Proverbs chapter 10 (part 3) - Wise Sayings of Solomon

Proverbs chapter 10.

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.

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
    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.

30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
    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.

30 The righteous will never be removed,
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.

32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
    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

Proverbs chapter 6 (part 1) - Warning against Surety, Laziness, Wickedness, Abominable Sins

Proverbs chapter 6.

Summary:  We are warned against becoming Surety and Loan Guarantee for friends, acquaintances, and strangers. We are warned against laziness, slothfulness, and sluggishness. Sluggards are advised to learnt from the ants. We are warned against Wickedness. Characteristics of a wicked man are described. Related to wickedness, we are taught the Seven Abominable Sins.

Practical Admonitions  (RSV).
Warnings against Folly  (NIV).
Dangerous Promises  (NKJV).

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
    if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 2 you have been trapped by what you said,
    ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,
    since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
4 Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]
    and give your neighbor no rest!
4 5 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
    no slumber to your eyelids.
5 6 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.  (NIV)

1 My son, if you become surety for your friend,
If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 2 You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.
3 3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;Plead with your friend.  (NKJV)

We are taught to avoid becoming Surety and Guarantee for loans for friends. Surety could bring poverty and financial trouble for us if the borrower defaults on his loan.  We must view surety as a snare and avoid it completely. Even worse, is becoming surety for acquaintances and strangers.

Be not ensnared by own words and our kindness. Do not rush to consent to be Surety. Do not hastily agree to be Loan Guarantee.

If accidentally or unintentionally became a Surety or Loan Guarantee, try to get out of it soonest possible. Make sure the Principal Borrower pays off the Loan accordingly.

The borrower is servant to the lender, and makes himself very much a slave to this world. Besides becoming Surety, I think we should also avoid unnecessary debt. To buy a house for our residence, we need to borrow from the bank. But it is not wise to take up a personal loan to buy some of our Wants and Wishers (not Needs), e.g. house renovation, a high-end car stereo, luxury watches, jewellery. We should be prudent with money and finances.

When we are Surety for a loan, or a Borrower for a loan, let's get out of debt as soon as possible. Do not delay unnecessarily. Being in debt to the bank, we are like "slaves" for the bank, we work and toil for money...only to be paid to the bank.

The Folly of Indolence  (NKJV).

6 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
    consider her ways, and be wise.
7 7 Without having any chief,
    officer or ruler,
8 she prepares her food in summer,
    and gathers her sustenance in harvest.
9 8 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
10 9 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 10 and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond,    and want like an armed man.  (RSV)

6 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
    consider her ways, and be wise.
7 7 Without having any chief,
    officer or ruler,
8 she prepares her food in summer,
    and gathers her sustenance in harvest.
9 8 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
10 9 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 10 and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond,    and want like an armed man.  (NIV)

We are taught to be hardworking like the ants. We are warned not to lazy and sluggish.  Wisdom also includes the aspect of being hardworking and diligent.

The principles of hardworking and diligence are:
1)  Be self-motivated. We need to motivate ourselves to work hard, work smart to make a decent living.
2)  Be independent.  With or without being overseen or supervised, we need to be diligent at work. We must be able to work efficiently and effectively, without being supervised, without being told to do so.
3)  Earn a decent income, so that we have spare money to save up for the future.
4)  "Store up" our excess money for the future into the bank. Also invest in various other forms, e.g. house, apartment, land, stocks and shares, unit trust, and other investment instruments.

We must learn from the ants, literally and figuratively. We should also learn to work efficiently and effectively, diligently and smartly, from other sources of knowledge. There are plenty of books on motivation and self-improvement. There are many books on financial wisdom and investment. We must learn from these. The Bible also has many principles and guidance on issues such as financial management, investment, avoiding slothfulness/laziness.

We must be wise, and use our wisdom, to collect during the harvest, to generate income. Sometimes, income is generated alone. Often times, income is generated together with other colleagues, with our team, with our supply chain. When the ant cannot carry a particular food (due to big a size), a number of ants will carry that piece of food together. Similarly, in our work and business venture, we need to work strategically and tactically with other people to make our work/business a success.

Communication and dealing with other people are important skills for working smart. Working hard is not sufficient, may not always be productive. We also need to work smart.

Laziness, slothfulness, sluggishness, and procrastination, will bring poverty and financial difficulties. Those who are lazy must arise and "wake up" from their laziness to avoid the many forms of financial difficulties.

We must recognize opportunities. If God opens the door, and we don't walk the way, the wealth God has planned for us will not materialize. If there is opportunity, we must promptly take the necessary action. We must appreciate and act upon every opportunity.

Is anyone slothful toward heavenly matters?  Is anyone lazy to read the words of God?  Us anyone lazy to meditate upon God's words, and act in accordance? Is anyone lazy to pray and make requests to God? Is anyone lazy to thank God and praise God? Is anyone lazy to sing praises to God? Is anyone lazy to go to church, to worship God together with other believers?

The Wicked Man  (NKJV)

12 
12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
    goes about with crooked speech,
13 13 winks with his eyes, scrapes[d] with his feet,
    points with his finger,
14 14 with perverted heart devises evil,
    continually sowing discord;
15 15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;    in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.  (RSV)

12 12 A troublemaker and a villain,
    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 13  who winks maliciously with his eye,
    signals with his feet
    and motions with his fingers,
14 14  who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
    he always stirs up conflict.
15 15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;    he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.  (NIV)

We are warned against the "Wicked Man."  We must avoid having the characteristics of Wickedness. We should avoid the company and friendship of Wicked Men as described in Proverbs chapter 6.

Characteristics of the Wicked Man are:
1)  Worthless. Troublemaker and villain.
2)  Crooked speech. Corrupt lips. Perverse talk.
3)  Subtle, crafty, cunning.
4)  Perverted heart and devise evil plots of deceit.
5)  Cause discord and disunity. Stir up conflicts.

End result of the Wicked Man are:
1)  Disaster.
2)  Calamity.
3)  Destruction and Brokenness beyond healing.
Eventually, the Wicked Man will be punished.

16 16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 19 A false witness who speaks lies,And one who sows discord among brethren.  (NKJV)

16 16 There are six things theLord hates,
    seven that are detestable to him:
17         17 haughty eyes,
        a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,
18         18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19         19 a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.  (NIV)

16 16 There are six things which the Lord hates,
    seven which are an abomination to him:
17 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 19 a false witness who breathes out lies,    and a man who sows discord among brothers.  (RSV)

These are 7 worst sins:
1)  Proud look, haughty eyes.
2)  Lying tongue.
3)  Hands that shed innocent blood. Killers and murderers.
4)  Heart that devise evil plans/schemes.
5)  Feet that hastily rush into evil.
6)  False witness that speaks lies.
7)  Person who sows discord and disunity, stirs up conflict among friends/relatives/community.

To paraphrase these 7 abominable sins:
1) Pride, haughtiness.
2) Lying, falsehood, fraud.
3) Murder, violent attack, cruelty.
4) Plotting of evil schemes, subtlety, deceitfulness.
5) Ways of evil/wickedness, eagerness to sin.
6) False witness, false testimony.
7) Causing discord, disunity, and stirring up conflicts. Slandering. Making stories and slanderous gossips.

There are sins that affect the self and sins that affect many people.  God's second most important is "Love your neighbour as yourself."

All the 7 sins that are most objected by God are sins against other people, sins against "neighbour."

Saturday, Jan 11. 2014.
Michael Yeap.

NIV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%206&version=NIV

RSV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%206&version=RSV

NKJV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%206&version=NKJV

Commentaries:
1)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.6.1-Prov.6.5
2)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.6.6-Prov.6.11
3)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.6.12-Prov.6.19
4)