One way is fearful,
and the other is joyful. Of course, it is always more important what God thinks of us than
what a man thinks, even if it is a very powerful man. Gods favor is more valuable, and
the life of Joseph can testify to that fact (Genesis 39:21).
13

A foolish son is destruction to his father,

And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
A foolish son brings pain, strife, and destruction to his father, and a wife who constantly
bickers, complains, and who shows no respect for her husband is like the drip, drip, drip
of a faucet (see also Proverbs 21:9, 19; 25:24; 27:15). Gods will is for a husband and
wife to be on the same page together spiritually and to be unified. As he is respected by
his wife and as she is loved by her husband, balance and harmony will take place
(Ephesians 5:33).
14

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,

But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Some things money can buy, but a godly wife (and a godly husband for that matter) is
such a precious and rare find (Ecclesiastes 7:28) that it points to the miraculous
intervention of God doing the impossible and acting in ways beyond what we could ask
or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). One can inherit a house, a business, or a bank account, but
nobody can merit the gifts of God. They are His treasures to give because of His love

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and grace, and those who receive His good and perfect gifts ought to always praise and
thank God for them and not take them for granted (James 1:17).
15

Laziness casts into a deep sleep,

And an idle man will suffer hunger.
Laziness is not indicative of the fear of God because a proper view of Gods holiness
motivates a person to order his life rightly in light of eternity and to walk circumspectly
and bring God a return on His investment (Matthew 25:16, Ephesians 2:10; 5:15-16).
Laziness is indicative of a deep spiritual sleep that is desensitized to the things of God
(Ephesians 5:14). There is no urgency or fervency for the kingdom in such a heart
(Revelation 3:19). Practically, this might mean poverty and starvation, but more
importantly, eternal death and alienation from God.
16

He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,

But he who is careless of conduct will die.
Romans 2:6 says that God will render to each person according to his deeds, and
Galatians 6:7-8 says that we will reap according to how we sow. No man can keep the
commands of God entirely, for only Jesus fulfilled the Law completely. Thus, to be
saved, one must find salvation through Him on account of His perfection and holiness. In
salvation, the sinner is forgiven and seen in the righteousness of Christ. Those who do
not repent and put their faith in Christ have no such hope and remain dead in sin and
guilty before God. They will find that the consequence of sin is eternal death in hell. A
careless attitude toward sin, righteousness, and judgment spurns the conviction of the
Spirit (John 16:8), and it is the only unforgiveable sin (Matthew 12:31). Wisdom trusts
in Christ to forgive sin because of a recognition of falling short of Gods standards
(Romans 3:23), and therein is eternal life. Even after salvation, wisdom guides the
believer away from sin and into all truth so that he avoids needless harmful pitfalls that
sinners regularly fall into. A careless attitude will be punished, but those who take God
and His Word seriously will be rewarded.
17

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,

And He will repay him for his good deed.
Those who give to the poor without seeking the approval of man do so as though they are
giving to Christ Himself (Matthew 25:45). God will be faithful to reward them for their
faithfulness in eternity. It doesnt mean that faithful giving guarantees earthly health,
wealth, and prosperity, but it does guarantee eternally valuable and indestructible rewards
in heaven, something far more desirable anyway.
18

Discipline your son while there is hope,

And do not desire his death.
Foolish behavior leads to destruction and sometimes even death. Certainly, a person who
rejects wisdom will find eternal death and destruction. Godly parents will do everything
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possible to teach their children the fear of God. They will lovingly discipline them when
they are stubborn toward righteousness, and they will teach them about God and His
ways from early on. Unless they learn to fear God as the ultimate sovereign, they will
never learn wisdom and never come to know His perfect love. Parents that discipline in
love and are diligent to teach their children the commands of God prove their love for
their children, while those who allow their sin natures to guide them act as though they
are not concerned of the consequences of sin which is death.
19

A man of great anger will bear the penalty,

For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
A person who likes to give into anger will keep doing it and need continual rescuing. He
gets angry because he likes it and because he has no interest in self-control. He does not
fear God and think about the needs of others. His brash life is full of selfish acts and
sinful desires for harming others. A person of great anger has a great ego, and he will
bear the penalty. Many who have this problem will find their way into the justice system
on earth, and they wont like the judgments of the Master on judgment day either.
20

Listen to counsel and accept discipline,

That you may be wise the rest of your days.
Children that are receptive to loving discipline do well, and those who listen to teaching
and counsel that is consistent with the Bible do well. Children need teaching from the
Bible and godly training from early on so that they can see that they are not in charge and
that God is. They need to see that He will hold them accountable for how they live, and
they need to understand how and why they should trust in Jesus to save them. As they
are trained in righteousness from early on, they will have the rest of their lives to live out
wisdom. It is a great privilege to give a child wisdom from his youth, for much needless
pain can be avoided that way. Adults can change as well, but change starts with a heart
that is humble enough to submit to and be corrected by the Word of God. There can be
no wisdom without first submitting to God as the ultimate sovereign.
21

Many plans are in a mans heart,

But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
Gods sovereign purposes cannot be thwarted, and He will always be on the throne. His
Word will endure forever, for it is true, right, and good. People may assail Him and His
Word, but it will stand. God may frustrate plans, and He may advance plans. What He
wants done will be done, and He will always do only good for those whom He loves.
Man naturally thinks that he is in control and that he can do whatever he wants. But God
alone is in total control, and even the air that man breathes is dependent upon God giving
strength to his lungs (Colossians 1:17). He is the Master and Lord of all.
22

What is desirable in a man is his kindness,

And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

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Only those who know Christ can truly love with a selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial
love. Those who possess this kindness toward others have something of eternal value.
Thus, a kind, poor person is better off than a rich, unkind liar.
23

The fear of the Lord leads to life,

So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and it leads to eternal life. Even in this
life, the confidence of ones eternity leads to peaceful sleep and not having to be afraid of
anything Satan might conjure up. All believers have to do is resist him by faith, and he
will flee. Jesus is the bread of life that satisfies the soul, and He is the living water that
makes His own never have to thirst again. Christians are complete in Him, and death has
no sting or victory over them. Their eternity is secure.
24

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,

But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
A lazy person doesnt even have it in him to lift the spoon to his mouth to feed himself.
The spiritual parallel is a person who has a Bible but doesnt even open the cover. This
will lead to spiritual starvation and eternal destruction.
25

Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd,

But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.
Reproving a fool leads only to him being better at committing evil in secret and avoiding
getting caught. He will become more crafty in his deception, rebellion, and
manipulation. Reproving a wise person leads to him growing in knowledge and
continuing to be honest and humble before the Lord.
26

He who assaults his father and drives his mother away

Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
A son who roughs up his father or is not emotionally kind to his mother is shameful and
disgraceful to God and to his parents. Even parents who are not God-fearing still deserve
to be treated with respect and dignity.
27

Cease listening, my son, to discipline,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Godly discipline is for our good, and it will train us and keep us on the way of
righteousness. This is why discipline is different from wrathful punishment. Punishment
is the belief that simply imposing consequences or pain can make a person modify his
behavior without paying attention to the heart. Discipline is imposing pain or
consequences but with an explanation of what God wants and why to accompany it. It
entails explaining the dangers of evil and the blessings of righteousness. Discipline is not
about getting a Pavlovian response, but it is about shepherding a childs heart to know
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and love God. They must always see and know that the one doing the disciplining is
loving and seeking their good. Abuse is not discipline, but godly discipline brings
comfort and safety. Children actually like to know their boundaries, for it helps them
know that they can keep exploring the world while their parents will keep them safe and
teach them about the world.
28

A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,

And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.
A fool mocks justice and cant be relied upon to say what the innocent needs him to say
or what the guilty doesnt want to be said. He enables evil to propagate, and he doesnt
care about justice, the protection of the innocent, the maltreatment of the righteous, or the
prosecution of the wicked.
29

Judgments are prepared for scoffers,

And blows for the back of fools.
Being a fool and a scoffer brings with it the inevitability of destruction, judgments, and
penalties. Earthly penalties might be severe, but even these wont compare to the fire of
hell that awaits those who love their sin.

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Proverbs 20
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.
Those who get drunk will do rash and foolish things because of impaired judgment.
Likely, harm will result, both to them and to others. Drunkenness is forbidden according
to the Scripture (Ephesians 5:18), for we should rather be filled with the Spirit and totally
under His control rather than under the control of alcohol.
2

The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;

He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
It is unwise to provoke a person in authority to anger with you. It is a different matter
altogether if the powers that be are angry over a humble but bold testimony for Christ.
That is a predicament that is actually a blessing because of the honor of suffering for
Christ. But to just do foolish things to get those in authority angry or irritated with you is
dangerous and stupid.
3

Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,

But any fool will quarrel.
Being a peacemaker is to be the goal of the believer. We are to do all that we can to live
peaceably with all people, and we are to pursue peace and sanctification, without which
no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, but those who are
ruled by a different spirit, that of the devil himself, will desire fighting, war, destruction,
hatred, and strife. Fools like to quarrel, but wise men like to be at peace.
4

The sluggard does not plow after the autumn,

So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
There is no harvest without first plowing the fields, sowing seeds, and ensuring adequate
fertilization and water. A sluggard doesnt do the work required to reap a harvest, but the
wise person will enjoy the fruit of his labor. Spiritually, we will reap according to what
we sow (Galatians 6:9), and we need to always be mindful of that reality. Laziness is not
becoming of a believer in Christ who fears God and values the eternal weight of glory.
5

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,

But a man of understanding draws it out.
It is easy for people to become professionals at hiding their true thoughts, feelings, and
desires. A person of understanding because of his love and care for another person will
seek to get to know the real them, the person that they keep hidden back from most
others. A person who loves allows others to feel accepted for who they are and to be free
to share what they are passionate about. Wisdom, though, also goes one step further, to
encourage others to be sure that their plans and desires align with the Scripture. To fail to
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do this is to reject truth and thus dishonor Christ, which is not loving in the least. True
love is full of grace and truth (John 1:14), just as Christ Himself was.
6

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,

But who can find a trustworthy man?
Many people consider themselves to be loyal and trustworthy, but the reality is that
people of integrity are rare and hard to find. Many will destroy a friendship or
relationship for money or for some selfish gain. A wise person values honesty and
truthfulness, and he sees that lies will only destroy him and harm those he loves. In a
world where not much is really what it seems because of the abundance of lies and
trickery, it is a great privilege to find others who value honesty and humility and who
tremble before the Word.
7

A righteous man who walks in his integrity

How blessed are his sons after him.
Being a godly parent is more than just teaching the truths of the Lord to ones children.
That is a critically important element of parenting, but it is also vitally important that
truth is lived out in godly testimony. Paul said to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1
Corinthians 11:1). A godly parent teaches the truth and then models it before his
children. This is a great blessing to children, to have a parent with integrity and a godly
model to follow after. Giving children wisdom from early on, the protection of walking
in obedience, and the opportunity to see Christianity modeled in integrity has incredible
value in this life and in eternity.
8

A king who sits on the throne of justice

Disperses all evil with his eyes.
A king who rules justly and with authority and who is faithful to punish evil curtails the
spread and propagation of evil just with the look of his eyes. Criminals enjoy having a
justice system that can be bought or that is afraid of punishing them, but when justice is
sure to be meted out, crime is less prevalent.
9

Who can say, I have cleansed my heart,

I am pure from my sin?
All people have broken the commands of God, and all people have fallen short of His
holy standards (Romans 3:23). All people need a Savior in Jesus Christ, for He alone can
cleanse their hearts and make them pure from their sin. His forgiveness is the only hope
man has. Even believers need continuous and ongoing sanctification as God continues to
teach them more about Himself and His ways. As God reveals sin to believers, some that
they didnt even realize they were holding on to, they must confess it before Him and
know that He is faithful and just to forgive it (1 John 1:9). Who can discern his errors?
Acquit me of hidden faults (Psalm 19:12).

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10

Differing weights and differing measures,

Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
God knows that stealing and lying come in various forms, and using misleading measures
of payment is one of them. Not giving people what they paid for and stealing money
from them with false weights and measures is a great wickedness before God. (see also v.
23)
11

It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself

If his conduct is pure and right.
Many people boast in their righteousness, and many people even profess to love Jesus.
But what truly distinguishes a person is their fruit (James 2:26), for we can know the
difference between a good tree and a bad tree by the nature of the fruit (Matthew 7:20).
Words and deeds that are pure and right and which come to define a persons life and
testimony is a strong reason to believe that their profession in Christ is genuine. Even
young people can have a powerful testimony if they choose by faith to live obediently
before Christ.
12

The hearing ear and the seeing eye,

The Lord has made both of them.
It is wise to remember that the instruments of our bodies such as the eyes we see with and
the ears we hear with are made by God and given to us by God. Thus, we should present
our bodies as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13) for Gods use to His glory
rather than for sinful pleasures. He wants us to use the abilities and talents that He has
given us for good works rather than for unjust gain. Our very bodies ought to remind us
every day that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14), for even
our eyes and ears testify to His glory and creative genius.
13

Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;

Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.
Getting a good night of sleep is a healthy thing, but those who prefer to stay in bed all
day and not work can expect to suffer poverty, need, and hunger. Work makes a person
hungry, and it makes food more satisfying when eaten.
14

Bad, bad, says the buyer,

But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
A buyer tries to negotiate the best price on a good or service by pretending that he is not
that interested or that he is not that impressed with what he is thinking of buying. But
once he gets the price that he seeks, he goes on his way proud of himself and boasting for
the deal that he worked for himself. There is an aspect of shrewdness that is acceptable
to have in business dealings, but Christians need to be careful that they dont cross the
line into telling lies.
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15

There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;

But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
Possessing wisdom in Jesus Christ and being transformed by that wisdom and sharing
that wisdom with others is more prized, precious, and valuable than all the worlds gold
and jewels. It has great eternal value, whereas money is not eternal.
16

Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;

And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
Being a co-signer or mutually responsible for a persons financial well-being is a
dangerous undertaking, and several times Solomon advises people to get out from that
kind of legal and contractual obligation. A person who becomes entirely liable for
another persons debts and misfortunes puts his entire life, prosperity, and even perhaps
his freedom in jeopardy. (see also Proverbs 6:1-5, 11:15, 17:18, 22:26-27)
17

Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,

But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
Some people make a living by tricking people into getting things that they dont need, by
lying, and by a wide range of deceptive business practices. They might enjoy their easy
money now, but they will destroy their reputation and cause great harm to come to others
and possibly even to themselves. Certainly, in eternity, they will see that their shortcuts
in life were not worth it.
18

Prepare plans by consultation,

And make war by wise guidance.
It is not wise to hurry into actions without strategizing, planning, thinking, and problemsolving (Isaiah 32:8, Proverbs 19:2). It is wise to analyze things from every angle before
making a quick decision that could cause grave danger and great damage to come. A
general that goes to war without a battle plan is putting his soldiers and his country at
great risk. Similarly, as believers seek to advance the kingdom of God through the
proclamation of the gospel, it is wise to become familiar with it and to be prepared ahead
of time so that one is able to speak clearly and boldly.
19

He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,

Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
Gossips are not good people to associate with because they are not trustworthy. A deep
meaningful relationship cannot happen with a gossip because things said in confidence
will be spread to others. It is not an enjoyable, encouraging, or edifying experience to
constantly have to filter and guard ones words because the person we are speaking with
is not safe to talk to.

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20

He who curses his father or his mother,

His lamp will go out in time of darkness.
Those who hate their parents even if they are despicable people do not follow the
example of Christ. He loved even those who sentenced Him to the cross and even those
who drove the nails in. We should always hate sin but not the sinner, and people who are
driven by hate and bitterness are not wise. The end of those who do not love, since love
is a mark of true believers (John 13:34-35), is weeping and gnashing of teeth in hell.
21

An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning

Will not be blessed in the end.
Those who seek their inheritance in advance as the prodigal son did typically do so
because they have spite toward their parents and because they want money to spend on
their sinful lusts. This is obviously not honoring to God. Neither is it honoring to God to
become consumed with making money and being constantly preoccupied with wealth.
Those who hurry after wealth will end up sacrificing their relationship with God and
others. There is nothing wrong with hard work and honest labor, but there is a balance
that should be sought. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (1 Timothy 6:10),
but keeping God first and foremost in the heart will always lead to eternal blessing and a
fruitful life. He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves
abundance with its income. This too is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
22

Do not say, I will repay evil;

Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
Vengeance is to be left in the hands of the Lord because He will repay (Deuteronomy
32:35, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30). The justice system should be used to punish evil,
of course, but sometimes the justice system gets it wrong or does not have enough
evidence to convict. Fortunately, God sees all, and He will be sure that sin is punished.
Thus, rather than becoming consumed by hate and a desire for revenge, a person can
forgive and move on with his life, trusting God to deal with the sin of others. There is
great freedom in this approach, for revenge does not free the soul. Rather, it enslaves it,
even after ones personal vendetta is carried out. Forgiveness and turning things over to
God is the only path to life, hope, and joy.
23

Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,

And a false scale is not good.
Solomon again hits on the theme of dishonest business dealing and theft (see also v. 10).
Obviously, the love of money leads to all sorts of evil, and Solomon wants people to be
aware of that fact before it is too late to do anything about their eternal destiny.
24

Mans steps are ordained by the Lord,

How then can man understand his way?

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Walking by faith rather than by sight means trusting God that He is indeed good, faithful,
and in charge of all that He allows to happen in our lives. We must surrender to His will,
seek His guidance, and conform our lives to His Word, trusting that He will cause all
things to work for our good. Faith is what brings peace, not seeking to understand every
move that God makes (Philippians 4:7). God is on the throne, and we are not. But He
cares about us, and that should give us reason to hope that the most powerful Being in the
universe is on our side, fighting for us and empowering our hearts to obey. Some things
in life wont make much sense as they unfold, but as we look back on our lives, we will
see the legacy of goodness and mercy that God has left in our lives (Psalm 23:6). His
way is always kindest, wisest, and best. When we lack wisdom, He does not, and He will
give us the insight that we need to have to take the steps of faith that we need to take.
However, total understanding belongs to God alone (Deuteronomy 29:29). (see also
Proverbs 16:9)
25

It is a trap for a man to say rashly, It is holy!

And after the vows to make inquiry.
In the Old Testament, there was a practice of declaring something sacred as a gift to God.
The idea in this verse is that people needed to understand what they were doing and why
and not make a promise to God rashly. After making the vow, it was too late to go back
on the commitment, unless one wanted to break his word before God. Thus, Solomons
admonition is to think through what one was dedicating to God before doing it so as to
have understanding of the process, to be able to worship God in the giving, and to not
have to be concerned about breaking a promise to God. It would be better to not promise
anything at all than to promise and go back on the promise. Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 says,
When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in
fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow
and not pay. Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the
messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your
voice and destroy the work of your hands? (see also Numbers 30:2, Deuteronomy 23:2123, Psalm 50:14). Obedience is always more pleasing to God than sacrifice and empty
religious acts with no understanding. Proverbs 21:3 says, To do righteousness and
justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.
26

A wise king winnows the wicked,

And drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king discerns good from evil, and he punishes the wicked justly so that they
cannot oppress the righteous. Criminals are not allowed to bribe the system or pervert
justice when a righteous king is in charge. The innocent and good rejoice in a fair king
that loves justice and honor.
27

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,

Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

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The Lord has set eternity in the hearts of men by putting something in their inner being
that knows that they are more than just a cosmic accident or mixed batch of chemical
compounds (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Man has an innate realization of God, His ordinances,
and His judgment (Romans 1:19-21, 32). As mans mind encounters the Scripture, his
heart is cut to the core to expose the lies (Hebrews 4:12). His conscience either
condemns him or confirms to him that he should have confidence in the day of judgment
(1 John 3:19-21). Man is hard-wired to have to work through spiritual matters, and thus
he is accountable to do so even if he has so defiled his conscience that he no longer
believes it even exists.
28

Loyalty and truth preserve the king,

And he upholds his throne by righteousness.
A king that wants to rule long and well is best served by being fair and loyal and
upholding truth and righteousness. Those who have a biased or selfish agenda or who
have been bought and paid for will not be able to rule with impartiality. Those who are
more interested in their position than in doing right will do anything to keep their position
of power, even if it means hurting people or giving an advantage to the well-connected at
the expense of those who are not. A kings credibility is wasted if he does not have
principles, and people who have any sense do not respect a person who has no values but
who changes his view based on popular trends or convenient truths.
29

The glory of young men is their strength,

And the honor of old men is their gray hair.
In youth is when people typically have the most energy, and thus it really helps to have
wisdom while still being young since much can be accomplished for the kingdom. Old
men can encourage and edify others with their wisdom and the things that God has taught
them over the years. Both are responsible before God to use their opportunities and what
God has given them to advance the kingdom.
30

Stripes that wound scour away evil,

And strokes reach the innermost parts.
Sometimes the devastation of sin can help wake a person up to start seeking out
something more in Christ (Luke 15:15-17). The discipline of Christ for His children
teaches them how to walk in truth, and it keeps them from harming themselves (Hebrews
12:9-11). When believers who continue in sin and harden themselves are turned over to
Satan for the destruction of their flesh, they may come to see the error of their ways (1
Corinthians 5:5). Hardship and divine discipline can help mold the heart and soul to seek
out what is true and what really matters (Lamentations 3:27-33). Wise people are
teachable, and they listen to instruction and respond humbly to discipline (James 1:2-4,
Romans 5:3-5). They allow the Potter to mold the clay of their hearts (Jeremiah 18:6).

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Proverbs 21
The kings heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
Kings and other earthly authorities can be prone to pride as a result of their power. But
they are not the sovereign of the world, and they must recognize that they only have the
position because God has allowed it to happen (Romans 13:1). Nebuchadnezzar exalted
himself on account of his kingdom, and God had to humble him severely (Daniel 4). God
allows certain people to come to power, and He brings others low. He changes hearts of
kings, and He hardens hearts of kings. The bottom line is that God is the ultimate King,
and no power on earth can thwart that reality.
2

Every mans way is right in his own eyes,

But the Lord weighs the hearts.
People are prone to rationalize sin, to self-justify, and to fail to see the reality of their sin
before God. There is a way that seems right to a man, but, because it is sinful, it leads to
death. The deceptive heart that man is born with needs to be reborn in Christ. God sees
the true state of all hearts, and only those which are cleansed with Christs blood will be
clean and pure and able to enter heaven. (see also Proverbs 14:12, 16:25)
3

To do righteousness and justice

Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
Anybody can perform empty religious rituals and ceremonies, but God is interested in the
state of the heart. He wants those who obey Him by faith and who lead lives devoted to
righteousness and justice. Empty religion never saved anybody, but those who obey the
commands of God demonstrate that they have hearts that have been reborn in Christ.
King Saul disobeyed God by taking lambs as part of the spoil from the battle, and he tried
to satisfy God by sacrificing them. But God wanted obedience rather than sacrifice and
to listen to Him more than burnt offerings (1 Samuel 15:22). Obedience to Gods
commands is how we prove our love for Him, not by vain rituals devoid of submission to
God in the heart (John 14:15).
4

Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
The wicked person is driven by a deceitful and wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9), and he is
filled with pride and arrogance. He is a scoffer and a mocker, not having any fear of God
in his heart. He looks down on others, and selfishness rules in his heart. His sin nature
leads him to all kinds of sin. Only Jesus can change his heart and grant him newness of
life.
5

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,

But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
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Planning, strategizing, and seeking godly counsel are all wise things to do. Those who
make hasty, careless decisions without any forethought often will find that their decisions
dont end well.
6

The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue

Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
It is not worth it to pursue money, wealth, and the worlds treasures by cheating, stealing,
and conning. Much of the way people gain wealth in the world today is not honestly but
by oppression, exploitation, deception, and through blackmail or favoritism. This
lifestyle is evidence of a person who is on the fast track to hell because he loves himself
and money more than his own soul or the welfare of others.
7

The violence of the wicked will drag them away,

Because they refuse to act with justice.
Violence and wickedness have a strong association throughout the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 13:21 says that adversity pursues sinners because they create needless harm and
destruction for themselves by loving sin rather than what is good. Being unjust creates
feelings of animosity, inability to trust one another, and lots of anger that leads to
violence. Evildoers will likely be victims of their own evil and violence, and God will be
sure to punish evil in eternity.
8

The way of a guilty man is crooked,

But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
A guilty man has to continue to lie and cover up his wrong, and he must constantly live in
fear and worry that he will one day be caught. Thus, his way veers all over the place, his
answers change, and he is unreliable and untrustworthy. The pure in heart have nothing
to hide, nothing to fear, and nothing to run from, and thus all that they do can be
straightforward, honest, and above reproach.
9

It is better to live in a corner of a roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Solomon wants people to be careful who they marry because it could be more miserable
than being holed up in an attic. Being unequally yoked by marrying somebody who
doesnt know how to submit to Christ and how to love others cannot end well. It might
not always be this bad, but if the woman is never agreeable, always nit-picking, and
always nagging and complaining, then it will be. (see also v. 19, Proverbs 25:24, and
Proverbs 27:15).
10

The soul of the wicked desires evil;

His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

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Wicked people crave evil in their souls because their hearts are evil, and evil is what
drives them. Their evil nature causes them to be unable to love others, and they are
unable to follow Christs command to love their neighbors as themselves. They look
down on others and are ready and willing to do them harm if it would pose an advantage
for them.
11

When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;

But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
This verse parallels Proverbs 19:25. The idea is that a wise man learns from instruction,
responds humbly to it, and is changed unto righteousness as he receives knowledge. A
scoffer remains hardened by pride, and the only learning he receives is how to be
shrewder in his sinful acts so as not to get punished again. The punishment is not
something that he grows spiritually from, but it is something that makes him more
devious. Thus, it all comes down to the state of a persons heart, whether or not they are
pliable, humble, and teachable. Discipline given should be in the context of
understanding what is going on in the heart rather than trying just to render punishment
for punishments sake.
12

The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,

Turning the wicked to ruin.
The ESV translates this verse, The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he
throws the wicked down to ruin. God is paying attention to all that the wicked do, and
He will one day pour out His wrath and judgment upon them. Eternal destruction will be
their destiny, for the Righteous One will bring it to pass according to His perfect justice.
13

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor

Will also cry himself and not be answered.
God hates when people are cruel to the poor and when they neglect those in need when it
is in their power to do something to help. Those who know the love of Christ should
have compassion on the needy, and they should use their opportunity to give physical
provisions as a chance to share the spiritual message of hope in the gospel of Christ.
Those who neglect the cry of the poor demonstrate a hardness of heart and a selfish
arrogance that is indicative not of those who walk humbly before God and have the
privilege of answered prayer (John 15:7) but of those who regard iniquity in their heart
such that the Lord cannot hear (Psalm 66:18). This would be expected of unbelievers,
but even believers can be guilty of being greedy and lacking compassion, and God will
not hear their prayers if they are harboring evil in their hearts.
14

A gift in secret subdues anger,

And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

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A person can be bought off with money and gifts. Bribing is usually wrong because it
perverts justice, but there may be a time when it is worth settling out of court, so to
speak, to pay for ones debts or to make up for ones wrongs (Luke 12:58).
15

The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,

But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
The righteous enjoy seeing justice meted out because they have nothing to fear, and
justice is protection and vindication for them. Those who do evil and commit injustice
will find that the enforcement of justice is frightening because they deserve to face the
consequences. The righteous have hope and joyful anticipation for the day when Christ
judges the world and renders to each according to his deeds (Revelation 22:20).
16

A man who wanders from the way of understanding

Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
A man who has heard the truth and even received it with excitement but whose
profession of faith was never really possession of Christ in the heart will demonstrate the
lack of genuineness regarding his conversion by eventually wandering away (Matthew
13:18-23). He will go out from the true assembly of believers because he was never
really one to begin with (1 John 2:19). He will end up with others who enjoy sin, and
their eternal destiny is eternal destruction. Believers who wander (1 Timothy 1:18-20)
will not end up spiritually dead by losing their salvation, but they will find that being
turned over to Satan by the church for the destruction of their flesh for the preservation of
their souls is not pleasant (1 Corinthians 5:5). Sins passing pleasures always cause the
soul to ache, to yearn, to be parched, and to suffer, particularly in comparison to knowing
Christ and enjoying His good and perfect gifts. Though believers who harden their hearts
in sin will still go to heaven, their rebellion could cost them their lives or, at the very
least, their health (1 Corinthians 11:30).
17

He who loves pleasure will become a poor man;

He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
Practically, the idea is that those who are addicted to spending lots of money on luxuries
such as wine and oil and throwing money away on wasteful pleasurable pursuits will
often find that they have no money left to keep wasting and spending (compare with the
treasures of the wise who have saved diligently in v. 20). The prodigal son blew his
entire inheritance on prostitutes and immoral living. Money can evaporate very quickly
when spending it at a feverish pace or gambling it away in order to keep a sinful high
going. What people need to understand is that sinful pleasures are like a giant black hole,
sucking life and joy and likely even a persons financial well-being until all is gone.
Worse yet, a heart that lives for sin will find its eternal destiny in hell on account of its
spiritual bankruptcy. If man would repent and put his faith in Christ, then He could have
access to all the spiritual pleasures and riches that are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3, Psalm
16:11). After all, it is not pleasure or enjoyment which is of itself wrong as if God
forbids happiness and exuberance. Doing things Gods way is actually the only hope of
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true ecstasy in this life and in the next. There are no hangovers or bad trips with a holy
and God-honoring lifestyle, only new mercies each morning.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying life (Ecclesiastes 5:18, 9:9), but what is wrong is
living life in the pursuit of selfish sinful pleasures. The lust for pleasure, wealth, and the
high life (Ecclesiastes 10:19) is a lifestyle of idolatry, and it does not value God and His
eternal priorities. People would be wise to enjoy life by honoring and thanking God for
His good and perfect gifts such as food, drink, family, and the chance to work and serve
Him. Whether rich or poor, joy can be full when choosing to seek first the kingdom of
God.
18

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,

And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.
Jesus Christ is the ransom for the righteous (Psalm 31:5) because He took upon Himself
all the wickedness of man. He Who knew no sin became sin that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). He, being perfect, took on all the
treachery of sinners so that God would punish Him and offer them the opportunity to
have eternal life if only they would repent and seek forgiveness and salvation in Christ.
19

It is better to live in a desert land

Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
Solomon will say later that a contentious wife is like a dripping faucet (Proverbs 27:15),
constantly making the husband feel worthless and unloved. Now he adds that a man
would be better off wandering in a desert wilderness than being stuck under the same
roof with a woman who loves to mock, insult, provoke, and vex. These character
qualities are in line with the descriptors throughout the book of Proverbs regarding the
fool. The fool likes fighting, anger, and the lack of peace. This is not the type of person
to marry unless one enjoys being miserable. (see also v. 9 and Proverbs 25:24)
20

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,

But a foolish man swallows it up.
The righteous recognize that they are stewards of what God entrusts them with, and they
save some things so that they can take care of their own and others in time of need. They
use their resources and opportunities wisely, but the foolish man lives a life of greed,
waste, and overly-indulgent spending (see v. 17) such that he has nothing saved for trying
times or to be able to help others.
21

He who pursues righteousness and loyalty

Finds life, righteousness and honor.
Those who seek the truth will find it in Christ because the door will be opened to those
who eagerly and humbly knock upon it (Matthew 7:7). Those who practice the truth will
come to the Light (John 3:21), and their deeds will have seen in the end to have been
wrought in God all along. No man seeks God of his own initiative (Romans 3:11), but
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God draws all people (John 12:32). Some respond by pursuing truth, righteousness, and
loyalty, and they will find Jesus Who gives eternal life, Who makes men holy, and Who
will honor them in eternity (Matthew 22:14). There is no such thing as righteousness
apart from Christ and the gospel, for that is empty moralism that is filled with vain Goddenying, self-exalting pride. Only the pursuit of Christ by faith can lead to righteousness
and the benefits thereof.
22

A wise man scales the city of the mighty

And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
It is good to have wisdom in military situations, but Solomon is likely after more than
that here. There is a greater battle than any military conquest that has ever been fought,
and that is the battle for souls based upon the proclamation of gospel truth. Wisdom
reasons with the lost, shows them the error of their thinking, points out the sin of their
ways, and shows them the legitimacy of Christ and the reliability of Scripture. Wisdom
shows the mighty and worldly-wise that their assumptions are flawed and that their
philosophical models are incomplete. Wisdom tears down their stronghold of pride by
exposing error and exalting Christ. Paul did this admirably in Acts 17 by showing the
Athenians the weakness of their philosophies and the glory of the risen Christ.
23

He who guards his mouth and his tongue,

Guards his soul from troubles.
Those who can control their tongue and speak wisely, graciously, and peaceably will
keep from getting into a lot of the trouble that those who speak without thinking will get
themselves into. Being able to control the tongue is a sign that God has control of the
heart because no man can of his own will control the tongue (James 3:2). Self-control is
a fruit of the Spirit, something we are dependent upon God to learn and practice
(Galatians 5:22-23). Thus, those who are able to guard their lips demonstrate fruit that
they are indeed of God and that their souls have been redeemed (Matthew 7:20).
24

Proud, Haughty, Scoffer, are his names,

Who acts with insolent pride.
God hates pride, for it is the ultimate offense to deny His deity, which is what pride does
in effect. Pride refuses to acknowledge God, to thank God, to praise God, to glorify God,
and to worship God, preferring to act instead as if self is due the glory, the credit, and the
sufficiency. Only God is sufficient, and man must recognize His dependency upon God
and the authority of God. Those who scoff at God and His Word, those who have an
over-inflated view of themselves, and those who look down on others are highly
offensive to God. These store up Gods wrath for themselves, and they need to learn the
way of the righteous (Psalm 1).
25

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,

For his hands refuse to work;
26
All day long he is craving,
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While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

The lazy person is not motivated by the fear of God, to work hard, and to provide
financially for himself and for his own. He chooses not to labor and to earn an honest
living because he desires to do nothing. He should expect to be in need and to end up
even in poverty, and he will have nothing to give to others in need. The righteous
through honest labor earn money that they can use to feed themselves and care for their
families and even have some left over to give to others who are in need. This doesnt
mean enabling laziness, but it means taking care of those who are unable to provide for
themselves or their own. There is a great difference between choosing not to work when
one is able and when work is available as compared to the person who is not able to work
or who does not have any immediate option available to him (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
27

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,

How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
God takes no pleasure in religious acts and rituals when the heart behind the act is far
from Him. He sees all, and He sees down into the depths of the heart, dissecting motives,
attitudes, and intents. The wicked person cannot please God or atone for himself with
religious acts, for he needs to turn to God begging for forgiveness and cleansing in
Christ. That is his only hope. God wants obedience more than sacrifice, and obedience
is only possible as a result of a heart that has been reborn in Christ. The wicked have
diabolical hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), and the evil intents of their hearts need to be changed.
To think that one can atone for himself apart from Christ is actually an evil intent because
it spurns the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
28

A false witness will perish,

But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
Those who are of the devil live to lie, but the righteous listen to the truth and respond
obediently to it because of their love for Christ. They have eternal life in Him, and they
will praise His name forever. The wicked will be cut off from God and sentenced to
condemnation in hell.
29

A wicked man displays a bold face,

But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.
A wicked man might act confidently and feign boldness, but the righteous man seeks
wisdom, trusts in the Lord for guidance and protection, and takes the necessary steps of
planning and taking precautions as God enables and leads. The wicked person tries to act
tough, but the righteous person has real strength and hope in the Lord. The wicked can
only have confidence in themselves and their own abilities and provisions, but the
righteous have the God of the universe on their side fighting for them (Deuteronomy
3:22). Thus, the confidence of the wicked is but their own personal opinion and a
figment of their imagination (Proverbs 18:11), but the confidence of the righteous is
boasting in He Who is strong even though they are weak (2 Corinthians 12:10).
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30

There is no wisdom and no understanding

And no counsel against the Lord.
Since wisdom is found in Christ and since God is wisdom personified, there can be no
wisdom that speaks against Him, His will, or His Word. His Word will endure forever,
but no counsel that mocks Him or taunts Him will stand in the end. Truth will always
win out because God will judge the world.
31

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But victory belongs to the Lord.
Planning and preparation are mans responsibility, but ultimately nothing can be
accomplished without the help of the Lord. He is sovereign over all the affairs of men.
Psalm 127:1 says, Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. (see also Proverbs
16:9, John 15:5)

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Proverbs 22
A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.
Some things money cannot buy like a good reputation, a noble name, and a God-honoring
testimony. These things come by faith and a life lived in the fear of God. Despite what
others may think or say, the only thing that really matters is the state of a persons heart
which God knows and sees. What God thinks and His approval is what has ultimate
value, and no amount of gold or silver can buy Gods favor or redemption. Mans only
hope is redemption through Christ. His favor and being adopted into His family is the
greatest wealth of all.
2

The rich and the poor have a common bond,

The Lord is the maker of them all.
Sometimes those who have been given much in this world act as though those who are
not as fortunate are less human or important. The Christian loves all indiscriminately
because Christ died for all. God made all people, and He desires that all would come to
faith in Jesus. The evil heart hates others, mocks them for things that they cant control,
and judges them for things for which they are not at fault (John 9:2). They do this
because they glory in their possessions and in their status (Luke 16:14), and they neglect
others because of their arrogance and pride (John 12:43). This is not to be the
perspective of the Christian.
3

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,

But the naive go on, and are punished for it.
Those who are wise avoid trouble by seeing danger signs early, and they take steps to
move out of the way and to protect themselves. Those who lack discernment and the
compass of Scripture as well as the leading of the Holy Spirit in their hearts are bound to
err in their decision-making and to be vulnerable to getting taken advantage of. Those
who lack knowledge will suffer on account of it. Those who fear God will find sufficient
wisdom in Christ. Those who do not fear Gods punishment will refuse to change the
direction of their lives and end up getting His wrath.
4

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord

Are riches, honor and life.
God will reward those who fear Him and obey Him in this life (1 Peter 5:6, 1 Samuel
2:30). They will find eternal riches and honor in heaven. Even in this life, given that
eternal life is knowing Christ which they do even now (John 17:3), they can enjoy the
blessings of relationship with Him. His wisdom will help them enjoy this life and live a
life that is abundantly fruitful (John 10:10, 15:8).
5

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;

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He who guards himself will be far from them.

Sin is destructive by nature, and those who love evil can expect to find trouble and
adversity even if they seem to get away with their evil for a time (Proverbs 13:21). Those
who desire to walk in righteousness will be protected from so much of the needless pain
and strife that accompanies sin. Sin has a way of compounding on itself, whereas faith in
Christ leads to the manifestation of the goodness and mercy of God throughout life.
6

Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
This verse should be a great encouragement to parents who have invested themselves
wholeheartedly in the lives of their children by teaching them the Scripture and the truths
concerning Jesus Christ. Children need to see a consistent theology and a life that
validates that theology with God-honoring behavior. They need to see the love of Christ
demonstrated, but most of all they need to understand the gospel. Just growing up in a
family that goes to church and prefers Christian media is not sufficient to be called child
training. Though the church can and should help, parents must take full responsibility on
themselves to teach their children what the Bible is about, why they should believe it, and
why it is reliable in a world that hates Jesus and rejects the Bible. They must guide their
little hearts down the right path, and, as the children grow older, they can see the errors of
others paths and the benefits of the right way. Children are ultimately responsible for
their own direction in life, but parents can have confidence and assurance that their
children will persevere in the truth if their hearts belong to Jesus Christ. This is why
child training is not about getting a child to submit and follow a system, but it is about
guiding their hearts to love Jesus and showing them why that is the best decision and the
only sensible way. (see also v. 15)
7

The rich rules over the poor,

And the borrower becomes the lenders slave.
The general reality of the world is that those who have riches tend to treat the poor in an
oppressive manner, and there is a tendency to show personal favoritism toward other rich
people. This is why God commands Christians to be different and to think against the
grain by valuing other human beings and loving when others hate and think only of
themselves. Debt should be avoided as much as possible to avoid any chance of being
exploited by the rich. Debt may be necessary for a time, but it is wicked to not pay it
back (Psalm 37:21). Thus, any borrowing must be done in wisdom and not greed, and
too much debt only leads to destruction and serfdom.
8

He who sows iniquity will reap vanity,

And the rod of his fury will perish.
The end of evil deeds is wrath and judgment, and God will render justice due a person on
account of their wrongdoing. There is no eternal value in a life lived without Christ and
against His commands, for it is ultimate vanity and meaninglessness. Those who live to
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stir up anger and get ahead in life regardless of what it means for others will one day die,
and they will pay for what they have done.
9

He who is generous will be blessed,

For he gives some of his food to the poor.
The church should care for those in need within its fellowship first and foremost, but it
should also be mindful of those in need in the surrounding community (Galatians 6:10).
The mission of the church extends to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), and thus there
should always be a concern for those in need regardless of where they live (Matthew
5:16). God will honor and bless those who act in generosity toward the poor, and this is a
personal act of love toward the Savior (Matthew 25:45).
10

Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out,

Even strife and dishonor will cease.
Those who scoff and mock do so because they enjoy division and destruction. When
these people who seek animosity and violence are put out of a group, it can make peace
multiply quickly. The church of Jesus Christ should be a place where unity and peace are
sought (John 17:21, Hebrews 12:14) as all desire to conform to the Word of God (1
Corinthians 1:10). Those who reject sound teaching and who like stirring up a fight will
pervert that unity and cause a problem. This is why those who harden themselves in sin
must be put out of the church (1 Corinthians 5:5, Matthew 18:15-18).
11

He who loves purity of heart

And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.
When a society comes to value deception, lying, scheming, and whatever is most
convenient to get ahead in the moment regardless of whether it is pure or gracious,
practically nobody can be anybodys friend (Matthew 24:12). But a king that has any
sense will value an honest person as a trustworthy friend and confidant. He will find in a
person with a pure heart wise and gracious words that can help him lead. A wicked king
might spurn or execute a good person, but, then again, it might just make the king think
twice and learn about the God who makes the person good (Daniel 3-4). Being pure of
heart and gracious in speech is always the best and right approach.
12

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,

But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
The Word of the Lord endures forever, and He strongly supports those whose hearts are
completely His. He preserves the way of His godly ones (Proverbs 2:8), and the proud
will be recompensed according to their wicked deeds (Psalm 31:23). He remembers the
boastful words of the wicked and treacherous, and they will suffer His wrath on account
of them. His Word will stand in judgment over them rather than the other way around.
13

The sluggard says, There is a lion outside;

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I will be killed in the streets!

Fear, whether real or imagined, can lead a person to become lazy and unproductive, both
practically and spiritually. Christians must not bury their talents in the ground out of fear
of failure or any other fear. They must take the gospel to the street and proclaim it from
the rooftops so that their boldness and confidence can even make the enemies of Christ
tremble (Nehemiah 6:16). A lazy person makes excuses, but a faithful person finds
reasons to participate in the Lords harvest (Matthew 9:37-38).
14

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;

He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.
Those who commit adultery bring great destruction upon themselves and their families.
Those who fear God will stay far away from any provision for the lusts of the flesh, while
those who are cursed of God and sons of the devil will eagerly tread the minefield of
immorality. God is always ready and willing to forgive sin, but, particularly in the case
of sexual immorality, some damage is very difficult to reverse.
15

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
There is a need to train children in righteousness because all children are born with fallen
and sinful hearts. They instinctively know how to rebel and to be stubborn, and they
need to be trained as to what is right, good, and pleasing to God. They need discipline to
set their boundaries and to show them that their parents are concerned for their well-being
and that they seek to protect them from danger. Discipline is not wrathful or cruel, but it
is a loving means of teaching, training, and protecting ones children from sin, evil, and
unnecessary harm. Each child responds to varying methods of reproof and correction
differently, and parents must be attune to their childs needs and continue to find out what
is the best way to help shape their character and to teach them to obey. Anger at ones
children or abusive practices have no place in Christian discipline, but parents who train
their children long to see their children learn wisdom and forego foolish thinking and
behavior. (see also v. 6)
16

He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself

Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
Those who take unrighteously from the poor to benefit the rich unfairly and those who do
harm to the poor by using them for selfish gain reveal the wickedness of their hearts and
the reality that they will be eternally impoverished in hell. If justice is served on earth,
they ought to be punished for their crimes.
17

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18
For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.
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19

So that your trust may be in the Lord,

I have taught you today, even you.
20
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
21
To make you know the certainty of the words of truth
That you may correctly answer him who sent you?
By seeking after wisdom and eagerly absorbing sound teaching from the Word, a person
can be filled with peace and joy and ready to speak good, helpful advice to others.
Wisdom moves a person to trust wholly in God and not in self, to love Him above all
else, and to value his neighbor as more important than himself. Wisdom believes in the
certainty of the truth of Scripture, and the Scripture by faith in Christ works to make a
person wise and able to give a wise response as needed. The more confidence a believer
has in the Word of God and the fact that it is eternal, certain, and irrefutable, the wiser he
will be, the more He will be moved to study the Word, the more it will impact him, and
the more his life will impact the world as he is better equipped to give an apt answer to
those who ask (1 Peter 3:15).
22

Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

Or crush the afflicted at the gate;
23
For the Lord will plead their case
And take the life of those who rob them.
Those who rob the poor and are cruel to the poor show themselves to have wicked hearts
that care only for their own gain. These who do not fear God enjoy oppressing the less
fortunate, and they will suffer Gods wrath on the day of judgment and maybe even in
this life.
24

Do not associate with a man given to anger;

Or go with a hot-tempered man,
25
Or you will learn his ways
And find a snare for yourself.
Wisdom says to avoid those with hot tempers and who are quick to anger because they
are marks of a fool. This leads to adversity, danger, and destruction because bad
company corrupts good morals.
26

Do not be among those who give pledges,

Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27
If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take your bed from under you?
Being a co-signer or a guarantor for anothers debts is unwise because it could cost a
person all of his possessions if the other person was in financial distress. (see also
Proverbs 6:1-5, 11:15, 17:18)

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28

Do not move the ancient boundary

Which your fathers have set.
If property lines are drawn in a certain place because of a promise made, then to move the
lines is stealing, dishonest, and unrighteous.
29

Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.
Given the way the world works, it is common for those who have great skills and talents
to have the opportunity to associate with those in positions of power. Those who are not
endowed with elite talent and skills are usually forgotten and snubbed by those who enjoy
being among the elites. It is not wrong to be very skilled, but those who have been
blessed with great talent need to remember just Who it is Who gave them that talent lest
they succumb to pride and the approval of people and the love of the praise of the world.
It is no accident or coincidence that the true church is not made up of many who are wise
according to the flesh, mighty, or noble according to the world (1 Corinthians 1:26)
because of how difficult it is to love God when it will come at such a great cost. As Jesus
told the rich man who loved his stuff and status as a result of his stuff, Looking at him,
Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess
and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But at
these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned
much property. (Mark 10:21-22)

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Proverbs 23
When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you,
2
And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man of great appetite.
3
Do not desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.
Inferring from verses 6-8, the idea presented here is that the ruler has a selfish agenda
that he is trying to sway a person into giving into. He wants to buy the person off and use
him for his purposes and agenda. Taking of his delicacies, benefits, gifts, and even bribes
could cloud a persons ability to make good decisions and more prone to join forces with
a bad person. The pressure to cede a just position in the presence of power, prestige, and
possessions can be strong, but a person must not desire anything the ruler can offer. He
must focus on the truth of the situation, and this will keep him from being deceived.
4

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,

Cease from your consideration of it.
5
When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
It is not a good spiritual and eternal investment to become consumed by making money
or by the desire to get rich. The command here is to stop thinking about money all the
time, for that is idolatry. It is impossible to love God and money at the same time
(Matthew 6:24). Wealth cannot even deliver upon what it promises, for it can easily be
lost or stolen. It certainly cannot buy salvation or go into the afterlife (Matthew 6:20).
Its value is purely temporary, and it ought to be used to help others rather than for
spurious selfish gain.
6

Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,

Or desire his delicacies;
7
For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, Eat and drink!
But his heart is not with you.
8
You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten,
And waste your compliments.
A selfish person with a wicked heart thinks ill thoughts in his mind about others. He may
be pleasant on the surface, but ultimately he will betray and use a person for his own
gain. It is important for a wise person to protect himself by not taking benefits from a
person who is selfish, for what the person takes will end up costing him and being misery
to him. A selfish person cannot and does not give freely without expecting something in
return, and this is not worth the morsel eaten. It is also not worth getting tricked into
thinking a person is decent-hearted and even saying as much when the reality is just the
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opposite. Taking gifts from those with evil motives of selfishness can blind ones
judgment and cause a person to make mistakes and be exploited. Being used and being
played is a majorly undignifying and dehumanizing experience, and it is a great way to
waste ones time and energy.
9

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
It is a good thing to want to share wisdom with others, but fools will reject it and despise
it. Thus, rather than cast pearls before swine, it is sometimes better to not say anything
than to waste words.
10

Do not move the ancient boundary

Or go into the fields of the fatherless,
11
For their Redeemer is strong;
He will plead their case against you.
Wicked people seek to steal property and land by voiding ancient contracts and moving
agreed-upon lines. The powerful may try to take from the weak, undiscerning, and
vulnerable, but God will avenge the wrongs done. He hates when the weak and innocent
are oppressed and maltreated, and this is why part of being a Christian is to be
compassionate and fair to those who are less fortunate.
12

Apply your heart to discipline

And your ears to words of knowledge.
Even after a person trusts Christ and is given a new heart, there is still a lifelong journey
of sanctifying work to be done. The Christians heart desire should be for being
submissive to the Word of God and to the Spirits working in his heart. The Christian
needs self-control and discipline to apply himself to study Gods Word (2 Timothy 2:15)
and to resist the devil (James 4:7) and not make provisions for the flesh and its lusts
(Romans 13:14). The Christian life is an ongoing battle for truth and righteousness, and
it requires a heart that trembles before Gods Word. The believer must wield Scripture as
a sword to fight off Satans lies (Ephesians 6:17), and he must allow the Spirit to use
truth to convict the heart of sin and to teach and strengthen the spirit. Wisdom keeps
pressing on toward the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus by listening to and
applying Gods Word (Philippians 3:14).
13

Do not hold back discipline from the child,

Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14
You shall strike him with the rod
And rescue his soul from Sheol.
A parent who neglects to reprove or correct his child doesnt love his child. He is content
to let the childs evil nature which he is born with grow until it consumes him and sends
his soul to hell. Wisdom understands that children are born with a wicked heart, and
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those who love Jesus and their children will teach them about the nature of their sin and
how Christ wants to forgive them and change them. Parenting done according to
Scripture shows children the value of obeying God and how to walk in the fear of God.
Parents must be willing to deal with rebellion and stubbornness quickly, and discipline
cannot be an afterthought. Children need to know their boundaries, why they are there,
and that they will consistently be enforced. Authoritarian parenting, abusive parenting,
or parents that are just overly strict and mean are not according to the Biblical model.
God is patient with us, His children, He is gracious, He is faithful to discipline us, and He
is good to show us how it produces righteousness in our lives (Hebrews 12:11). The
same should be true of parents raising their children. They cannot be afraid of their
children getting mad at them on account of their discipline, and they cannot stop and give
into thinking that they are harming their children by imposing consequences for bad
behavior. This does not stymie their growth or development, but it should make them
less selfish and proud. Self-esteem is useless if it is not under the authority of Christ and
found in Him. Discipline shows us that we need Jesus to help us obey and that we do
have a heavenly authority. It helps us learn to love Him, to deny ourselves, and to care
about the needs of others. Discipline will not be fun for the child, and it is hard work for
the parent. However, it is an eternally necessary investment in their lives. Spanking is
not the only Biblically accepted mode of discipline, but it is a valid one if done right,
without anger, and without harming the child. Parents just must remember to pay
attention to their childrens hearts and to what consequences are helping them best
respond to instruction and which are best leading to repentance and sorrow for sin. For
some, spanking may not be the best mode of discipline, and they might respond to other
incentives and consequences better. There is no spiritual magic in spanking, but
discipline is a combination of teaching, forgiving, unconditional love, seeking humility
on the part of the child, and working together as a parent-child team to defeat sin and to
love Jesus more. Parents who take out their anger with their children on their children
and call it discipline are abusive, and that is not Christian discipline. (see also Proverbs
22:6, 15)
15

My son, if your heart is wise,

My own heart also will be glad;
16
And my inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak what is right.
A parent who has faithfully trained his children can be glad when he sees his children
walking with the Lord. Hearing him teach wisdom to others that he has himself been
taught is a wonderful blessing and evidence of a truly reborn heart in Christ.
17

Do not let your heart envy sinners,

But live in the fear of the Lord always.
18
Surely there is a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.
It can be tempting to envy the wicked, for their schemes may lead to them being
prosperous in worldly terms, at least in the short term. But the Christian must always live
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in the fear of God, meaning that he is regularly reminding himself of the reality that God
will judge all men. He will reward the righteous and condemn he wicked. Their
prosperity will end in eternal poverty, and those who loved righteousness will be rich in
Christ. This world can be unjust, and the wicked may die gloating. But their pride will
come to a vicious end, for their future is of fire and agony. The believer can take heart
that he has a future and a hope of being forever with Christ (Jeremiah 29:11). He will
never be cut off from that which brings Him the greatest joy, Jesus Himself. (see Psalm
37:7-10)
19

Listen, my son, and be wise,

And direct your heart in the way.
20
Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21
For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.
A major pitfall that many fall into is drunkenness. Our modern world thrives on beer,
wine, and strong drink, but Christians are not to be drunk but rather filled with the Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18). When our minds are corrupted and under the influence of alcohol,
drugs, or other substances, it impairs our judgment and our thinking. It inhibits our
ability to reason according to the Bible, and it depresses the functioning of the
conscience. The Bible says that we are to be sober in spirit rather than drowsy (1 Peter
5:8), being alert and attentive to what God is doing and to what He wants us to do. Those
who overeat and who drink too much do not show evidence of the fear of God in their
hearts, for they do harm to themselves and put others at risk by their behavior. Christians
need to be careful who they associate with because this behavior can quickly rub off.
Heavy drinking can be consuming and addictive, and it can bring a person to complete
dependence, loss, and poverty. The same can happen with overeating. Sin always is
destructive by its very nature, and the Christian must put aside the entanglements of sin
(Hebrews 12:1). (see also v. 29-35 and Proverbs 20:1)
22

Listen to your father who begot you,

And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23
Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.
25
Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.
26
Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.
Children are wise to listen to the wise teaching of their parents and to thank them for
what they have invested in their lives. The best investment is to learn truth and to hold
tightly to it no matter what happens, knowing that the Word of the Lord endures forever
even in a constantly changing world. Parents should want their children to have hearts
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that are eager to learn about the Lord, and this brings great joy to them. Their teaching
should be modeled for their children by how they live so that their children can delight
not only in what they say but in what they do. A life that is consistent in word and deed
and in truth and grace has a way of capturing a childs attention and allowing Christ to
capture his heart.
27

For a harlot is a deep pit

And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.
28
Surely she lurks as a robber,
And increases the faithless among men.
Solomon mentions the dangers of the adulteress again (see Proverbs 5-7) knowing that so
many young men fall prey to her temptations. Those who go to her will find themselves
trapped in a narrow well, for she promises refreshing drink but leaves them near death.
She, like the devil who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, promises life and pleasure but
gives destruction and misery in the end. She cannot give what she promises, for life and
pleasure are found in Christ and in the good and perfect gifts which He provides. There
is no need to become faithless and reject Gods commands, for faithfulness is the only
hope of true satisfaction in this life.
29

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30
Those who linger long over wine,
Those who go to taste mixed wine.
31
Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it goes down smoothly;
32
At the last it bites like a serpent
And stings like a viper.
33
Your eyes will see strange things
And your mind will utter perverse things.
34
And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.
35
They struck me, but I did not become ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When shall I awake?
I will seek another drink.
Those who get drunk typically do it regularly. Even after doing a bunch of dumb things
on account of impaired judgment, they are still quick to plot their next over-indulgence of
alcohol. They view the destruction that they do to themselves and others while
intoxicated as funny, for they do not fear God or value Him or others. Their lives lead to
arguments, fights, injuries, pain, sorrow, regrets, and personal harm. Drunkenness leads
to seeing things that arent real and to doing things that are foolish. It draws out the
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worst in a person, and it puts them in danger. Yet, because they have no value of eternity
or concern for others, they keep doing it again and again. Sexual immorality and
alcoholism are two of the most travelled paths to death and destruction, and the Christian
needs to purpose to avoid both at all costs. Both promise pleasure and relief, but both
end with the bite of a snake. No man ever found happiness and satisfaction this way, and
nobody ever will. Satan promises quick shortcuts, but Gods way, even though it takes a
lot of time, energy, and sacrifice, is the only way that works. There is far more
satisfaction in a marriage where two Christians are enthralled with each other and in
doing the work of God than in a bottle of alcohol or in the batting of the eyes of a
prostitute Sadly, despite the danger and destruction of drunkenness, people go right back
to doing it again. They will only find more pain, frustration, and strife as a result.

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Proverbs 24
Do not be envious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;
2
For their minds devise violence,
And their lips talk of trouble.
When the wicked prosper and when it seems that sinful shortcuts are the better way, it
can be tempting to be envious of their position and circumstances. It can be tempting to
want to assimilate to their way of being in order to get the passing pleasures of sin. But
Christians must not desire their evil ways or their companionship. Evil people love
violence, betrayal, harm, and selfish gain. There is no real trustworthy friendship among
evil people, but each uses the other for his own personal gain. Loyalty, love, peace, and
trust are in the house of the righteous, but in the path of evil men comes trouble. Their
eternal destiny is death, and their lifestyles ought not to be envied or copied (Psalm 37).
The righteous will be rewarded and honored in the end (2 Corinthians 5:10). (see also v.
19-20)
3

By wisdom a house is built,

And by understanding it is established;
4
And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
Wisdom is how the kingdom of God advances in a heart, in a home, in a church, and in a
nation. All that is spiritually valuable, worthwhile, and lasting requires faith in Christ
and wisdom according to His Word. Christ will one day judge the acts of believers
according to whether they are truly fruitful or not, and rewards will be dependent upon
whether or not the deeds were done in faith and wisdom and according to the power of
Christ alone (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Wisdom is required for things of eternal value, and
it is what strengthens a church, advances the kingdom of God, and builds a home that
honors Christ and provides joy to its members. The fruit of wisdom and the knowledge
of God and His Word is spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3, Psalm
16:11).
5

A wise man is strong,

And a man of knowledge increases power.
6
For by wise guidance you will wage war,
And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Wisdom makes a person spiritually strong, it teaches him how to discern false teaching,
and it helps him rightly dissect the Word of truth. There is power in Christ and in His
Word, and the wise man embraces its full power by learning it and believing it. The fool,
on the other hand, may have a form of godliness while denying the power of Christ and
His Word. Thus, his life is powerless against sin as he remains a captive of the devil.
Believers are no longer slaves to sin, but they can by faith present their bodies as
instruments of righteousness to Christ for His use in His service. Believers can do
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nothing of themselves, but their sufficiency is in Christ and His Word which makes them
strong, able, and powerful in and through Him to do all that Christ calls them to do.
Apart from Christ, believers can do nothing (John 15:5), but in Christ and by His power
working in them, they will be changed and used to change others (Galatians 2:20).
Wisdom is useful for winning spiritual battles and for navigating the events of this life
and this world. The more a person knows the Word and the more godly counselors he
has, the better decisions he will make.
7

Wisdom is too exalted for a fool,

He does not open his mouth in the gate.
Wisdom leads to spiritual success, but such wisdom is too much for the fool. He has
nothing to offer those who walk in wisdom. He has nothing to say to add value to a
conversation between wise men.
8

One who plans to do evil,

Men will call a schemer.
9
The devising of folly is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
A schemer is not an honorable label to have because it implies exploiting people,
deception, lying, and pragmatism over morality. It also implies intended harm and the
advancement of a personal agenda over the welfare of others. Those who plot evil do so
because of the evil in their hearts. This is foolishness, and plotting foolish deeds is sin.
Those who do not fear God or take sin seriously are abominable before God. Scoffing at
God and His Word is a great way to store up His wrath (Psalm 1).
10

If you are slack in the day of distress,

Your strength is limited.
Just as physical strength and emotional fortitude helps a person overcome in battle,
spiritual strength to do what is right and to keep believing the truth is necessary to
persevere and still have joy when trouble and trials come (James 1:2-4). Those who are
strong recognize that their strength comes in and through Christ in them, not by way of
their own flesh. They trust wholly in Him, and the joy of His presence is their strength
(Nehemiah 8:10).
11

Deliver those who are being taken away to death,

And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
12
If you say, See, we did not know this,
Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?
And does He not know it who keeps your soul?
And will He not render to man according to his work?
The hope, prayer, and desire of every believer should be that none would perish but that
all would come to believe in Jesus. This is Gods desire also (2 Peter 3:9). The reality,
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however, is that many people suppress their conscience, ignore the revelation of God in
creation, blaspheme the Holy Spirit calling to their hearts, and ignore the commands of
the Bible. They reject Jesus despite the reality of His historical life on earth and
subsequent death and resurrection. Man will not be able to plead ignorance, for God has
made Himself known (Romans 1:18-20, 32; Psalm 19:1-2). The only unforgiveable sin is
to reject the Spirits drawing on the hearts of men (Luke 12:10), and this proves that men
are accountable and responsible for their choosing to keep on sinning and raising their
fists in the air against God in anger and rebellion. They willfully choose to refuse to give
Him thanks, and God allows them to sin. He will not force a person to believe, but He
wants them all to repent. Those who earnestly practice the truth and want to know the
truth will find it in Christ (John 3:21). Those who enjoy evil will be punished
accordingly. He will one day judge all people according to their deeds, and only those
who are made righteous in Christ will enter His heaven. Only on account of His
righteous life can we be made holy.
13

My son, eat honey, for it is good,

Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;
14
Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.
Wisdom is a choice delicacy and a delicious treat for the soul. Just as honey tastes good
and then is pleasing to the stomach, wisdom brings joy, peace, satisfaction, hope, and life
to the full (John 10:10) because of eternal life found only in Christ (John 17:3).
15

Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not destroy his resting place;
16
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
God looks after the righteous, and He upholds them with His righteous right hand. It is
not that they are never allowed to experience trouble, hardship, or suffering, for they will.
But by faith they will continue to persevere in love, hope, and good deeds no matter how
many times they are opposed, persecuted, and insulted. No attack or plot of the wicked
can make a Christian stop loving Christ, stop hoping in heaven, stop believing and
preaching the gospel, and stop loving even those who are doing the persecuting. The
wicked have nothing to hold onto when they fall into trouble, for God is not on their side.
The wicked will pay for attacking the righteous, but the righteous have a heavenly
dwelling to look forward to even if their earthly resting places are destroyed.
17

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18
Or the Lord will see it and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him.

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There is a certain joy that comes from seeing Gods vengeance poured out, and there is a
certain hope in the reality that God will settle all accounts in eternity. Justice is
something that believers can be encouraged by. However, that does not mean that this
gives believers the right to hate their enemies, for Scripture commands that they love
them even as they are persecuting them (Matthew 5:44). Believers should hate their sin
and their master, the devil, but they must love their souls. Sending a person to hell on
account of their evil deeds doesnt make God giddy with pleasure as a result of their pain
and eternal suffering, but it does satisfy His justice. We can rejoice in justice, but we
should never wish bad things to come upon people or enjoy that they are in pain. Christ
kindly calls to the lost and the wicked offering them hope and a chance to start anew.
But when that opportunity is passed over, then justice must be meted out. In this world,
believers should take no joy in evil, and they should hope for justice on earth. But that
doesnt mean that they can become callous in regard to the state of the souls of the people
doing the evil. If Christians do not love them, how can they ever hope to
compassionately share the gospel with them? Given how harmful it is as far as gospel
advancement for a believer to hate an unbeliever, God may actually, according to verse
18, stop punishing the unbeliever temporarily on earth in order to stop the boasting of the
disobedient believer. Believers should boast in the Lord in regard to both His kindness
and justice but not concerning the pain and suffering of others, even of their enemies.
19

Do not fret because of evildoers

Or be envious of the wicked;
20
For there will be no future for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
Picking up the theme from verse 1, believers are told not to get frustrated when they see
wicked people who are not yet being punished for their sin because they will be punished
in eternity. Justice will be served by Almighty God, and their eternal sentence in hell
apart from the God is sure. Christians must not ever envy their passing prosperity
because spiritual prosperity and eternal prosperity is what counts (Psalm 37). Jesus will
settle all accounts.
21

My son, fear the Lord and the king;

Do not associate with those who are given to change,
22
For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?
It is never wise to stand in opposition to God, for God will bring ruin to the wicked. It is
also generally not a good idea to try to act subversively toward a governing authority,
given that it will likely end with their rage being poured out upon the conspirators. This
verse is not denouncing change, reform, social progress, or even political redress. There
are times when a government is so wicked that it needs to be overthrown. However, in
general, it is God-honoring to respect and submit to governmental authorities even if one
despises some of their policies and positions (Romans 13:1-7).
23

These also are sayings of the wise.

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To show partiality in judgment is not good.

24
He who says to the wicked, You are righteous,
Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;
25
But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
Wisdom does not show partiality or pervert justice, calling the wicked righteous or the
righteous wicked. Those who care for justice hold such judgments and those who make
them in spite, and the people, if they have any sense, appreciate a just system where
evildoers are punished. They recognize that justice is for their own benefit, protection,
and welfare.
26

He kisses the lips

Who gives a right answer.
A wise response that brings edification and encouragement is like a kiss of affection. Of
course, there is also the possibility of a kiss of betrayal like Judas, who gave the answer
that the religious leaders were seeking but which was not according to wisdom. We
would do well to give the right answer according to God rather than kissing up to people
to make them like us at the expense of the truth and justice.
27

Prepare your work outside

And make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterwards, then, build your house.
It is much more effective and efficient to preplan a building project and gather all of the
required materials so that they can be ready when needed. Otherwise progress is slowed
when more figuring has to be done and when more product has to be gathered. There is
wisdom in planning and strategizing, but ultimately even then we still need the blessing
and provision of God on our work (Psalm 127:1). Christians should equip themselves
with the Word of God and prepare themselves to be able to share the gospel. That way,
when the opportunity comes for spiritual fruit, they are ready and prepared, thoroughly
equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
28

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,

And do not deceive with your lips.
As has been said many times in this book, God hates deceptive witnesses, those who
pervert justice, and those who make a practice of lying.
29

Do not say, Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me;

I will render to the man according to his work.
The natural bent of the unredeemed heart is revenge, but God says that Christians ought
to follow the golden rule of doing to others what they would want others to do to them
(Matthew 7:12). God also says to leave vengeance to Him, knowing that He will repay
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(Romans 12:19). The whole idea of just retribution such as an eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth is to be left to God ultimately in eternity (Matthew 5:38-39). Crime should be
punished by a justice system on earth where a punishment is proportionate to the crime,
but, even still, there are a lot of evil things done that are not able to be prosecuted or that
would not be considered technically illegal. Peace must be found in knowing that wrong
that escapes justice now will be punished by God ultimately. Christianity is not about
taking revenge, holding grudges, or looking to get even. The policy of Christians should
be to love those who do them harm and to treat them as they themselves would wish to be
treated. They must be willing to forgive (Luke 6:37) and to love their enemies (Luke
6:27).
30

I passed by the field of the sluggard

And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense,
31
And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles;
Its surface was covered with nettles,
And its stone wall was broken down.
32
When I saw, I reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.
33
A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,
34
Then your poverty will come as a robber
And your want like an armed man.
Those who are lazy and who lack sense can expect to starve at harvest time because they
have neglected their vineyards. They can expect to not earn enough money to live on.
The reality of this world is that it takes work to grow food and to earn a living. Things go
from order to disorder, chaos, and destruction. The world is cursed with thorns and
thistles being one such manifestation. Laziness allows sin and its effects to run amok, but
wisdom resists the pull to give in and give up.

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Proverbs 25
These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah,
transcribed.
God was faithful to preserve the proverbs of King Solomon through the work of righteous
Hezekiah, a king who came many years after him during the divided kingdom.
2

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
One of the things that makes God God is that He has kept some things secret
(Deuteronomy 29:29). He has instructed us in what we need to know, but some things
are just beyond us. He is God, and we are not. Kings, however, make it their business to
be informed and to know the inner workings of their kingdom. They are not God, and
thus they need to be informed as to the goings on of their kingdom and of those around
them so that they can make the best possible leadership decisions. God knows the state
of a kings heart, but no man can know with one hundred percent certainty what
motivates a leader.
4

Take away the dross from the silver,

And there comes out a vessel for the smith;
5
Take away the wicked before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
A king that rules by righteousness and justice will find that it strengthens the kingdom by
preserving peace and promoting equitable treatment of others. Those who make sure that
the wicked are justly punished reduce corruption and bring benefit to all.
6

Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,

And do not stand in the place of great men;
7
For it is better that it be said to you, Come up here,
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.
It is foolish to be presumptive and disrespectful to an authority figure by putting oneself
forward or taking a higher seat than one should take. Rather, one should wait for the king
to say where one should go rather than to suffer the humiliation of being put lower. A
respectful and gracious approach is wisest.
8 Do not go out hastily to argue your case;
Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
9
Argue your case with your neighbor,
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And do not reveal the secret of another,

10
Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not pass away.
Rather than taking a neighbors personal offense to the world at large by taking it to the
courts or shouting about his error from the rooftops to shame him, it is wiser to try to
work things out privately with ones neighbor first. Otherwise, it will be clear to others
that the one offended has no discretion and no mercy or forbearance. Everybody makes
mistakes, and it is no fun to have a neighbor that is a tattletale. Tattletales tend to lose a
lot of friends fast.
11

Like apples of gold in settings of silver

Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
12
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
A timely word to encourage, edify, or provide needed advice is priceless, for wisdom is
more valuable than gold and silver. Learning from those who are wise is like receiving a
gift of gold for a person who recognizes the value of such reproof.
13

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
It is always refreshing and encouraging when a person is trustworthy enough do what he
said he would do and say what he said he would say. Reliable and loyal people are not
that common, and they are a joy to have as friends.
14

Like clouds and wind without rain

Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
Lots of people talk a big talk, but it is the walk that matters. Some people boast about
their gifts and abilities, while others faithfully become the servant of all and allow God to
strengthen them despite their human weakness and insufficiencies. We will be judged
not on account of our boasting and empty promises, for faith without works is dead.
Even those who give gifts while seeking the attention and approval of man will have had
their reward in full (Matthew 6:2). Serving God is about living a peaceful and tranquil
life (1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:11) that honors God in the heart and which is
satisfied with His approval. Whether others are there to see or not, a humble heart always
does what it does for God rather than for men (Colossians 3:23).
15

By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,

And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
Those in authority dont appreciate being intimidated or talked down to when trying to
convince them to change their policy or alter a course of action. But those who speak
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graciously, kindly, respectfully, and gently have a much better chance of getting their
message through.
16

Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,

That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
Honey is a delicious treat, but eating too much of it at one time will make a person sick
enough to throw it up. The spiritual principle at work here is that of balance. There is
wisdom in not hoarding wealth but in being generous, there is wisdom in working and
still finding enjoyment in life, and there is wisdom in laboring for the kingdom but also
taking time to rest in the embrace of Christ. It is easier to endure over the long haul if we
do not overcommit ourselves, do not push ourselves too hard too fast, and make sure to
take time to invest in the different stewardships and relationships that God has given us in
life. The honey of life will keep being delightful when taken in proper portions and in
balance. (see also verse 27 for further application)
17

Let your foot rarely be in your neighbors house,

Or he will become weary of you and hate you.
It is a good thing to open up ones home and to be hospitable to others, but it is impolite
and annoying after a while to presume that somebody elses home is ones own.
Constantly invading somebody elses personal space and privacy is wearying and can
cause a person to hate the one who has no respect of proper boundaries.
18

Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow

Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
Lying and telling an untruth concerning a person is like beating him with weapons of
war, for it slanders his testimony, perverts justice, and harms the innocent. A lot of
damage can be done with the tongue.
19

Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot

Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
A bad tooth makes us doubt whether or not we can chew our food, and a weak foot
makes us wonder if we will fall when we take our next step. This is the perfect analogy
of the doubt that comes by having to put ones faith and confidence in a weak, doubting,
and faithless man when we need his help in time of trouble. This is why friends that are
loyal, trustworthy, and full of faith to do what is necessary are so precious and valuable.
20

Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,
Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.
A troubled heart needs compassion, understanding, sympathy, and comfort. Forcing
somebody to try to buck up and be happy and not mourning with them is not a sign of
love (Romans 12:15). It is like stripping somebody of a winter coat in freezing
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temperatures or causing a bubbling reaction between soda and vinegar. The lack of
kindness and grace can even make a person angry. Let a person be comforted first, and
songs can be sung later.
21

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22
For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.
The Christian response toward our enemies is not to hate them or wish trouble upon them
but to love them by being kind to them. If they are hungry, we should feed them. If they
are thirsty, we should give them something to drink. This alone is what could change
their minds by the refining fire of the gospel made real to them. It is as the world,
including the enemies of believers, sees their good works that they will glorify God
(Matthew 5:16). Vengeance and hate dont point people to God, but kindness and mercy
do. Love also brings eternal rewards, for it is glorifying to God and indicative of His
nature and love for the lost (John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-8). Hateful people find pleasure
in making other people hate also, but seeing a love that cannot be turned to hate could
convict them of their sin. Love is the reality that must define the Christian and
demonstrate to the world that Christ is real and powerful.
23

The north wind brings forth rain,

And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
Just as a shift in wind points to incoming rain, so too does a backbiting tongue lead to
somebody getting very angry. Betrayal is sure to frustrate and disappoint and to bring
division between friends.
24

It is better to live in a corner of the roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Solomon has made this point several times already in this book that being married to a
woman who provokes anger, is disrespectful, is spiteful, is hateful, and is ungrateful is
one of the worst existences possible. One is better off isolated on the corner of a roof
somewhere than in that situation. Thus, one must choose wisely when getting married,
being sure that ones wife fears God and values the descriptions of the excellent wife
given in chapter 31. She is a rare find indeed and priceless at that. (see also Proverbs
21:9, 19)
25

Like cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a distant land.
Hearing good news, even if it is from somewhere across the globe, is always something
that is encouraging. Hearing of good triumphing over evil is always like a refreshing
glass of cold water to one who has been wandering in the wilderness of a world which

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loves evil. Testimonies of the gospel changing hearts is always good news and always so
fun to hear.
26

Like a trampled spring and a polluted well

Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
A righteous man who falls into temptation or who doesnt stand against the schemes of
the wicked perverts himself, makes God look small, and destroys his testimony. Even if
it means death, a righteous person must not compromise.
27

It is not good to eat much honey,

Nor is it glory to search out ones own glory.
Searching out ones own glory is the ultimate pride and arrogance. It is making an idol of
oneself, worshipping ones own looks, ability, intellect, and accomplishments. It is
rejecting God, His provision, His blessing, and His sufficiency. It is calling the
insufficient one sufficient, and it is calling the weak one strong. It is viewing the world
in the totally wrong perspective. The end of self-glory and vanity is meaninglessness,
disappointment, and failure to find true satisfaction. It is outright deception, and those
who love self and hate God will pay in eternity. We should search out the glory of God,
for He made the world, He has all power, and He alone can forgive sin. Satan wanted
more glory for himself, and it led to him to being cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14:14). We
must always seek to decrease so that He can increase through the testimony of our lives
(John 3:30).
28

Like a city that is broken into and without walls

Is a man who has no control over his spirit.
In battle, a city has been overrun when its defenses have been broken through and its
walls taken down. Those who have no self-control prove that Satan has control of them,
and they need to turn their lives over to Christ so that He can be their Lord and Master
and set them free from their chains to sin and death. In Christ alone is the victory.

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Proverbs 26
Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.
Fools do not deserve honor, reward, and commendation, but they store up for themselves
the judgment of God and the disrespect and wrath of men. The irony is that while many
in the world hate believers on account of their testimony, they do not respect a lifestyle of
sin. They know it is the easier route to take in life, and doing what is noble is more
respectable even if it is not acknowledged as such.
2

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

So a curse without cause does not alight.
It doesnt make sense to wish somebody ill or seek to do them harm when they are
righteous and undeserving of cursing. Righteousness will always lead to blessing from
God with the fullness of that blessing coming in heaven. Those who reject Christ remain
cursed and destined for hell.
3

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

And a rod for the back of fools.
Those who continue to act as fools will continue to find themselves getting into trouble
and being gluttons for punishment. They need discipline to be trained in righteousness,
but unfortunately fools reject instruction and continue to do themselves and others harm.
4

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

Or you will also be like him.
5
Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.
It is not worth playing along with the foolishness of a fool, but a fool needs to be called
out for his error with grace and love. Truth requires that believers do not laugh at evil
and assent to treachery. Believers should not get drawn into foolish debates where truth
is not actually sought, and they need to not learn the behavior and banter of fools. The
only hope a fool has of seeing his own foolishness and then turning from it is to be
confronted with the truth (Romans 1:16, 10:17).
6

He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence

Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
Trusting in a fool to deliver an important message is just about a guarantee of things
going wrong. A fool doesnt care about honesty or loyalty, and he is not diligent to
accurately portray the truth which he has been entrusted with.
7

Like the legs which are useless to the lame,

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So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Fools might be able to quote a wise saying, but it is of no value to them because they
dont receive it, believe it, or put it into practice. Their hearts are wicked and hardened
against the truth and sound wisdom. The only way for a fool to become wise is to stop
being wise in his own eyes and to listen to instruction. It is not enough just to know the
truth, but one must keep it. It is not enough to profess to love Christ, one must possess
Him in their hearts. (see also verse 9)
8

Like one who binds a stone in a sling,

So is he who gives honor to a fool.
Praising the unpraiseworthy and honoring the ignoble is setting a dangerous precedent
that evil is good and that righteousness is not valued. This will lead to others violating
the rights of others and to a quick propagation of wickedness. (see also verses 1, 10)
9

Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
A drunkard will not be able to recognize a thorn from a piece of cotton, and he will harm
himself and others with its sharpness. A proverb in the mouth of fools will be misspoken,
misapplied, taken out of context, and manipulated for selfish gain and destruction. Even
the truth of Gods Word is fodder for fools who enjoy making it say something that it
doesnt say. The end of this is much harm, deception, confusion, and destruction. (see
also v. 7)
10

Like an archer who wounds everyone,

So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
Those who enable and empower a fool and put their trust in him will regret it, for it will
cause rampant harm, wounds, and pain for others. A fool cannot be trusted or given
increasing responsibility. It will be dry powder for him to use for evil. It is wise to use
discernment and discretion in terms of whom one trusts or hires.
11

Like a dog that returns to its vomit

Is a fool who repeats his folly.
Dogs can be disgusting and even confuse their own vomit with food and like it. This is
meant to be deeply repulsive and disgusting, for what fools do by continuing to reject
God, to despise Christ, and to fail to heed His Word is repulsive and abominable to God.
God doesnt just roll His eyes at evil, but He stores up wrath to repay. A fool is one who
enjoys the junkfood and refuse of the devil and who is satisfied with idiocy and never
even caring to find out truth, purpose, or meaning. He will keep doing stupid, rebellious
things until it costs him his life and his soul. A fool doesnt learn from consequences, but
he keeps repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

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12

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Pride is the archenemy of humility which is required for those who come to the truth.
Pride rejects the need for a Savior, and pride puts full confidence in the flesh. Pride
enjoys flaunting its own strength and independence, but Christ is the only all-sufficient
One. Thus, those who harbor pride are the ultimate in being unteachable. A fool doesnt
have much hope of turning from his error, but there is always hope that one day he will
recognize that the life Jesus offers makes Satans offers look like pig slop. A prideful
person recognizes just that, but he still rejects God because he wants it to not be true so
badly. He is willing to defy God to the end just so that he can remain on the throne of his
own life.
13

The sluggard says, There is a lion in the road!

A lion is in the open square!
14
As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the sluggard on his bed.
15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
The lazy person may use fear and danger as an excuse for not trying and not working. He
typically lies around in bed or on the couch and does nothing productive or of value to
others. Even bringing his food from the plate to his mouth is laborious and wearying to
the sluggard. He prefers that others would do all the work for him, and he justifies his
behavior in his own mind. He thinks that he is full of wisdom, but he lives a life that
manifests the reality of his own foolishness.
17

Like one who takes a dog by the ears

Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.
It is noble to come to the rescue of somebody in danger, but it is also wise to be sure of
what one is getting himself into before making assumptions that could endanger himself.
Sometimes fights and strife are between mutually evil parties, and intervening in such
instances is like provoking an attack dog.
18

Like a madman who throws

Firebrands, arrows and death,
19
So is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, Was I not joking?
Some people lie and deceive their neighbor, caring not for the consequences and the harm
and hurt that could befall him. Then, once the damage has been done, they try to argue
that it was all just a joke. This demonstrates a lack of concern for others and a cavalier
attitude towards friendship.
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20

For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
21
Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22
The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
Some people like to feast upon gossip and the latest secrets of other peoples lives.
Maybe it makes them feel better about themselves to learn the dirt about others, or maybe
they enjoy feeling like they have fodder for manipulation. Either way, those given to
gossip are better off doing something productive and God-honoring rather than that
which can only lead to malice, pride, contention, and strife. Gossip may seem like a
minor sin, but sin is always destructive and leading to death. Contentious people like
getting a reaction out of others and getting under their skin, but believers should be
peacemakers, building others up and encouraging them rather than tearing them down
and provoking them to anger.
23

Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross

Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24
He who hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up deceit in his heart.
25
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26
Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27
He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
The Bible is clear about wolves that come in sheeps clothing, trying to deceive others
and do them harm. They look like solid silver, but in the inside they are nothing but dirt.
They speak grand words that sound like wisdom but are actually foolishness, and they
lead to division and destruction. They have dark, wicked hearts, even though they may
masquerade as light. Deceit runs rampant in the wicked persons heart, though on the
outside they may feign love, loyalty, and affection. They are master liars and skilled in
using words to manipulate and exploit. Gracious speech is fake from a wicked person,
for the desires of his heart are full of many kinds of wickedness (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Eventually a wicked persons deeds make his intentions manifest to those who desire to
know the truth and be set free by it, for believers can know deceivers by their fruits
(Matthew 7:20). Those who have spent their efforts tripping up others and laying traps
for them will often fall prey to their own evil devices and schemes. They will certainly
be paid back for their evil when God judges them in eternity.
28

A lying tongue hates those it crushes,

And a flattering mouth works ruin.

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Those who speak ill of others and who spread lies about them do so because of hate.
Love rejoices with the truth, but those who speak flattery do so not to edify or encourage
but to destroy and ruin. Flattery might be described as nice lies, but they are still
deceptive and thus destructive. Lying is not consistent with loving but with hatred.

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Proverbs 27
Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Indications of pride and arrogance include being over-confident in ones strength and
having a false conviction of ones own sovereignty over his life. Only God is sovereign
and in total control, and only He knows what will happen this day and the next. A
believers boasting should always be in God alone, for He is faithful and true. Christians
should not make presumptions upon the future as if there is nothing that could go wrong
or hinder them, for even their very next breath is dependent upon the grace of God
(Colossians 1:17). If the Lord wills, they will do this or that. Other such boasting is evil.
(James 4:13-14)
2

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

A stranger, and not your own lips.
It is foolish to praise oneself and laud ones own achievements, for the only approval that
matters is that of Jesus Himself. Believers should not live for the approval of others, but
it is better to be praised by others as they recognize something honorable that believers
have done than for believers to boast about it of their own accord. Vain glory in and of
itself is dishonorable and unpraiseworthy.
3

A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,

But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
Sticks and stones can break bones, and words can actually do even more damage. Fools
enjoy provoking others to anger and evil, and the damage that their words do can exceed
that of other attacks. It is very tempting and easy to respond in selfish wrath to a fool, but
wisdom is gracious, gentle, and always peaceable, not seeking a fight. Letting a fool
provoke one to folly is just dumb, and wisdom knows how to walk away and let a fool
boast in his own stupidity.
4

Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,

But who can stand before jealousy?
Jealousy has a way of consuming a person such that he will do drastic things that involve
all sorts of evil. Wrath is a strong motivator as is anger, but envy can consume a person.
Our God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) and a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), seeking
the worship of Him alone, and we can be sure that He will render judgment to those who
do not worship Him.
5

Better is open rebuke

Than love that is concealed.

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A reproof out in the open might be truthful, but it may not be in the appropriate setting.
There is a time to correct a person or challenge his thinking, but initially it should be
done in private if at all possible. Otherwise, it can be seen as public humiliation rather
than instruction. But at least in a rebuke there is a sign that a person cares about truth and
about the relationship. However, those who pretend that they do not love when they
actually do commit such a travesty because it robs a person of a fulfilling relationship.
By not backing up actually loving convictions with actual words and actions, a person is
left thinking that they are unloved or even despised. Thus, there is unnecessary sorrow
and loss for no good reason. It is better to be corrected which in and of itself
demonstrates some level of care and concern than to be loved and never know it and even
wonder if the person cares at all.
6

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
The wounds of a friend are for our good because they will only rebuke us if we need it.
However, those who hate us will gladly enable and empower our own foolishness
because they know it will harm us in the end.
7

A sated man loathes honey,

But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.
A person who is full is not going to be hungry even for something sweet like honey, but
those who are starving will eat just about anything even if it is bitter. Even bitter foods
will be sweet to a person who is desperate for food. When a person is full of the joy of
the Lord and knows he is loved by others, there will be no need to seek out the bitter
scraps of the devil. Bitterness can be appealing and appetizing to a person who is
desperate for love and affection. But those who are filled with confidence in Christs
goodness and love will find in Him all that they need, and they will not find an appetite
even for Satans best efforts at putting honey on grime.
8

Like a bird that wanders from her nest,

So is a man who wanders from his home.
There is a difference between wandering aimlessly from home where ones
responsibilities are and taking off with ones family to a new place where God has led.
Wandering implies confusion and foolish decision-making and possibly even an
abandonment of loved ones, but a person led by the Spirit will know what God wants of
him and will lead his home accordingly.
9

Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

So a mans counsel is sweet to his friend.
A friend who loves and who fears God is well-equipped to give godly counsel, and his
friend will receive it gladly. A good and wise word is like a fragrant aroma to a humble
heart.
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10

Do not forsake your own friend or your fathers friend,

And do not go to your brothers house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
A friend who is near will be insulted if a person who suffers a calamity rejects his help or
doesnt even turn to him in his time of need opting rather to travel a great distance to take
refuge in the home of a family member. Now, there might be a good reason to do this,
but the thing to remember is not to spurn or underestimate the care and concern of local
friends and family. Those friendships should be honored, and a true friend longs to be
able to help in difficult times.
11

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

That I may reply to him who reproaches me.
When a son who has been taught in wisdom and trained in righteousness by a parent
grows up and walks in it, it is a source of great joy for the parent. It vindicates him in his
own mind that he has indeed chosen wisely and done right in raising his child even if
others have mocked him for what he has done and said in the process. Fools may never
be convinced that godly teaching and discipline is good and right, but a godly child is
vindication enough (Matthew 11:19).
12

A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,

The naive proceed and pay the penalty.
Those who are wise are able to identify danger, traps, and trouble ahead of time because
they are looking at the world through the grid of Scripture. They know that violating
Gods principles is inherently destructive, and they watch out for danger accordingly.
Those who are nave are blind to the danger around them because they are either part of it
or just overestimate the goodness of people. Those who walk blindly into a trap and who
think evil people will act righteously will suffer for their foolish and erroneous thinking.
13

Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;

And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.
As has been said many times already in this book (Proverbs 6:1-5, 11:15, 17:18, 22:26), it
is dangerous and unwise to become a guarantor for another persons debt. It could cost a
person everything including the shirt on his back. The nave dont recognize this danger
and walk right into it. They also commit evil such as adultery without realizing that it
might cost them even their lives. There is no way to repay that kind of wrong to a jealous
husband (Proverbs 6:35). It is like literally becoming a debt that can never be repaid.
14

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be reckoned a curse to him.

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Those who bless their friends with a loud voice so that others can hear may be honest and
innocent in their intentions, but a person will be prone to thinking that they are up to
something evil or that they are aware of some malicious plan afoot of which they are
trying to cover their tracks. Otherwise, why not say the blessing privately and with a
normal voice or just pray for the person in the quiet of ones heart?
15

A constant dripping on a day of steady rain

And a contentious woman are alike;
16
He who would restrain her restrains the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.
Here is yet another reference to the contentious woman (Proverbs 21:9, 19; 25:24), and it
is equally not positive. The warning is for a person to marry wisely, for the agony and
frustration of being married to a wife who enjoys arguing, fighting, nagging,
complaining, and being bitter is like a dripping faucet that never gives one peace and
quiet. Trying to teach her how to be respectful, kind, and considerate is like trying to
catch the wind or grasp at oil. Fools cannot be taught, and a contentious wife
demonstrates her foolishness. By creating a miserable existence for her husband, she
demonstrates her wicked heart and love for misery, pain, and strife.
17

Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another.
People influence one another whether they are trying to or not, and this is why bad
company corrupts good morals. It is also why being around other wise people can be
beneficial to ones heart, mind, and soul if any humility is present. Ultimately, a person
is sanctified by the Word of truth (John 17:17), and this is what is needed for a man to
sharpen another man the right way. Even in the absence of wise counsel and godly
friends, a person can still be trained and sharpened by the Word of God. Jeremiah 23:29
says, Is not My word like fire? declares the LORD, and like a hammer which shatters
a rock?
18

He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,

And he who cares for his master will be honored.
There will be no fruit for those who do not plant, water, and tend to the plants and trees.
It takes work to have food, and a godly master will be grateful for a helper who honors
him by caring for him and tending to his fields and possessions. Both parts of the
Proverb point to spiritual realities regarding reaping and sowing, for our Master wants us
to bear abundant spiritual fruit and to honor and care for His priorities in all that we do
and say. The Master will faithfully rewards his servants.
19

As in water face reflects face,

So the heart of man reflects man.

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The heart of man is the real man, and what is in the heart will be reflected by what is said
and done. The fruit from a persons life will reveal whether a persons heart is good or
evil (Matthew 7:20, Mark 7:20).
20

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.
Those who are sentenced to face the sting of the second death of being cast into hell will
find that it never ends. A wicked heart will never be satisfied in wickedness, for true
satisfaction comes only in knowing Christ. Those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness will be satisfied, but those who live according to the lust of the eyes and
flesh will find that they always need to lust for more. Their emptiness will never end,
and their foolishness will never bring them the abundant life.
21

The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,

And each is tested by the praise accorded him.
When a person is loved and adored by people, it will test his resolve not to become
prideful, to be able to have self-control, and to continue to fear God and keep His
commandments. It will reveal whether or not he is truly humble and servant-hearted or if
he is drawn to power, prestige, and the approval of people over the approval of God. The
praise of men is indeed a great test, and those who love God with all of their hearts will
come through the test refined and purified.
22

Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
A fool does not respond to the challenges of life and to the consequences of sin by
learning and changing his ways. No matter what trouble befalls him or how corrupt he
becomes, he will not humble himself. He is the dross, not the silver or the gold.
23

Know well the condition of your flocks,

And pay attention to your herds;
24
For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
25
When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
26
The lambs will be for your clothing,
And the goats will bring the price of a field,
27
And there will be goats milk enough for your food,
For the food of your household,
And sustenance for your maidens.
Riches can come, and riches can go. Wealth is fleeting, and positions of power tend to
come and go as well. One should never put all of his eggs in one basket or presume on
the future. Those who have faithfully tended to the little things day after day will find
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that they have what they need in the day of trouble. They have not frittered away what
God has given them, but they have preserved it, cared for it, and invested it wisely. It is
never good or wise to neglect the little things while presuming on one big thing to work
out. Similarly, spiritual fruit is often a result of daily investments made and service done
rather than one big accomplishment or event.

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Proverbs 28
The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
The wicked person must live in fear because there will be many risks to him on account
of the wrongs he has done to many people. Even when no one is actually threatening
him, he will always have to wonder and look over his shoulder. The righteous do not
have to live in fear because they have sown seeds of peace, love, and righteousness. If
somebody wants to harm them on account of that, even their persecution for Christs sake
is a blessing to them. God upholds them with His righteous right hand, and they need not
fear on account of His provision, His strength, His grace, and His help. The righteous
can still expect trouble in this life, but they can face anything with confidence and
boldness in Christ. The wicked have no divine help, but the righteous have in Christ the
ability to rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2

By the transgression of a land many are its princes,

But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
Where sin and wickedness multiplies, division and destruction is sure to follow. But a
person who loves wisdom and knowledge according to the commands of Scripture will
be best able to create unity, commonality, and an attitude of peace, forgiveness, and hope.
He will not lie to his people or sell them false theories of hope, but he will live out and
put into practice the truth that he believes in. The church is the pillar and support of the
truth, and a godly leader points people to truth. Only righteousness can preserve and
unify a people, and only truth can set them and keep them free.
3

A poor man who oppresses the lowly

Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
A strong wind and rain that destroys crops is devastating and likely to cause a food
shortage. This is a metaphor for a person who keeps back from those who need food or
other provisions. A poor person keeping back good from other needy people is
downright shameful. It is never God-honoring to oppress others for ones personal gain,
but the command of Christ is to think of the interests of others above ones own
(Philippians 2:3-4).
4

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

But those who keep the law strive with them.
Those who refuse to follow the commands of God by their disobedience glorify evil
people. They, by imitating their evil ways, praise wickedness, treachery, and
abominations. But those who obey the commands of God show them a better way, and
they keep calling to them to repent and believe the gospel.
5

Evil men do not understand justice,

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But those who seek the Lord understand all things.

Evil men pervert justice because their selfishness, greed, and corrupt view of morality
inhibits their ability to delight in righteousness, to even define holiness, and to believe in
truth. But those who love Christ and walk in obedience toward Him understand what
ultimately matters, that Jesus is truth and that His Word is truth and where life is found.
They dont know everything that God knows, for some things He keeps secret
(Deuteronomy 29:29). But in all things pertaining to life and godliness (1 Peter 1:3),
believers have no lack, for they have the mind of Christ to be able to see the world as He
sees it through the same grid of truth, righteousness, and justice (1 Corinthians 2:16).
6

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
It is better to be poor but to know Christ and have eternal life than to have all the worlds
goods and be corrupted and destined for hell. The joy of Christ and the wisdom He gives
are more valuable than anything money can buy.
7

He who keeps the law is a discerning son,

But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
Those who know the commands of God and by faith keep them demonstrate that they
have wisdom and discernment. The more they study Gods Word, the more their
discernment and wisdom can and will increase. But those who reject Gods Word and
choose to be a companion of scoffers, mockers, gluttons, and other fools demonstrate that
they reject the teaching of wisdom that their parents gave them and bring humiliation to
them and great grief and disappointment. Being unable to evaluate character and being
unbothered by associating with those who have a clear negative influence is a sign of a
profound lack of discernment.
8

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury

Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.
The Law condemned charging interest to fellow countrymen (Deuteronomy 23:19,
Nehemiah 5:7), and it certainly condemned lying and stealing and other forms of unjust
gain. Those who wanted to make money by creating oppressive terms for borrowers and
who enjoyed harming their own fellow countrymen violated the commands of God.
Rather than being generous to the poor, they were further impoverishing people and
leading them into perpetual debt servitude. Yet somehow, according to this verse, God
would find a way so that those who were gracious to the poor would have the opportunity
to demonstrate their generosity. Perhaps this is a hint at the parable of the talents in
which the wicked servant who hoards his talent is punished and forced to give it to the
one with ten talents already (Matthew 25:27-29). God will faithfully open opportunities
for service for those whose hearts are devoted to Him, and He will reward them for their
faithfulness.

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He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,

Even his prayer is an abomination.
Those who do not obey God cannot impress or please Him with religious ritual and
sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Even his prayers will repulse God because the heart is far
from Him (Proverbs 15:8), and that is what matters to God, not some articulate oratory
littered with religious jargon. Even believers need to repent of any outstanding sin issues
before God will hear and answer their prayers (Psalm 66:18).
10

He who leads the upright astray in an evil way

Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.
It makes God very angry to see people trying to lead His children astray (Matthew 9:42).
The reality is that deceivers cannot keep the true believer from inheriting eternity, nor can
he stop God from being good and merciful to His own. The deceiver will come to his
eternal doom, and he who tries to create trouble for others will find it returned to him.
Injustice on earth will be settled once for all in eternity.
11

The rich man is wise in his own eyes,

But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
Rich people really have trouble entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:23), and they
tend to boast in their wealth as if they are so wonderful, powerful, and deserving. But a
poor man who has wisdom and understanding is able to see the foolishness that is really
there because he knows the truth of Scripture. He knows that being poor doesnt make
somebody stupid and that being rich doesnt mean that one is wise. He understands that
true wisdom is more valuable than all the worlds riches combined, and he rejoices in that
fact.
12

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
It makes the world far more unjust and dangerous when wicked people rule, commit
violence, love injustice, and oppress those they have conquered. But when righteous
people come to power, righteousness can be praised, good can be done in freedom, and
justice can be carried out. (see also verse 28 and Proverbs 29:2, 4)
13

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Those who sin and hide their sin will find misery in their souls (James 5:16) and pain
even in their bodies (Psalm 32:3-4). They need to confess their sin to God Who is
faithful and just to forgive (1 John 1:9), and they need to confess their sin to those whom
they have wronged. Christians must always be willing to forgive others who in
repentance seek forgiveness for their wrongs. Christ showed us compassion by loving us
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before we loved Him, and we need to be ready and willing to forgive and be
compassionate also. However, it is not enough just to say one is sorry, but confession
must be met with the forsaking of the sin. True repentance is proven by real and actual
life change (2 Corinthians 7:10-11). Once the sin is confessed and forsaken, healing and
restoration can begin.
14

How blessed is the man who fears always,

But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom as we recognize that God alone has
power to cast the soul into hell. The fear of God means recognizing sin for what it is and
wanting to be on the right side of Gods judgment. Once a person has repented and
trusted Christ for salvation, he comes to know Gods perfect love which casts out the fear
of punishment in hell. However, this doesnt mean that he will stop revering God and
being mindful of His absolute holiness and hatred of sin. Those who know that they are
loved by God also honor Him with their lives and recognize Him as Lord and Master and
the One Whom they will stand before when they are judged based upon their faithfulness
as believers (2 Corinthians 5:10). The fear of God for the Christian is not fear of wrath,
but it is a serious recognition of ones stewardship before the Master Who deserves full
worship, devotion, and obedience. Those who harden their heart and reject Christ will
find disaster and eternal catastrophe as they are judged at the Great White Throne and
sentenced to hell.
15

Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear

Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
As in verses 12 and 28, wicked rulers are frightening to a people, particularly one that
they have conquered, oppressed, and impoverished in order to keep them enslaved and
subdued. They must live in dread and humiliation and a constant fear of danger. This
kind of government is lacking understanding (v. 16).
16

A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,

But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
The oppressive ruler will be hated by those whom he oppresses, for he will exploit them
for his gain and treat them terribly. This is traditional worldly wisdom, but it actually
lacks understanding, for, if the people ever have a window of opportunity, they will fight
back and take him out. The leader would be better off creating a valuable partnership and
ally by being just and fair even while in a position of authority. This would earn the
respect of the people, and they could serve him readily and not under compulsion or fear
of his wrath. That is how he could prolong his days as king.
17

A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood

Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

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A murderer who has run from the law must not be aided or abetted by people, for he
deserves to be punished and kept from being able to harm others again. Once one has
murdered once and that line has been crossed, it makes doing it again that much easier
and thus makes the person that much more dangerous.
18

He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,

But he who is crooked will fall all at once.
The blameless will be honored in due time by the Lord. Perhaps they will receive some
honor and vindication in this life, but perhaps not. Perhaps they will be thought of as
scum as Paul and the early Christians were (1 Corinthians 4:13), but what is sure is that in
eternity God will honor and reward those who have lived to honor Him (2 Corinthians
5:10). Part of faith is believing in a God Who is a rewarder of those who seek Him
(Hebrews 11:6). The evil and corrupt will likely create trouble for themselves on earth,
but some may seem to prosper. Regardless, their eternity will be misery forever in hell,
and the sentence will come quickly, sternly, justly, and all at once.
19

He who tills his land will have plenty of food,

But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
Those who waste their time and do not work hard will not have money or resources to
take care of themselves or even feed themselves. Those who do not work the land cannot
expect crops to magically appear. Harvest time is a good time for those who have sown,
watered, and cared for their crops. Those who sow seeds of life will have a glorious
harvest with abundant spiritual fruit leading to abundant spiritual rewards (Galatians 6:610).
20

A faithful man will abound with blessings,

But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
Those who try to take shortcuts to get rich often get themselves into trouble, and it often
requires them to steal, lie, and cheat. The wrath of God is not worth any amount of
riches, but a faithful man will have an abundance of blessings. He may not be rich in
terms of money or possessions, but he is privy to every spiritual blessing in Christ and all
the eternal riches that belong to Him. (see also verse 22)
21

To show partiality is not good,

Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
Partiality leads to anger, bitterness, jealousy, and envy, even if the matter of favoritism is
over something as small as a piece of bread. Our God is not partial, and Christians must
not show personal favoritism.
22

A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth

And does not know that want will come upon him.

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Those who have evil intentions in their hearts and who have lust in their eyes for money
will do anything and everything even if corrupt and immoral and at the expense of others
in order to get rich. They will face Gods judgment for their evil deeds, and they may
find that even in this life their wickedness catches up to him (Proverbs 13:21). (see also
v. 20)
23

He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

Than he who flatters with the tongue.
Flattery is a flat out lie. It might be a nice saying to make somebody feel good, but it is
untrue. Therefore, it has no value, meaning, or actual ability to help. A person needs the
truth to help him change, grow, and learn (John 17:17), and those who experience the
fruit of righteousness after having responded to reproof will be grateful to those who
pointed out the error of their ways (Hebrews 12:11).
24

He who robs his father or his mother

And says, It is not a transgression,
Is the companion of a man who destroys.
Stealing from ones parents is a terrible crime, and saying that it is not a sin is just plain
foolish and completely undiscerning. This person is to be counted among those who
enjoy ruin and destruction and who definitely do not fear God.
25

An arrogant man stirs up strife,

But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
Those who boast in their own resources, looks, intellect, or abilities enjoy pointing out
the weaknesses of others and proving themselves to be strongest, smartest, and better
than others. They enjoy putting people down and creating strife and a spirit of
competition and cruelty rather than of peace and harmony. Those who trust in the Lord
and boast in Him because they know that strength is found only in Him seek peace with
others and are not trying to paint themselves in a better picture so as to make others feel
worse. This is a better way to go through life as the other is repulsive and not indicative
of Christs character. It also carries with it the benefit of eternal rewards.
26

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Every person is born with a wicked and deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9), and only in
Christ can they be remade from the inside out (2 Corinthians 5:17). The heart in its
natural state cannot be trusted until it is transformed by Christ and made new and able to
be clean, pure, and in alignment with the desires of God (Psalm 24:3-4, 37:4). Those
who walk wisely will trust God to change them and keep changing them from the inside
out, and they will be delivered from sin and its consequences.
27

He who gives to the poor will never want,

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But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

Those who remember the poor and give to them as they are able demonstrate that they
have the love of Christ in their hearts. God promises to meet the needs of His people
(Philippians 4:19), and He asks them only to seek first the kingdom of God and to trust
Him to meet their needs (Matthew 6:33). Even if one is suffering persecution and dying
of starvation or disease in a prison cell, the needs of the soul have been met in Christ and
blessed forevermore. The soul will have been satisfied by the Bread of Life and the
Living Water of Christ. Those who hate Jesus and do not show love to Him by loving
those in need will end up cursed in hell. Their hoarding mentality will not make them
happy but miserable, and those who hold too tightly to money will find it has a way of
eluding their grasp (Proverbs 27:24). The best investment to make is to give to the Lord
and store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20).
28

When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

But when they perish, the righteous increase.
It is a frightening proposition to see wicked people in positions of power, and it may
make even righteous people have to conduct their affairs in secret. But, when the wicked
perish, the righteous can be free to do good, to advance their cause, and to be sure that
justice is served. It encourages more people to do what is right when righteousness is not
a danger but a positive. (see also verse 12 and 29:2)

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Proverbs 29
A man who hardens his neck after much reproof
Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.
The fool is reproved for his error, but he doesnt listen, humble himself, or change his
ways. Even after a great deal of correction, teaching, and training, he continues to do evil
and to go his own way. The wages of sin is death, and eternal hell awaits those who
harden themselves in their sin. Eventually, there will no longer be any chance for
repentance, for time will have run out as judgment will have begun (see also Romans
1:24, 26, 28).
2

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
As in Proverbs 28:12, 28, a righteous ruler brings hope, peace, and justice to a people,
which is a source of comfort and protection for them. A wicked ruler can be bought off,
he will show favoritism, he will oppress, and he will not uphold justice. This is not a safe
or joy-filled existence for those under his rule, but it is a reason to groan.
3

A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.
A son who grows up loving wisdom and who chooses to order his life based upon the
commands of God is a joy to a parent who loves the Lord and His ways. But a son who
wastes what he has earned and been given on frivolous and sinful practices will dishonor
God, himself, and his family.
4

The king gives stability to the land by justice,

But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
An unjust ruler will lead to a loss of trust from his people and a prevalence of corruption
and oppression, thereby destabilizing a land and his kingship. Justice will help a
kingdom endure, and it will lead to peace and stability.
5

A man who flatters his neighbor

Is spreading a net for his steps.
Flattery is not a true compliment, for it is self-seeking in nature and without the best
interests of others in mind. It may even be part of a scheme to trick, trap, use, and exploit
a person for ones own evil agenda. It is better to keep company with those who will
speak the truth even if it means that one has to change than to be lied to by those who will
say anything to protect themselves and preserve their own welfare (see also Proverbs
27:6).
6

By transgression an evil man is ensnared,

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But the righteous sings and rejoices.

Solomon has already said the righteous should not rejoice in their enemys adversity
(Proverbs 24:17), but there is great joy, hope, and satisfaction in seeing justice meted out.
When a person who is trying to do evil or harm somebody is caught as a result of his
actions, the consequences are just. Justice is always something the righteous should
rejoice in, for it stabilizes a society and it reflects the nature of God. The fruit of the
wicked is destruction, but the fruit of the righteous is joy, life, and singing of praise to
God.
7

The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,

The wicked does not understand such concern.
Part of upholding justice is making sure that the poor are not treated unfairly. The
wicked person adores the high and noble of this world, and he looks down upon those
who are of little repute, of low status, and with little money. The wicked dont
understand why they should bother to care, and they are confounded by people who do.
They see nothing in such sacrificial and selfless acts for themselves, and they think it is
foolish to look out for others ahead of themselves. They enjoy when justice favors them,
and they prefer to waste their resources on sinful practices than to give it to those in need.
8

Scorners set a city aflame,

But wise men turn away anger.
People who show others extreme disrespect and taunt and insult them provoke them to
anger. The result of this antithesis of kindness, peace, love, and grace is fighting,
animosity, and even war. Wisdom doesnt get provoked so easily, and it seeks out peace
(Proverbs 15:1). Some conflicts cannot be prevented because self-defense may become
necessary and the rights of the innocent may need to be fought for, but wisdom is always
looking for peace gently and without an eagerness to fight.
9

When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,

The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
A fool is only interested in nonsense, division, ruin, animosity, and his own selfish
feelings, gain, and agenda. He is not interested in coming to a reasoned solution, and he
only further provokes a righteous person along the way. There can be no peace or rest
when a fool isnt actually interested in peace, rest, or actual problem-solving.
10

Men of bloodshed hate the blameless,

But the upright are concerned for his life.
Righteous people value the human life from conception to death, but wicked people are
more concerned about money and power than about human dignity. The wicked enjoy
violence and bloodshed, for they do not think of the souls of those whom they seek to

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harm. There is no fear of God in their hearts to restrain them from killing even if only for
a loaf of bread.
11

A fool always loses his temper,

But a wise man holds it back.
A fool has no discretion or self-control, and he is quick to lose his temper. A wise person
can feel angry and yet not lash out at others. He can trust God to help him be peaceful,
to walk away when necessary, and to speak gently and graciously even when provoked.
He knows that God will avenge wrongs suffered. He is able to control himself and his
words and responses because he wants to honor God and be a testimony of love rather
than of a personal vendetta of hate.
12

If a ruler pays attention to falsehood,

All his ministers become wicked.
When wicked people see that a ruler can be bought, that he will listen to terrible advice
without calling it terrible, and that he is willing to bend the rules a little for appearances
sake, then the whole culture of his servants and advisers tends to get corrupted. Good
people dont want to work for a person who is corrupt and who requires them to lie, but a
wicked ruler will attract people who enjoy scheming and twisting things.
13

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
God has made both the poor and the one who oppresses the poor, yet too often the wicked
treat the poor unjustly and unfavorably as if they are less valuable. But God made them
both and loves them both, and those who fear Him and think through the world from His
perspective will recognize that it is abominable to discriminate and treat the poor
unfairly. (see also Proverbs 22:2)
14

If a king judges the poor with truth,

His throne will be established forever.
This verse essentially combines what was previously said in verses 4 and 7 by
emphasizing that a king can rule and pass on a kingdom of peace and stability if he is just
and fair to everybody, including the poor.
15

The rod and reproof give wisdom,

But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
Contrary to what the world says, there is no glory in letting a child follow the sinful and
rebellious instincts of his heart and call it imagination, exploration, or creativity. It will
not harm a childs self-worth by disciplining him, but it will actually help him grow in
wisdom and make better decisions. Walking in wisdom is a path of greater usefulness,
creativity, and blessing to others, and in Jesus alone can ones identity and worth be
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realized (Galatians 2:20). Parents who do not train their children to obey should be
ashamed of themselves, and children who do not obey shame their parents. God has
given them a command to obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right (Ephesians 6:1).
This is a blessing and honor to parents, and it pleases the Lord as well.
16

When the wicked increase, transgression increases;

But the righteous will see their fall.
Wicked leaders lead to wicked advisers and servants and to wickedness propagating
throughout an entire kingdom. When sin is glorified, it increases, and, when it is
tolerated and even celebrated, it is practiced all the more. The righteous will one day see
the wicked pay for their sins, and the righteous will inherit eternal life.
17

Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;

He will also delight your soul.
This verse emphasizes that discipline is a good, healthy thing that demonstrates love and
security to children. It will teach them to be respectful and to obey parents and God, and
this will bring joy and peace to a home and to a family. When children are not trained to
obey or given teaching as to what God wants of them, their sin nature will carry them into
all sorts of rebellious and selfish behavior. The result will be misery for all around them,
but those who train their children faithfully and lovingly can expect to see good and
blessing result.
18

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,

But happy is he who keeps the law.
A proper vision of life involves ordering ones steps according to the commands of
Scripture, but, when the Bibles commands and authority are removed from society,
chaos is free to reign. A proper vision is not just bringing people into order and with a
common goal, but it is teaching them how to restrain the lusts of the flesh and how to fear
God.
19

A slave will not be instructed by words alone;

For though he understands, there will be no response.
From verse 21, it is clear that Gods will is not that anybody, including slaves, are treated
poorly. In fact, owning slaves in the oppressive sense doesnt square with the Bible at all
(Proverbs 28:16, Romans 13:8). However, in the context of history, when a nation
overtook another nation and marched its captives off to enslavement, that slaves were
going to be in existence was a political reality. It would often take more than just words
to coax a defeated soldier into serving a foreign power. Some would likely resort to
whipping and intimidation. This is not Gods way (see Proverbs 28:15-16), however, for
love for enemies is His way (Matthew 5:44). It is possible to treat all people with dignity
even in less than desirable political circumstances. Through words and a godly testimony
perhaps slaves could be won to Christ, but those who oppress them demonstrate a lack of
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love and a wicked desire. A response of faith in the Lord should be more important to a
Christian than anything else even if it means going against the common practice of the
day.
20

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Wisdom thinks through what one will say before the words come out, and it takes the
thoughts and puts them through the filter of Gods Word. Those who are quick to run
their mouths without thinking reveal a heart attitude that is antagonistic to truth and the
fear of God. A nave person who lacks knowledge has a better chance of coming to
saving faith in Christ than a person who is proud to be a scoffer and a mocker and who
refuses to think deeply about the world.
21

He who pampers his slave from childhood

Will in the end find him to be a son.
The Bible does not glorify ill-treatment of anybody, and even those who had servants
could honor Christ by treating them like a son or daughter. This would infer a more
employer-employee relationship as well as a parent-child relationship and nothing
abusive, demeaning, dehumanizing, discriminating, or oppressive. In fact, it speaks of
love, generosity, and being like family.
22

An angry man stirs up strife,

And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
One mark of a fool is the love of anger and being easily provoked and enjoying
provoking others. Those with a hot and quick temper will find that their lives abound in
all kinds of evil and sin because being led by unrighteous anger is being led by the devils
impulses.
23

A mans pride will bring him low,

But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
Those who are prideful and arrogant may be successful in worldly terms in this life, but
they will be brought low before the throne of God for refusing to have humbled
themselves and repented of their sin. Those who do bow the knee to Jesus now will be
exalted later, but those who shake their fists at God in rejection, spite, and anger now
will, on account of their arrogance and self-glory, be given the ultimate dishonor of
eternity in hell. Humility pleases God in the life of the Christian, and God will use those
who are contrite and who tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:2).
24

He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;

He hears the oath but tells nothing.

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Those who join forces and create partnerships with other evil people do so at their own
risk. People who are willing to steal from others are not trustworthy and will steal or kill
just to get more for themselves. The promise that is made between liars is absolutely
unreliable, for liars will lie, cheat, steal, and destroy each other.
25

The fear of man brings a snare,

But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.
Those who live seeking the approval of people will struggle to love the Lord above all
and with all of their hearts. No one can serve two masters, and those who live fearing
man and what people might do to them will find that their fear keeps them from seeking,
obeying, and trusting God like they should. Those who refuse to fear man and instead
keep obeying God by faith can expect to receive honor from God in due time. Being bold
and courageous is the call of the Christian. As Deuteronomy 31:6 says, Be strong and
courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who
goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
26

Many seek the rulers favor,

But justice for man comes from the Lord.
People in general enjoy trying to get an inside track with people in positions of power.
They like to grease palms, give gifts, and flatter rulers in order to get favorable treatment.
The reality of life on earth is that people make mistakes in judgment, and justice too often
gets perverted. But God will judge the world in righteousness, rendering to each
according to his due. He will vindicate the righteous and punish the wicked. All that was
unfair on earth will be made right before the Almighty Who sees all and knows all.
27

An unjust man is abominable to the righteous,

And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.
A righteous person should abhor what is evil and cling to what is pure (Romans 12:9).
Love rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6), but evil people reject truth, hate Jesus,
and hate those who love Him (John 15:18). This doesnt mean that Christians should
hate sinners, but they should hate everything that they stand for, practice, and represent.

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Proverbs 30
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.
The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2
Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man.
3
Neither have I learned wisdom,
Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4
Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His sons name?
Surely you know!
There is only one God Who knows all, Who has made everything, Who is in control of
everything, and Who has the power to both descend to earth and ascend back again. The
Lord God is the only Being with all knowledge, power, strength, and wisdom. Man apart
from Christ has no wisdom, but in Christ he can learn wisdom and grow in knowledge so
that his otherwise stupid, blind, and foolish heart can be trained in righteousness and
honor (Romans 12:1-2). Agur recognizes his weakness apart from God and how small
his understanding is against the backdrop of Gods omniscience. He is not proud of his
intellect, but he trusts in God to give him wisdom worth sharing.
5

Every word of God is tested;

He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Every word of God is given by inspiration of the Spirit and profitable for teaching,
correction, reproof, and training in righteousness in order to make the Christian ready,
equipped, and able to do what God has asked of him (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God cannot
lie (Titus 1:2), and His Word is sure. It will sanctify (John 17:17) and rightly judge the
thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Those who follow His Word will
find it to be a shield and a refuge to them, keeping them from doing so much harm and
destruction that sin would otherwise do (Psalm 119:105). Gods Word has never failed
or been proven wrong, and it will endure forever.
6

Do not add to His words

Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.
God has preserved His Word (Matthew 5:18), for it will endure forever (1 Peter 1:25). A
curse awaits any who add to or take away from the Scriptures (Revelation 22:18-19).
Scripture stands alone above all other literature because it is God-breathed, pure, true,
and authoritative, the very Word of God to man. It is imperative that believers study the
Word diligently so that they can share it and teach it rightly (2 Timothy 2:15).
7

Two things I asked of You,

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Do not refuse me before I die:

8
Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
9
That I not be full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord?
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.
Two great prayers, desires, and ambitions are given here. First, he prays that God would
keep deceit and lies far from his heart and mind. Lying is very often the first step into a
multitude of sins, and it is imperative for those who wish to be sanctified to start speaking
truthfully with others and being truthful with themselves. Second, he prays that he would
have just what he needs. He is concerned that if he has too much that he might deny God
because of pride and a false feeling of self-sufficiency. He also doesnt want to be so
poor that he is tempted to steal and profane Gods name. A life that is devoted to the
truth and to honesty as well as one that has found contentment and isnt enslaved to any
of the lusts of the world is a noble ambition and something wise to pray for.
10

Do not slander a slave to his master,

Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.
Speaking ill of a servant to his master is absolutely unloving, demeaning, and insulting to
a fellow human being. It is indicative of a lack of love and compassion in the heart. It
could endanger the life of the servant if believed, and if not believed, it could lend
punishment to the liar. Either way, it is dangerous, harmful, and destructive behavior and
not something becoming of a Christian. (for more on proper servant-master relationships
see Proverbs 29:21)
11

There is a kind of man who curses his father

And does not bless his mother.
12
There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
13
There is a kindoh how lofty are his eyes!
And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.
14
There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords
And his jaw teeth like knives,
To devour the afflicted from the earth
And the needy from among men.
Here he describes four different kinds of wickedness that all have pride in common. The
first type of person isnt respectful to his parents and violates the command of God to
honor ones father and mother. The second type of person is so blinded by pride and
arrogance that he cannot see the reality of his filthiness and sin. The third type looks
down on others and exalts himself. He doesnt bow before God but scoffs at Him and
mocks Him. The look of his eyes with the raised eyelids speaks of elitism,
condescension, and extreme arrogance. The fourth type is a person who will do anything
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and everything by word and deed to steal, kill, and destroy for his own gain. He would
just assume see the worthless eaters be gone off the earth so that he can have more to
himself. He has no compassion for the poor and weak, for he is full of pride, arrogance,
and haughtiness. Pride manifests in different ways, but it is fundamental to all sin (1
John 2:16).
15

The leech has two daughters,

Give, Give.
It is not good to be a leech and always try to take from others while never seeking to give
in return. Christians should be generous and cheerful givers, not greedy takers.
There are three things that will not be satisfied,
Four that will not say, Enough:
16
Sheol, and the barren womb,
Earth that is never satisfied with water,
And fire that never says, Enough.
Here he lists four things that are never satisfied and which will never stop begging for
more or say enough. The place of the dead and the fire of hell will never be quenched
or have an end. The barren womb will cry out in great distress for children, but a
conception just wont happen. Water is poured out on the ground and is absorbed like it
was never even there. Lastly, fire that keeps on burning and destroying everything in its
path will also never say enough. The teachable point here is that nature and the created
order gives many illustrations of things that cannot be fixed, stopped, and that will keep
going on and on. These are a shadow of the power of death which all men will face. All
will one day die and then face the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The fire of hell is more
eternal and longer lasting than any earthly fire, and it must be taken seriously.
17

The eye that mocks a father

And scorns a mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it.
A heart that is never trained by discipline and that never learns humility, the fear of God,
or the path of wisdom will likely end up never obeying God by faith and being destroyed
by sin. God will metaphorically pluck out the eye that looks at Him and others in a
haughty, prideful manner, and wrath will come to that person. Sin brings with it its own
adversity, and the eternal consequences for sin are eternal pain and destruction.
18

There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
19
The way of an eagle in the sky,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a maid.
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He speaks of four things that are too wonderful for him and beyond understanding, things
that constantly move him to marvel at how the world is so much more than a cosmic
accident and a freak result of impossible natural causations. Gods creative genius is on
display in an eagle soaring through the sky, in a snake slithering on a rock, in a ship
sailing along endless waters, and the romantic affection between a man and his lover. All
of these reflect something more and a God Who created it all. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says,
He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart,
yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even
to the end. With God, there is always more to marvel at and for which we can give Him
praise and thanks.
20

This is the way of an adulterous woman:

She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, I have done no wrong.
The adulterous woman feasts on the life that falls for her advances, and her conscience is
so defiled that she is not even bothered by what she has done. She feels no guilt or
shame, and she enjoys her lifestyle. It brings her glory in her mind, and she lives for her
own pleasure and ease. She has no fear of God, and she does not reflect upon the fire of
hell or the devastation she is bringing to many souls.
21

Under three things the earth quakes,

And under four, it cannot bear up:
22
Under a slave when he becomes king,
And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23
Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.
Here he lists four things have earth-shaking ramifications. The first is when a kingdom is
turned upside-down as a new leader takes to the throne. Perhaps implied here is the
captives retaking the kingdom, and the slaves becoming the new victors. A whole new
social order is the result. Jesus came as a suffering servant, but He will return as
conquering King. Perhaps there is some prophetic implication here. Second, a fool will
never be satisfied because only Christ brings satisfaction. In order to enjoy the gifts of
life, one has to have the presence of Christ (Ecclesiastes 2:25, Psalm 16:11). Only those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness will find satisfaction for their souls (Matthew
5:6). So if a fool is actually now satisfied with anything, even something as small as a
meal, it is likely an eternally significant event in that he is no longer a fool but a follower
of Christ (Ecclesiastes 5:18). Third, when an unloved woman who has spent most of her
life being rejected by men or considered ugly or second-rate finds a man who loves her, it
changes her entire life and fills her with hope and joy. Of course, the only way lasting
satisfaction can be enjoyed in marriage is if both love Christ. But this may well be a
picture of Christ loving we who were unloved and dying and demonstrating His love for
us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). We, the bride of Christ, have found in Him
something life-changing and earth-shattering as we have found the kingdom of God.
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Fourth, another thing that has major effects is when a maidservant displaces her mistress.
This seems to indicate that the husband divorced his wife and took the female servant as
his new wife. Obviously, this is adultery and wrong, and it has severe consequences for
all involved. One person becomes instantly poor, unloved, and destitute, while the other
gets all the benefits of moving up from a servant to a wife. An entire family is turned
upside down, and children are hurt deeply in the process. Sin always has devastating
effects, and adultery is certainly no exception.
24

Four things are small on the earth,

But they are exceedingly wise:
25
The ants are not a strong people,
But they prepare their food in the summer;
26
The shephanim are not mighty people,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27
The locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go out in ranks;
28
The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings palaces.
Here he lists four of Gods creatures which are small, but their instincts demonstrate a
God who has made them wise in their own animal ways. The ants are very small and can
easily be stepped on, but they are intelligent enough to feed themselves when they are
doing their hard work, and, if necessary, storing up food for the winter. The rock badgers
know how to live in the rocks and survive harsh conditions. The locusts have an order
about them as they work together to eat everything green even though they have no locust
king to give them orders. The lizard is small enough to hold in ones hands, meaning that
it is vulnerable, yet it is able to sneak into kings palaces which are heavily guarded by
men. Each of these creatures in being who God made it to be and following its Godgiven instincts brings praise to Him by showcasing His creative genius. Man is a steward
over creation, and thus he should be protective of Gods creatures and, if he has faith, see
the wisdom of God at work in His creation. The creation declares Gods glory (Psalm
19:1-2), and man should, too (Roman 1:19-20).
29

There are three things which are stately in their march,

Even four which are stately when they walk:
30
The lion which is mighty among beasts
And does not retreat before any,
31
The strutting rooster, the male goat also,
And a king when his army is with him.
Here he lists four things that are stately in their march and walk. First is the lion which is
mighty among beasts and doesnt run from other animals. Then there is the rooster which
struts proudly as does the male goat. A king also tends to act all proud when he is
surrounded by his army. Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5), is the King of
Kings and Lord of Lords. He doesnt need to strut, for His power is clear in what has
been made. He is the Lord of hosts, and He cannot be defeated. Thus, the believers
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confidence must be in Jesus, not in himself, not in an earthly army, and not just because
he is proud of himself. All boasting must be in Jesus.
32

If you have been foolish in exalting yourself

Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.
33
For the churning of milk produces butter,
And pressing the nose brings forth blood;
So the churning of anger produces strife.
Boasting that is not in Christ is characteristic of exalting oneself, and pride is sin. Those
who have fallen into pride need to repent immediately, and those who have plotted evil
need to be ashamed and stop what they have started. The end of sin is always going to be
strife and destruction, and wisdom stops and turns the other way.

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Proverbs 31
The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:
2
What, O my son?
And what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
3
Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4
It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5
For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6
Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
7
Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
8
Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
9
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
King Lemuel shares of the wisdom that his mother imparted to him concerning what
makes a king rule with understanding and justice. His mother advised him to heed the
commands of Scripture to stay away from all forms of sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:3)
including the multiplying of wives, which was common practice among the kings of old.
This would likely turn a mans heart away as it did Solomons as the king became
focused on sinful pleasure rather than upon the wisdom of God. Deuteronomy 17:17 says
of the Israels king, He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn
away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. A king who wants to
rule wisely needs also to avoid drunkenness and the lure of escaping reality with strong
drink. Proverbs 20:1 says, Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is
intoxicated by it is not wise. Strong drink would impair his judgment, and it could lead
to him to make terrible decisions without realizing what he was doing. He might forget
the law of God and the law of the land and act in a way that defrauds people of their
rights. It is the kings responsibility to look out for the needs of the downtrodden and
lowly, and this would not happen if a kings mind is overtaken by a corrupt sex drive or
by too much alcohol. King Lemuels mother suggested leaving the alcohol to those
facing imminent death to help cope with pain and suffering. Many who face poverty
drink to forget the pain of their lives, and, while this is wrong and unwise (Ephesians
5:18), it is less dangerous for society at large than if the leader of a country is a drunkard.
The weak, disabled, unfortunate, poor, and afflicted need the king to stand up and defend
their rights and dignity. The king cant shirk his responsibility to lead and to dispense
justice, and those who have a mind which is sober in spirit (1 Peter 1:13) and led by the
Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14) can do just that.

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10

An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.
11
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
An excellent wife is a rare find (Ecclesiastes 7:27-29) and a gift from God (Ecclesiastes
9:9). Few people seek after God, and it is a special provision of God to find a mate who
loves the Lord and who is fully trustworthy. No money can buy such a person, and thus
her worth is beyond the value of any earthly possession or treasure. Her husband has full
confidence in her loyalty and in her ability to keep her promises and commitments.
Because of her character, there is no reason for her husband to be concerned that she will
stop loving him, that she is only pretending to be devoted to him, or that she might find a
better husband one day and leave him. Having her as a help, support, encouragement,
friend, counselor, and lover is a source of strength for him and a great blessing that helps
him succeed in what God gives him to do. He can be sure that she will never do
something to harm or betray him, but, all of the days of her life with him, she will do him
good. Because she fears God, she loves good and hates evil, and her life bears that out.
13

She looks for wool and flax

And works with her hands in delight.
14
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
The excellent wife is not bound to certain stereotypes or social norms in that she lets the
Word of God dictate what she does with her time, skills, and energy. She is free to use
her skillset and enjoy doing so if that is what she wants to do. If she likes to sow, she can
gather the materials and sow to make her family clothes (see also verses 19-21). If she
has other skills, she can use those, but she is always careful to do what she can do make
sure her family has adequate food and clothing. She is not one who spends her life
gossiping and getting into trouble (1 Timothy 3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13), but she lives a
productive life as God gives her strength and according to the talents she has been given.
Undertaking business ventures may be part of that skillset, and she is free before God to
start a business. Perhaps she buys a field and plants a vineyard, and she does what she is
able to help bring financial gain to the family (see verse 24). The Bible gives women the
freedom to earn money if they so choose, but it is not a prerequisite or guarantee of
godliness. The principle is that a woman of excellence will seize upon the opportunities
that God puts in her path, and she will use her gifts to benefit her family and those who
are less fortunate.

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17

She girds herself with strength

And makes her arms strong.
The excellent wife is not afraid of work, and she is not lazy. Her arms are not weak from
choosing to do nothing and frittering her day away not looking after her familys needs.
In fact, her arms are strong as a result of her labor. The size of a womans biceps is not
indicative of godliness, but the principle here is that a godly wife isnt a busybody, a
gossip, lazy, or a wasted talent. She uses the skills that God has given her for His glory,
and she is faithful to be a worker at home so that her family does not get neglected (Titus
2:3-5).
18

She senses that her gain is good;

Her lamp does not go out at night.
A godly wife finds satisfaction is seeing the fruit of the works of her hands. Her
productivity as a mother and wife is a good thing, and it is an honor to her and a blessing
to her family. When a child comes in with a bad dream or something last minute needs
her attention, she is not afraid to burn the midnight oil if she must. A womans lack of
sleep is not indicative of her level of spirituality, however, for all people need adequate
rest. The principle is that she recognizes that, even at night, she is still on call if need be.
This doesnt exempt the husband from pitching in around the house and helping out with
the children so that mom can get some needed sleep. It is a team effort, and the
instructions here are just focusing on the wifes responsibilities, not implying that the
husband has no responsibilities at home.
19

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hands grasp the spindle.
20
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
In this specific instance, the wife is pictured as having great skill in making clothing, and
she uses that skill to dress her own family and to give clothes to the needy. Those in her
household will be ready even for cold weather with adequate coverings, and she even
makes fine apparel for herself. It is not that fine dress makes a godly woman (1 Peter
3:3-4), but a godly woman is free to look her best as she desires in accordance with
proper modesty and discretion. Having made sure her household is taken care of, she
gives as she is able to those who are in need because she cares about the poor. Her love
for the Lord compels her to be compassionate and concerned for those who do not have
the resources, skills, money, and opportunity that she might have. Not every woman
must feel that she has to sow or make clothes for the poor. The principles are clear,
however, that a godly wife does all that she can to see that her familys needs are met, she

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gives according to her ability to those who are in need, and she cares about those who are
less fortunate.
23

Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.
A godly wife does not have to have a husband who is well-known or in a position of
power and influence in the community. But what a godly wife will do is enable her
husband to be all that he can be in the Lord and according to the gifts that God has given
him. He will be more effective practically and spiritually because of her support, help,
provision, and influence (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
24

She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
This particular woman uses her individual skills to help support her family and to have
resources to provide for the needy. This particular woman was skilled at making various
garments and belts that various tradesmen would purchase from her. This doesnt mean
that all women need to learn this specific skillset, but the principle is that a godly woman
is a wise steward of her individual gifting and skills. She uses her time, energy, and
resources for the benefit of her family and for others. She is not lazy (v. 27) or consumed
by worthless activities, but she recognizes what matters in life and acts accordingly.
25

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the future.
She has great internal confidence, boldness, and security in Christ, and she trusts Him for
the future well-being of her family. She is faithful to do her part to prepare for the future
and to plan accordingly, and thus she can look forward to what may come with hope,
anticipation, and courage. She is dignified because she is a woman of loyalty, devotion,
sacrifice, love, compassion, and integrity. She is strong in the Lord and in the strength of
His might (Ephesians 6:10).
26

She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Essential to being a godly wife is believing the Bible and being able to teach it to her
children. She must be able to speak words of wisdom to her children and to help train
them in righteousness. She doesnt do this in wrath or impatience, but she is forbearing,
gentle, gracious, and kind. She teaches her children how to hold tightly and rightly to the
truth of the Lord and how to be full of kindness and grace as well. She models kindness
by her actions so that her children can both hear the truth and see the truth in practice.
She does all that she can to teach her children how to love God with all of their hearts and
to love their neighbors as themselves.
27

She looks well to the ways of her household,

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And does not eat the bread of idleness.

A godly wife and mother is keenly aware of the practical needs of the household, she
does her share of the labor, she trains her children how to work also, she teaches them the
ways of the Lord, and she makes sure God is honored in the home. She does not waste
her days or skirt her responsibilities (see also 1 Timothy 3:11, 5:13 and Titus 2:3). This
doesnt mean that she cannot rest, socialize, or have some fun. In fact, she should live a
life of balance as much as possible, and she is more likely to achieve balance which will
help her endure if she has been faithful to train her children well, to plan ahead, and to
work hard so that she can have time to relax as well.
28

Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29
Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.
The goal of every godly woman should be to raise children that will praise God. If she is
successful at this, she will be filled with joy when they thank her and honor her for a job
well done. Her husband also if he has any dignity whatsoever will clearly recognize the
faithful labor, the steadfast love, and the joy that his wife has brought to the family, and
he, too, will call her blessed, thank her, and compliment her many times. A godly
husband will be attuned to the efforts that his wife makes to care for the family, and he
will recognize her and praise her for her faithful love and devotion. He will be amazed at
how special she is and amazed at what she has done.
30

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
The Book of Proverbs has included many warnings about the adulteress and her devious,
destructive ways, but it concludes on a high note, having painted a picture of the noble
characteristics of a godly wife. Charm can include lies, false pretenses, flattery, and
deceit, but a woman of God is honest, loyal, trustworthy, and pure. That charm is
deceitful doesnt mean that she shouldnt have a pleasant personality, but it means that
she is straightforward in her dealings and conversations. She does not put forth a shady
testimony or change her opinions and beliefs based upon the company just to make
people like her. She is grounded in truth, and she lets her faith in Christ be a large part of
her appeal. External beauty is vain in the sense that a beautiful woman who lacks
discretion is like a gold ring in a pigs snout (Proverbs 11:22). Those who have such a
woman as a wife will find her untrustworthy and difficult to live with. Many are the
warnings in Proverbs about the contentious woman who seeks her own way and pursues
her own agendas at the expense of her husband and children. But a woman who fears
God will have tremendous character and inner beauty that will appeal to a godly man
because he will recognize that she will be loyal, trustworthy, and devoted to him and any
children they might have together. As two walk closely with Christ, they can grow closer
together. This makes a womans appeal that much greater and stronger, and it makes her
external beauty shine brighter, purer, and truer. Physical appearances decay with natural
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aging, but with a couple who fears God and adores one another, the attraction will always
run deep because the marriage wasnt based upon selfishness, vanity, and passing things
but upon depth of character and unity at the soul level. None of this is to underemphasize
physical attraction in marriage given that Song of Solomon glorifies sexual attraction in
marriage at great length. It is simply to say that physical beauty can either be rendered
meaningless when love for Christ is absent, or a heart that loves the Lord can enhance the
physical form and make the appeal to the right godly man irresistible.
31

Give her the product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.
It is a sad reality when the world doesnt recognize beauty, strength, and dignity of the
inner person, but it is a godly testimony regardless of the response of society when a
woman of character loves her husband, cares for her children, works hard, uses her skills
and talents to Gods glory, and has compassion for those who are less fortunate. As she
shines forth the light of Christ in her integrity, compassion, and good works, God will be
glorified, and the gospel will go forth (Matthew 5:16). She deserves praise and honor for
a job well done and for being a tremendous example of godliness and how to make a wise
investment (1 Timothy 2:15). The fruit of her life demonstrates the reality of her
excellent spirit in Christ, and she will receive honor from Him for a life wisely lived.

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