Proverbs

This book is in process. It had been completed but data was lost in a systems transition.

This proverb starts out telling who the proverbs are written by and what they are for (to teach people wisdom, discipline, understand, be successful, and do what is right). It then starts from the point of a father to a child talking about how the simple are enticed by the wicked and turn away from wisdom and the results after they do that. 

Principles: seek after wisdom to do what is right, understand, and be successful. The wicked set traps for others that they fall into. 

Solomon encourage his son to seek wisdom and insight like he would seek after treasure. He shares how valuable it is to do so and how it will allow him to understand how to properly fear God, the giver of wisdom. It them goes on to talk about other benefits of getting wisdom.

Principles: Getting wisdom draws you closer to God and protects you. 

This proverb lists out many items that would be listed as success points and tells the reader how to get them: 

– don’t forget the commands you’ve been taught/store them in your heart: live a long, satisfying life

-be kind and loyal: you will find favor with God and man and have a good reputation

-trust in God and seek His will: He will show you what to do

– don’t be impressed with your own wisdom and fear God: healing for your body and strength in your bones

– honor God with your wealth: He will prosper you

– don’t reject God’s discipline: He corrects those He loves

– love and seek wisdom:  wisdom is a tree of life and brings happiness

– use common sense and discernment: they refresh you, keep you safe, remove fear, give you sound sleep. 

It then lists out some points of wisdom and common sense: 

– God is your security

– don’t withhold good from those who deserve it when you have the ability to give it to them

– don’t plot against your neighbor/ don’t pick a fight for no reason

– don’t envy violent people or do what they do

He then shows some comparisons:

-wicked are detestable to God/Godly have God’s friendship

-curses the wicked/blesses the Godly

-mocks the mocker/gracious to the humble

-wise inherit honor/fools put to shame

Principles:  the secrets of success are in seeking after God and His wisdom

Solomon exhorts his son to pursue wisdom and good judgment. Wisdom is personified in a caring and protecting woman and mother. Pursuing wisdom has many benefits while pursuing wickedness leads to downfall.

Principles:  in everything you do pursue wisdom. 

This proverb talks about the dangers of a promiscuous women and immoral behavior with her.  The proverb encourages his son to enjoy the wife of his youth and not go after the promiscuous woman.  

Principles: think about the consequences of your actions and the future you should have 

This proverb is a warning about immoral women and the destruction that they bring. It’s shared in a storyline of a simpleton being seduced by an immoral woman. 

Principles: immorality brings destruction. 

This proverbs personifies wisdom again showing it as calling out to people in public asking for the people around to listen and follow.  Wisdom talks about how involved it was in all of creation from the very start and how it is continually needed for daily life. 

Principles: wisdom is essential for good living. 

This proverb contrasts wisdom and folly. Wisdom invites those in seeking their best.  Folly seeks their destruction. Folly is stupid and doesn’t know it. Wisdom focuses on helping the simple. Folly is self centered. 

The proverb also talks about dealing with mockers. The mocker will not benefit from correction because they are set in their ways. 

Principles: wisdom seeks is out and wants the best.  Those who love wisdom let it mold them. 

This proverb highlights the difference between the Godly and the wicked with regards to work, public interaction, and wealth. The Godly seek God’s best and the wicked squander.  

Principles: submit your work to God and He will prosper you. 

This proverb does a compare and contrast between the godly and the wicked. 1It compares good/honest/wise with dishonest/evil/fool and talks about their outcomes. It also talks about those who put their faith in money versus God.

Principles: Godliness leads to blessings. Wickedness leads to destruction. Trust in God, not your money.  Humbly seek Him.

This proverb again shows a comparison of the righteous and unrighteous with a focus on laziness vs. working hard.  

Principles: part of living upright is working hard. 

This proverb compares the wise to the mocker. Some of the notable points include sparing the rod/spoiling the child, wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears, and good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren. 

Principles: wisdom and hard hard work go hand in hand with goodness. 

The proverb continues in the pattern of a positive statement about the wise or Godly vs foolish or wicked. 

Principles: the wise live Godly lives. 

This proverb has a little focus on the spoken words of the wise and foolish. See verses 1, 2, 4, 7, 23, 28, 29, and 31.

Principles: wisdom is passed on through spoken words. 

This proverb talks about God’s direction of plans and seeking wisdom. Humility is key in carrying out work and accomplishing plans. 

Principles: seek wisdom and God’s plan. 

This has a number of proverbs that are well known:

• Better to have a dry crust without conflict than a feast with conflict
• A wise servant will rule over the children and share in the inheritance 
• Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged 

Principles: stay out of conflict when you can.  Don’t stir it up with your own words. 

This proverbs has a focus on the spoken words of the wise and foolish and the effects of those words. 

Principles: wisdom spoken is satisfying. 

This chapter speaks about being poor, lazy, dishonest, and a good wife. 

Proverbs: laziness leads to being poor.

This chapter starts out with things that lead a person to trouble. It also talks about just weights and measures. 

Principles: doing things right is important to God.

The chapter starts with a focus on God’s direction and perspective. Then it talks a bit about perspectives on seeking riches, laziness, and righteous/ethical living. 

Principles: let God guide you in your plans and He will add all these things to your life. 

This chapter of proverbs talks about self discipline quite a bit: from overeating, to drinking too much, to chasing riches. It also talks about not eating with stingy people, not moving boundary makers, and not taking advantage of orphans. It talks about disciplining your children and who you associate with. It talks about being very focused on drinking (alcohol) and how it controls your life. 

Principles: live a quiet and peaceable life

There are several vignettes in the chapter that paint the picture being shared: 1) associating with evil people 2) wisdom needed to build a house 3) wisdom is needed for war 4) planning evil is sinful and foolish 5) rescue those who are unjustly accused 6) wisdom is sweet as honey 7) don’t plot against the godly 8) don’t rejoice when enemies stumble 9) don’t worry when your enemies persecute you 10) fear God and rulers 11) be just in judgment 12) do your work before building your house 13) don’t lie about your neighbors 14) laziness leads to poverty. 

Principles: walk uprightly in wisdom

This chapter has a number of items about seeking out the best but not pushing your way into the limelight. Instead let others invite you based on their perspective of your efforts. 

Principles: keep a zero defects heart attitude. 

This chapter focuses heavily on information about fools and lazy people. 

Principles:  don’t spend your time on fools or lazy people. 

This chapter starts out with the aspect of things that can change or test you:  tomorrow’s accomplishment, praise, etc. Then it talks about things that are hard but better (rebuke from a friend).

Principles: be humble and open to correction

This chapter focuses on law and order and civic leadership quite a bit.  There is also some focus on earning without a focus on money. 

Principles:  integrity and honor makes for good leadership. 

This chapter is from Agur son of Jakeh. This chapter starts out as a reminder that we are nothing without God. Next it walks through things that are marvels of the world to consider. 

Principles: Do not let the trappings of this world remove your focus on God.

This chapter is from King Lemuel. It starts with a warning about women who ruin kings. Then it moves on to alcohol abuse. Then it talks about speaking up and caring for the poor and helpless. Finally it comes to the qualities of a good woman and wife/ mother (a proverbs 31 woman). 

Principles: some of the factors of success in life come from choosing the right woman, not over doing it with alcohol, and caring for those that can’t care for themselves.