The Book of Proverbs: School of Wisdom - 28

Proverbs 28:1-28 (NIV)

Proverbs 28

¹ The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

² When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

³ A ruler ^a]">[a] who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.

⁵ Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

⁶ Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

⁷ He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

⁸ He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

⁹ If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.

¹⁰ He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

¹¹ A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.

¹³ He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

¹⁴ Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.

¹⁶ A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.

¹⁷ A man tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive till death; let no one support him.

¹⁸ He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.

¹⁹ He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

²⁰ A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

²¹ To show partiality is not good— yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

²² A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.

²³ He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.

²⁴ He who robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong"— he is partner to him who destroys.

²⁵ A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

²⁶ He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

²⁷ He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

²⁸ When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor man

11 examples of righteous boldness:

1. Moses (Exodus 32:20)
2. The prophet (1 Kings 13:1-10)
3. Elijah (! kings 18:15-18; 2 Kings 1)
4. Azariah (2 Chronicles 26:17-18)
5. Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:11)
6. Three Hebrew children (Daniel 3)
7. Daniel (Daniel 6)
8. Jesus Christ (Matthew 27)
9. Stephen (Acts 7:51-60)
10.Paul (Acts 20:22-24)
11.Peter and John (Acts 4:18-20; 5:41-42)

5 examples of good statecraft;

1. Joseph (Genesis 47:15-26)
2. Samuel (1 Samuel 11:12-15)
3. Nathan (1 Kings 1:11-14)
4. Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:26-33)
5. Daniel (1:3-5; 6:1-4)

5 examples of praising the wicked:

1. Saul (1 Samuel 23:21)
2. Absalom (2 Samuel 15:6)
3. Nobles of Judah (Nehemiah 6:19)
4. False prophets (Jeremiah 5:30-31)
5. Jews (Acts 12:21-23)

5 examples of contending with the wicked:

1. Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:7-11; 13:11)
2. John (Matthew 14:4)
3. Jesus Christ (Matthew 22-23)
4. Stephen (Acts 7)
5. Paul (Acts 22-24)

4 examples of ignorance of judgment:

1. Israel (Numbers 16:21)
2. Ahab (1 Kings 18:7)
3. The LORD's enemies (Mark 4:11-12)
4. Pharisees (Luke 11:42; 18:9-14)

7 reasons why they that seek the LORD understand all things:

1. Fear the LORD (Proverbs 1:7)
2. Give heed ot and obey truth (Proverbs 2:1-3:5)
3. Seek the LORD (Matthew 6:33; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
4. Are open to truth (Matthew 13:11-17)
5. Have the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20)
6. Are freed from darkness (Acts 26:18)
7. Seek understanding (Proverbs 2:4-9; 4:7-9)

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.

The Book of Proverbs: School of Wisdom - 31

Proverbs 31:1-31 (NIV)

Proverbs 31

Sayings of King Lemuel

¹ The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle ^a]">[a] his mother taught him:

² "O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, ^b]">[b]

³ do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings.

⁴ "It is not for kings, O Lemuel— not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,

⁵ lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

⁶ Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish;

⁷ let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

⁸ "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

⁹ Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

¹⁰ ^c]">[c] A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 31:1 Or of Lemuel king of Massa, which
2. Proverbs 31:2 Or / the answer to my prayers
3. Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet