Meditate, Pray through and put into action the Wisdom of God - one day at a time!

Monday, June 27, 2011

The Book of Proverbs: School of Wisdom - 27

Proverbs 27:1-27 (NIV)

Proverbs 27


1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

7 He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.

10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.

14 If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.

15 A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day;

16 restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.

19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

20 Death and Destruction a]">[a] are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;

24 for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.

27 You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.

Footnotes:
  1. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon

8 examples of not knowing the morrow:

1. Jonathan (1 Samuel 23:17)
2. Abner (2 Samuel 3:9-10)
3. Ben-hadad (1 Kings 20:3-31)
4. Ahab (1 Kings 22:26-37)
5. Haman (Esther 5:12; 7:1-10)
6. Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30-33)
7. Belshazzar (Daniel 5:24-31)
8. The rich fool (Luke 12:20)

5 examples of praise from others:

1. Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:17-27)
2. The centurion (Matthew 8:10)
3. John (Matthew 11:11; John 5:35)
4. Luke (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11)
5. Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25)

5 examples of such "wounds from a friend" faithfulness:

1. Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:7-13)
2. Jehu (2 Chronicles 19:2-11)
3. Jesus Christ (Matthew 23)
4. Stephen (Acts 7)
5. Paul (Acts 22:1 - 24:27)

6 examples of honoring servants:

1. Deborah (Genesis 35:8)
2. Joseph (Genesis 39:2-23)
3. Elisha (2 Kings 3:11)
4. Centurion's servant (Luke 7:8)
5. Disciples (Luke 12:37)
6. The soldier of Cornelius (Acts 10:7)

5 admonitions to farmers:

1. Make hay to feed the stock for the winter (Proverbs 27;25).
2. Feed the flock on the new pasture in the spring (Proverbs 27:25).
3. Sell the lambs to buy clothes (Proverbs 27:26).
4. Sell the goats to pay for the farm or pay the rent (Proverbs 27:26).
5. Use the goats' milk for the whole household and to maintain the servants (Proverbs 27:27). Milk is here put for all the products necessary for the home.