Proverbs chapter 10 (part 2) - Wise Sayings of Solomon

Proverbs chapter 10.

Summary: The wise store up knowledge. Wealth of the wise protected and safe like a fortified city. Righteous people works and lives a good life. Control our lips to avoid transgression against other people. Speech of the righteous is esteemed and highly valued, being beneficial to other people. God's blessings includes Riches and Wealth without heavy toil.

Proverbs of Solomon  (NIV).
Wise Sayings of Solomon  (RSV) (NKJV).

14 14 Wise men lay up knowledge,
    but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near. (RSV)

14 14 The wise store up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.  (NIV)

1414 14 Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.  (NKJV)

Wise people loves to learn, and continually learn. Hence, wise people will gather and store up the knowledge. Whatever knowledge we learn may be useful at other time, so laying up the knowledge is good and beneficial.

On the contrary, the foolish hates learning, just love empty talking. In the long term, due to lack of learning, wisdom and knowledge, this would lead to his own ruins. Example of ruins could be poverty. Because of lack of knowledge and the foolish person's laziness, he will run into poverty and mediocrity.

Because of lack of practical wisdom and self control, the foolish person may get involved in immoral sins, lots of extra marital affairs, hence wasting much of his money, time and effort in satisfying his fleshly lusts and fulfilling his high sexual desires. Despite good income, he will waste off his extra money on all these women and ruin himself.

Because of jealousy and greed for power and status, the foolish person may slander and backstab another person. The habit of slandering will make other people hate this foolish person. In the end, he will many friends, thus ruining himself.

15 15 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.  (RSV)

15 15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.  (NIV)

15 15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.  (NKJV)

For the wise and rich/wealthy, his wealth is properly stored and secured as if inside a fortified city. The wise and rich will not buy all his money and wealth all into a single instrument/investment form. The wise and rich will put his money and wealth into various forms such as cash into the current/check account, savings account, and term deposit, stocks and shares, gold, unit trusts, loan stocks / debentures, investment into business, property investment, etc.

For the unwise people may not necessarily have the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to preserve the money they earn, hence causing their poverty.

Reasons of poverty are possibly:
1) Good income but waste it on unnecessary expenses (fleshly lust, carnal/worldly desires, lust of the eyes).
2) Good income but not storing up a portion of income. No planned and continual savings.
3) Low income due to lack of knowledge or lack of skills.
4) Low income due to laziness.

In comparison, wisdom is important. Because the wise people love to learn new knowledge and skills, including financial wisdom.

16 16 The wage of the righteous leads to life,
    the gain of the wicked to sin.  (RSV)

16 16 The wages of the righteous is life,
    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.  (NIV)

16 16 The labor of the righteous leads to life,
The wages of the wicked to sin.  (NKJV)

The workings of the righteous will result in godly life, a fuller life in this world, a joyous spiritual life, and eternal life. On the contrary, the workings of the wicked result in a sinful life (various types of sins including wicked sins and milder sins), and spiritual death. Income earned through wicked means (e.g. fraud, evil schemes, cheating, stealing, robbing) when come into the hands of the unwise people may be wasted through pride (luxury car, branded watches) and immorality (prostitutes, adultery).

17 17 He who heeds instruction is on the path to life,
    but he who rejects reproof goes astray.  (RSV)

17 17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.  (NIV)

17 17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.  (NKJV)

To be wise, we must listen and take heed of instructions. Learning the instructions and keeping them in our minds and hearts, and doing accordingly is to right/correct way leading to a meaningful and good life in this world as well as good spiritual life.

Living as wise believers, we must also be receptive to reproofs, rebukes and corrections. We must be humble enough to accept reproof. "To err is man, to forgive is divine." We must be willing to humbly admit our weakness and shortcoming. We must not feel offended when reproofed by other brethren, or rebuked by non-believers.

Because those who refuse correction and rebuke due to their pride will not be able to continually improve. Everyone has weakness, shortcomings. Everyone makes error. Be open minded to reproof and rebukes.

Especially for Leaders....If the Leader is making a mistake, the Team member mentions the error and suggest the correction, the Leader must humbly accept the reproof for the sake of himself and the team. If the Leader with huge pride blatantly refused to be corrected and insist on going the wrong direction, he is leading his Team astray, going wrong direction, not meeting the Team objectives.

18 18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and he who utters slander is a fool.
19 19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
   but he who restrains his lips is prudent.  (RSV)

18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
    and spreads slander is a fool.

19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.  (NIV)

"Concealing hatred" may indicate a person with malicious intent, a two-faced person, a person who hides his likes and dislikes. Lying, fraud, cheating, slandering, false accusation...all these are wicked doings of the foolish people.

Foolish people do not refer to non-believers, but I personally think, folly is also in many believers. Believers who do not live fully in wisdom, righteous and godly ways are living in folly. Wisdom is related to God, folly is related to the Devil.

As believers, we should think: How many percent of the time we follow the Wisdom pathway? How many percent of the time we walk in the path of folly?

When we talk a lot, we have higher tendency to transgress and sin. Lips can be a good, beneficial instrument as well as an evil, wicked weapon. How do we want to use our lips?  To sing praises and thanks God?  For beneficial purposes to other people?  Or to gossip, spread rumours and lies, slander and backstabbing? We must control our lips so that our lips do not help us to sin and transgress against other people. Our lips speak of what is in our minds and our hearts. We need to have noble thoughts and hearts of kindness, so that our lips speak forth good and not evil.

20 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
    the mind of the wicked is of little worth.
21 21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.  (RSV)

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.  (NIV)

Righteous people speak forth good and beneficial sayings. From the lips of the righteous, the talk is good, noble, true, beneficial to other people. The speech of the righteous is highly valued, appreciated and respected by other people.

As believers walking in godly ways, we must speak what is good and right, so that we can be testimony for God's goodness and demonstrate our wisdom. With wise talk, we will be honoured by others for our ways of wisdom.

On the contrary, the mind and heart of the wicked person is lowly regarded by other people. From a wicked mind and wicked hearts, the lips are fully of lies, slander, and destructive speech. The way of the wicked is leading to spiritual death.

22 22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
    and he adds no sorrow with it.[b] (RSV)

22 22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
    without painful toil for it.   (NIV)

22 22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.  (NKJV)

God's blessings can make a person rich and wealth without heavy toil. With little effort, yet abundance of riches and wealth...that is the kind of blessings God could pour out on whom he desires to bless.

Who does God like to bless? In Deuteronomy 28 verses 1-14, God promises to bless abundantly those who obey God.

http://micfood.blogspot.com/2013/12/deuteronomy-281-14-blessings-for.html/

“And if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
8 The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; and he will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.
11 And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, within the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The Lord will open to you his good treasury the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall tend upward only, and not downward; if you obey the commandments of the Lordyour God, which I command you this day, being careful to do them, 14 and if you do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.  (Extract of Deuteronomy 28:1-14) (RSV)


To be continued the next day...

Thursday, Jan 16, 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:
13)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.14
14)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.15
15)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.16
16)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.17
17)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.18
18)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.19
19)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.20-Prov.10.21
20)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.10.22
21)  

Proverbs chapter 1 - Exhortations to embrace Wisdom

Proverbs chapter 1.

Each saying is correct but not universally applicable. One must ask under what circumstances a given saying would be appropriate.Proverbs are found in practically every culture. Often one can find similar sayings in diverse areas of the world. This is because wisdom deals with life as it is lived.

One observes what happens in the affairs of people and draws short, memorable word pictures about the situations. Collections of proverbs sometimes were passed from one people to another. Pr 22:17-24:22 is an adaptation of the work of an Egyptian named Amenem-Opet, who several centuries before Solomon had made a collection of sayings.

To learn wisdom is to learn how to succeed in life. The book of Proverbs deals with the problem of success as it relates to the various aspects of life.

The three perennial questions with which wisdom worked were: How may one succeed in life (Proverbs)? What is the meaning of life (Ecclesiastes)? and Why does humanity suffer (Job)?

PURPOSE AND THEME.

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise.  (NIV)

2 2 2 That men may know wisdom and instruction,
    understand words of insight,
3 3 receive instruction in wise dealing,
    righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 4 that prudence may be given to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 5 the wise man also may hear and increase in learning,
    and the man of understanding acquire skill,
6 6 to understand a proverb and a figure,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.  (RSV)

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. (KJV)

Purpose of the Book of Proverbs:
1) To learn the wisdom and instruction.
2) To understand the words of insight (proverbs), which will give us understanding of many principles and aspects of life.
3) To understand instructions in wise ways, righteousness / prudent behavior, just and fairness.
4) To do what is right, just and fair.
5) To teach prudence to the simple minded people.
6) To teach knowledge and discretion to the young people.

Book of Proverbs contain many proverbs that are applicable for our secular life in this world.

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  (KJV)

With the Proverbs, the wise man will listen and increase his learning.
A man of understanding will attain skill and guidance.

Other Purpose of the book of Proverbs:
1) To understand the proverbs, and the parables/metaphors/figuratives, and interpretation.
2) To understand the words of the wise, and the riddles.
3) To understand the philosophy.

7 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  (NIV)

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.  (RSV)

Proverbs 1:8 sums up the importance of this book, and gives an overview conclusion of this book of Proverbs.

Wise people will honour and appreciate Wisdom and Instruction. But even more important than wisdom and instruction is the fear of the Lord (loving and honouring our God).

PROLOGUE: EXHORTATIONS TO EMBRACE WISDOM.
WARNING AGAINST THE INVITATION OF SINFUL MEN.

8 8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 9 They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.  (NIV)

8 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
    and reject not your mother’s teaching;
9 9 for they are a fair garland for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.  (RSV)

We must listen to our father's instruction, and our mother's teaching. In other words, we must listen to what is taught by our parents.

10 10 My son, if sinful men entice you,
    do not give in to them.
11 11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot”—  (NIV)

We must not followed the sinful men. We must not be entire or tempted by the sinful men. We must not attack and rob other people. We must not desire the assets of other people. We must scheme and plot to seize the assets of other people.

15 15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot on their paths;
16 16 for their feet rush into evil,
    they are swift to shed blood.  (NIV)

For second time, the Author instruct us:
We must not go along with the sinful men. We must not "set foot" on the path of these sinful men. We must not walk the ways of the sinful men.

17 17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!
19 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.  (NIV)

Whatever ill-gotten gains of the sinful men will be useless. The evil the sinful men inflict upon other people, they will suffer the same fate. Sinful men may gain wealth by stealing/robbing/etc but they will not have good life to enjoy it. Gain money/wealth but pay with their lives in one way or another.

Those who do good, will reap good. Those who do evil, evil will also befall them.
We must not do evil to avoid calamities and curse.

WISDOM'S REBUKE.

20 20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 21 on top of the wall she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:  (NIV)

20 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street;
    in the markets she raises her voice;
21 21 on the top of the walls[a]she cries out;
    at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:  (RSV)

Do not follow the Fools / Sinful Men.  Do follow WISDOM.

22 22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hateknowledge?
23 23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
24 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call
    and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 25 since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
26 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
27 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.  (NIV)

This is a call to sinful men to turn away from evil doing. A rebuke for the sinful men to repent, and follow the ways of Wisdom.

If the sinful men do not turn away from evil doing, they will be inflicted with disasters, calamities, troubles and distress.

28 28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
    they will look for me but will not find me,
29 29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.  (NIV)

28 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 29 Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord,  (RSV)

When the sinful men (fools) suffer disaster, calamity, distress, trouble, they will pray to God, but God will not answer their prayer. Because the sinful men (fools) did not choose to love and honour God. Because they hated knowledge and wisdom, by not following the wise ways.

30 30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,
31 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.  (NIV)

The sinful men (fools) will suffer the result of their evil doing. Bad things/events will befall these sinful men. Because they did not accept wise advice. Because they did not repent despite being rebuked and reminded.

32 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”  (NIV)

32 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacence of fools destroys them;
33 33 but he who listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of evil.”  (RSV)

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.  (KJV)

Whoever follows the wise ways will live safely and at ease. Whoever follows the wise ways will live happily and peacefully.


Friday, Jan 3, 2014.
Michael Yeap.

NIV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%201&version=NIV 

RSV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%201&version=RSV 

KJV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%201&version=KJV 

Commentaries:
1) Introduction   http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/asbury-bible-commentary/Introduction-732 
2) A Father's Advice   http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/asbury-bible-commentary/Fathers-Advice