Summary: The man with understanding loves wisdom, the fool enjoys sinful doings. Righteous will be blessed with granted desires, the fool will be punished with curses. Prosperity for the righteous can endure economic troubles but prosperity of wicked means will be shortlived. Lazy worker is no good for the boss. Wise, righteous and godly people will be blessed with long life, and joyous future. Wicked will be punished with shortened life and hopeless future. Strength and stability for those who live in godly ways. Mouth and lips of the righteous produce wisdom, and be liked by God and men.
Proverbs of Solomon (NIV).
Wise Sayings of Solomon (RSV) (NKJV).
23 23 It is like sport to a fool to do wrong,
but wise conduct is pleasure to a man of understanding. (RSV)
23 23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,
but a person of understanding delights in wisdom. (NIV)
23 23 To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom. (NKJV)
Understanding and wisdom is like a Two-in-One package. A person who has understanding also has wisdom. Wise people enjoys and likes wisdom.
Unwise, foolish people enjoys doing evil and sinful doings. Foolish people finds pleasure with various types of evil ways (fleshly lust, carnal/worldly desires, lust of the eyes).
24 24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted. (RSV)
24 24 What the wicked dread will overtake them;
what the righteous desire will be granted. (NIV)
Desire of the righteous are good and noble, and will be fulfilled. Due to wisdom, the righteous will be desiring the things that are good (e.g. knowledge, virtues, honest income, business expansion, children). The righteous will be blessed by God.
On the contrary, the bad and wicked people will suffer punishment and curse. Dreaded events (e.g. loss of money, death of loved one, sickness, imprisonment) will happen to them.
25 25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but the righteous is established for ever. (RSV)
25 25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever. (NIV)
The prosperity of the righteous and wise people will be permanent and lasting despite the bad economic scenario (e.g. recession, depression, economic crises, currency fluctuation). However, the prosperity of the wicked and foolish people will not survive for long. Money earned using unethical means (e,g. fraud, cheating, evil schemes) will not last long.
26 26 Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him. (RSV)
26 26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him. (NKJV)
The lazy/slothful man and sluggard is not effective and not efficient. Vinegar will spoil the teeth, smoke will blurr the vision. Laziness will cause the work assignment to be not properly implemented, not completed on time, and various other problems. A lazy worker is no good for the boss.
As believers, we must not be lazy and sluggish. We must avoid procrastination. We must be diligent, and be dedicated towards whatever work assignment that we are supposed to do. If we serve in a specific ministry, we must serve diligently and smartly, avoiding sluggishness.
27 27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be short.
28 28 The hope of the righteous ends in gladness,
but the expectation of the wicked comes to nought. (RSV)
27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. (NIV)
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. (NIV)
Wise and righteous people who loves and honours God will be blesses with long life, and joyous future. The wise and righteous lives a long life in happiness, joy, peace, and financial security.
On the contrary, the wicked will be punished with short life and a meaningless future. Life of the wicked will be full of troubles and tribulations. Wickedness shorten men's life, and frustrates their hopes. Hopes of the wicked will turn into despair.
29 29 The Lord is a stronghold to him whose way is upright,
but destruction to evildoers.
30 30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. (RSV)
29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land. (NIV)
but the wicked will not remain in the land. (NIV)
29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,
But destruction will cometo the workers of iniquity.
But destruction will cometo the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth. (NKJV)
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth. (NKJV)
The righteous/upright/blameless people will choose the way of the Lord which will protect and safeguard them. Believers who lived in the ways of Gods will live peacefully and permaently in safety and security. Strength and stability is for the righteous believers. The way of the Lord is the godly way.
On the contrary, destruction and many troubles and tribulations will be faced by the bad and wicked people, and workers of iniquity. Ruin and destruction are the consequences of wickedness, offences/sins against other people.
31 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. (RSV)
31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. (NIV)
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. (NIV)
Mouth and lips of the righteous produce words/speech of wisdom, wise sayings, finding favour with God and other people. Out of the good tree, bear good fruits. Similarly, from the wise and righteous person, his talks and doings are also good, righteous, wise and noble. God likes those who live godly ways. Other people also like those who say and do good things.
Perverse tongue that constantly lie, slander, backstab, sow discord and stir up conflicts, are not welcomed by other people. Other people will choose not to listen to the guy who likes to lie, slander, etc (be silenced). From the lips of the wicked and sinful person, the talk and words coming out are foul, sinful, perverse, destructive instead of constructive, misleading, promoting evil doing.
Thursday - Friday, Jan 16-17, 2014.
Michael Yeap.
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs+10&version=NIV
RSV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs+10&version=RSV
NKJV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs+10&version=NKJV
Commentaries:
21) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.23
22) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.24-Prov.10.25
23) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.26
24) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.27-Prov.10.28
25) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.29-Prov.10.30
26) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.31-Prov.10.32
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