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Proverbs 13-15
Proverbs 13
Solomon gets kind of Yoda like in this series of proverbs.
1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Ok, so that wasn't very Yoda-ish, but it's coming. Again, Solomon is departing wisdom to his sons, daughters don't seem to get taught that wisdom.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Basically, better to be thought a fool and keep your mouth shut, than to open it and remove all doubt.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Do or do not, there is no try.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton... any other people who are famous for just being famous...
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Reading these proverbs gives insight into Solomon, he must have constantly been yelling at his kids.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Dress for the job you want.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Good people provide for their grandkids, not just giving them gifts their parents don't want them to have, but by securing their future. Granted, a child with a secure future may not work as hard as one who doesn't have an inheritance.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
I wonder if he was saying this to all his boys, some of them he hit, some of them he reproved, some of them he just left alone. The ones who he didn't yell at or punch suddenly knew, that their daddy didn't love them.
Proverbs 14
The proverbs here seem to deal mostly with the poor, and with anger, additionally, there's a bit on homeownership.
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Again, we see women as the homeowners. But the home is the place where the woman stays when the husband is at work. Building the house is man's work, building the home is for the wife.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Interesting, this is like saying "quit complaining you haven't done anything wrong, when frankly you haven't done much of anything". If you haven't done anything (have oxen) you haven't done anything wrong (have a clean crib), but you can have the cleanest crib in the world, but who really cares, since you don't have any ox.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Even though you will look like a genius next to a fool, it's better to just not associate with them, if they can't be dragged up to your level, they will invariably drag you down to theirs. It's better to have a higher Lowest Common Denominator.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
A person with a hot temper, will get into more trouble than a person who doesn't.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Of course, the poor drag down property values.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
A good wife is also a crown. So far, a man can have a good wife crown, and a riches crown. Also, say "follishness of fools is folly" three times real fast!
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
"Your temper will only get you into trouble." my mother used to say to Armyguy.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Just so long as they don't live next door, it's fine by me.
Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Music soothes the savage beast. Don't blow your top, nothing good can come of it.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
So far, in Proverbs 11:30 fruit of the righteous was a tree of life; Proverbs 13:12 hope is a tree of life, and now in Proverbs 14:4, a wholesome tongue is a tree of life. Hope, a wholesome tongue, and righteousness are all things that won't get you killed.
5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Again, Solomon making back handed comments to his kids that don't listen to him.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Cain's sacrifice of the fallen fruit wasn't necessarily an abomination, it just wasn't liked as much as the best sheep of Abel.
12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
I hate talking to (insert name here) he always makes me feel stupid. A wise person will surround themselves with smart people.
16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Eventually, that little will turn into a lot.
20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Good kids are the father's, bad kids are the mother's.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Here, we see that bad/wicked thoughts are just as much a sin as actually doing bad/wicked things. But, you don't get credit for the good thoughts, unless you actually do the good things.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
Taking constructive criticism is a good thing, refusing it, will just lead to hell.
So what have we learned?
1. Solomon liked some of his kids. Those, he claimed as his, the ones who didn't listen, well, they were their mother problem.
2. There is no point in having a clean house, if it's never used. The fancy china is worthless if it never comes out of the cupboard.
3. Stupid people don't like to be corrected, and when they do, they get angry; that will cause them to go to hell.
YIC
V
Proverbs 13
Solomon gets kind of Yoda like in this series of proverbs.
1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Ok, so that wasn't very Yoda-ish, but it's coming. Again, Solomon is departing wisdom to his sons, daughters don't seem to get taught that wisdom.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Basically, better to be thought a fool and keep your mouth shut, than to open it and remove all doubt.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Do or do not, there is no try.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton... any other people who are famous for just being famous...
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Reading these proverbs gives insight into Solomon, he must have constantly been yelling at his kids.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Dress for the job you want.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Good people provide for their grandkids, not just giving them gifts their parents don't want them to have, but by securing their future. Granted, a child with a secure future may not work as hard as one who doesn't have an inheritance.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
I wonder if he was saying this to all his boys, some of them he hit, some of them he reproved, some of them he just left alone. The ones who he didn't yell at or punch suddenly knew, that their daddy didn't love them.
Proverbs 14
The proverbs here seem to deal mostly with the poor, and with anger, additionally, there's a bit on homeownership.
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Again, we see women as the homeowners. But the home is the place where the woman stays when the husband is at work. Building the house is man's work, building the home is for the wife.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Interesting, this is like saying "quit complaining you haven't done anything wrong, when frankly you haven't done much of anything". If you haven't done anything (have oxen) you haven't done anything wrong (have a clean crib), but you can have the cleanest crib in the world, but who really cares, since you don't have any ox.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Even though you will look like a genius next to a fool, it's better to just not associate with them, if they can't be dragged up to your level, they will invariably drag you down to theirs. It's better to have a higher Lowest Common Denominator.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
A person with a hot temper, will get into more trouble than a person who doesn't.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Of course, the poor drag down property values.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
A good wife is also a crown. So far, a man can have a good wife crown, and a riches crown. Also, say "follishness of fools is folly" three times real fast!
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
"Your temper will only get you into trouble." my mother used to say to Armyguy.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Just so long as they don't live next door, it's fine by me.
Proverbs 15
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Music soothes the savage beast. Don't blow your top, nothing good can come of it.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
So far, in Proverbs 11:30 fruit of the righteous was a tree of life; Proverbs 13:12 hope is a tree of life, and now in Proverbs 14:4, a wholesome tongue is a tree of life. Hope, a wholesome tongue, and righteousness are all things that won't get you killed.
5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Again, Solomon making back handed comments to his kids that don't listen to him.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Cain's sacrifice of the fallen fruit wasn't necessarily an abomination, it just wasn't liked as much as the best sheep of Abel.
12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
I hate talking to (insert name here) he always makes me feel stupid. A wise person will surround themselves with smart people.
16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Eventually, that little will turn into a lot.
20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Good kids are the father's, bad kids are the mother's.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Here, we see that bad/wicked thoughts are just as much a sin as actually doing bad/wicked things. But, you don't get credit for the good thoughts, unless you actually do the good things.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
Taking constructive criticism is a good thing, refusing it, will just lead to hell.
So what have we learned?
1. Solomon liked some of his kids. Those, he claimed as his, the ones who didn't listen, well, they were their mother problem.
2. There is no point in having a clean house, if it's never used. The fancy china is worthless if it never comes out of the cupboard.
3. Stupid people don't like to be corrected, and when they do, they get angry; that will cause them to go to hell.
YIC
V
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