The diligent and the slothful.
v.24 The diligent will rule. The diligent at work rise to the top, while the lazy person sinks to the bottom. At the bottom they may be put to forced labor.
v.25 Encouragement. Anxiety weighs a person down, but a kind word of encouragement will cheer him up. Seek to turn someone’s depression into happiness by saying a good word. The work of a good person bears fruit.
v.26 Avoid dangerous friendships. This proverb advises choosing your friendships carefully. The way of the wicked leads nowhere.
v.27 Diligence leads to success. A lazy person cannot bring a project to completion (roast his game), but the diligent are successful and obtain wealth.
v.28 Righteousness leads to immortality. Those who live a righteous life by faith are on their way to a stable life here and ultimately eternal life.

There are to paths, one leads to eternal life (the path of wisdom) the other to death (the path of folly). These proverbs encourage us to choose the path of the diligent and righteous.

Read Proverbs 12:24-28

Truthful speech.
v.13 Transgression of the lips. The evil man is ensnared (or trapped) by his wicked talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble (by holding his tongue). Don’t get yourself in a bind by what you say. “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive,” — Sir Walter Scott.
v.14 Good speech. The fruit of good speaking brings prosperity (good things) just as we would expect diligent work to also prosper us. If your conversation is wise and honoring to God, it will result in blessing.
v.15 Good listening. The way of a fool is to go along the path that seems right to him, even when good advice is offered. The wise will recognize and accept good advice.
v.16 Ignore an insult. The fool shows his opponent at once that he is injured (easily provoked), while the wise is more shrewd (silent) and ignores the insult. Prudence can hold back and not give the enemy the satisfaction of knowing you were hurt.
v.17 Truthful speaking. A true witness can be counted on to always speaks the truth on the witness stand. The false witness utters lies and deceits. The setting may be business dealings or court cases; in either case, always tell the truth.
v.18 Healing words. Rash words (reckless talk) pierce like a sword (wounds), but the words spoken by a wise man bring healing (because they are true, kind, and encouraging).
v.19 Truth outlasts lies. Truthful speech lasts forever, but lies last only for a moment. A lie will eventually be found out.
v.20 Plan peace. There is joy (inner contentment) for those who plan (advise) peace, but not for those who devise (plan) evil in their hearts.
v.21 Security of the righteous. The wicked get their fill of trouble (evil) but no harm (calamity) comes upon the righteous. The idea may be what they ultimately get in the end.
v.22 Speak truthfully. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but he delights in the ones who speak truthfully.
v.23 Discretion. The prudent restrain themselves (use discretion in their speech), while the fool blurts out folly.

We are here taught the value of wisely using speech (verses the way of a fool). This includes times of silence contrasted with a babbling fool. Exercise discernment when speaking, words cannot be taken back. Truth brings healing and builds trusting relationships.

Read Proverbs 12:13-23

Honor and shame.
v.8 Appreciation of wisdom. A man with good sense (capacity to think straight) is commended (by the community); while a man with a twisted mind is despised. Praise for a person is in proportion to the wisdom he displays. Note that honor and shame are great motivators.
v.9 Humility. It is better to live modestly and have some of the conveniences of life then to live outside your means for show and thereby lack the essentials.
v.10 Compassion for animals. Your character is indicated by how much compassion you have for your animals. The righteous cares for the needs of his animals while the wicked is cruel. It is better to be the righteous person’s cat than the wicked person’s neighbor. If a person is kind to his animals, how much more so to fellow human beings. Even the compassion of the wicked is done cruelly.
v.11 Diligence. You ensure that you will have income (and food to eat) through diligent work, not by following worthless pursuits. See also 28:19.
v.12 Fruit. There are rewards for the righteous (root) who bear fruit, but the wicked covets the spoil of evil doers. The righteous work for what they own, but the wicked want what belongs to others.

This section comments on character and how communities assign praise or blame. The wise person wins honor while the wicked earns shame.

Read Proverbs 12:8-12

Learning and standing firm (1-7).
v.1 Discipline. This proverbs tells us that to refuse correction (pride) is stupid. If we want to improve ourselves, we must accept correction and learn from it (and from our mistakes). This willingness to listen to correction (humility) leads us to wise speaking and teaching so that others may learn as well.
v.2 Good conduct. The good man (a man of good conduct) is here contrasted to the man of evil devices (the crafty or one who schemes). The good obtains the Lord’s favor and the crafty are condemned.
v.3 Stability. A society cannot endure for long if founded on evil principles. Only righteousness brings stability (deep rooted). The wicked cannot be established (find security and stability), they will surely perish. See 10:25.
v.4 The noble wife. A husband’s happiness in life is impacted by the moral character (or lack thereof) of his wife. See 31:10-31, Ru 3:11, and 1 Cor 11:7. A wife of noble character is a “crown” (a symbol of honor) to her husband. Character is the most important quality to find in a mate.
v.5 Thoughts. Here we learn that the thoughts (or plans/intentions) of righteous people are just. However, the advice of the wicked is deceitful and will lead to evil.
v.6 Skillful speech. The wicked make a trap of false accusations, but the righteous is able to avoid this danger by his speech. He does this through wisdom and knowledge gain by discipline.
v.7 Security. The wicked are “overthrown,” that is completely destroyed. On the other hand the righteous have security and stability in times of trouble (they will stand firm).

This section provides several significant motivations to learn knowledge and wisdom and live a righteous life of stability. Studying the book of proverbs can help you gain this wisdom.

Read Proverbs 12:1-7

Conduct and discretion.
v.20 Conduct pleasing to the Lord. The Lord abhors those with a twisted (evil) mind; but he delights in those who follow a blameless course in life. See also 17:20.
v.21 The certainty of punishment. The righteous (and offspring) escape punishment; but for the wicked it is absolutely certain.
v.22 Beauty without discretion. A woman with no discretion is compared to a pig with a gold ring in its snout. The pig does not know the value of the gold ring; likewise a woman without discretion. Physical beauty without character is out of place (just like the gold ring on the pig). Note that it is possible to have both beauty and good judgment (Abigail, 1 Sm 25). See 31:30.
v.23 Desire and expectation. God rewards the righteous with good; but the wicked with wrath. See also 10:24, 28.
Giving and receiving.
v.24-25 Generosity and prosperity. The proverbs here present a paradox. The one who is generous toward others is provided for himself. One who withholds what is right is not provided for himself. One who nurtures others will himself be nurtured. See 2 Cor 9:6.
v.26 Socially responsible business. This proverb counsels against morally wrong business prices. We have the picture on one withholding something the people need presumably to drive prices up. The one who sells (what the people need, e.g. food) is crowned with blessing.
v.27 Desires in life. If you diligently seek God’s favor (wisdom), you will find it. If you seek evil (folly), it will find you.
v.28 Security. Your object of faith in life determines your (eternal) security. Trust in riches and you will come to ruin in life (fall dead like a dried up leaf, Mk 10:23). Trust in God and you will flourish like a green leaf (a symbol for prosperity, Ps 1:3).
Fruit and households.
v.29 Trouble and poverty. He who troubles his household (bring harm on those closest to him) will gain nothing for it and may have to become a servant to the wise. (See Lk 15:11-32.)
v.30 Fruit of a righteous life. A righteous life brings forth fruit and a tree of life (i.e., the fruit will sustain and nourish life). The second half of the verse indicates the wise will win souls (for the Lord).
v.31 Wage for sin. If the righteous suffer the wage of their sin, then certainly the wicked will, and much more. The sense may be that the righteous are rewarded for their good deeds and evildoers for their misdeeds (1 Pt 4:18).

This section of proverbs provides ample motivation to live a life of wisdom and righteousness and run away from a life of folly and wickedness.

Read Proverbs 11:20-31

Honesty, humility and integrity.
v.1 Honesty. The Lord delights in honest dealings in your business. Dishonesty is an abomination to him. We should avoid anything that is an abomination to God. (See 16:11.)
v.2 Humility. With humility comes wisdom and the avoidance of disgrace. Pride points to folly and arrogance. The proud think they can abuse others without being called to account. Their foolish behavior brings shame.
v.3 Integrity. Contrasts the integrity of the upright and the crookedness of the treacherous. The faithless are destroyed by their duplicity. Integrity serves as a guide to the faithful.
Fate of the righteous and wicked.
v.4 Righteousness. You can use wealth (riches) in a righteous way, but this proverb shows that their is no security in wealth itself. Only righteousness delivers one from death when disaster strikes (divine justice).
v.5-6 Righteous and wicked conduct. The righteous enjoy security, while the sins of the wicked catch up with him. (Evil itself will haunt the evil.)
v.7 Don’t put hope in money. The hopes and dreams of the wicked die with them. Don’t build your hope on money (which does not survive death).
v.8 Just retribution. The trouble that the righteous escape falls on the wicked. In the end people get what they deserve (here the “end” may include the afterlife). Daniel’s enemies are eaten by the lions meant for him (Dn 6).
Right and wrong speech.
v.9 Safety from slander. This proverb indicates that the righteous can escape devastating slander through knowledge.
v.10 Joy when the righteous prevail. There is joy both when the righteous prevail and when the wicked do not. The city is glad when the outcomes are fitting because too often they are not.
v.11 Speech that is helpful or harmful. Words have a great effect on society, either harmful in the case of wicked speech or helpful when the righteous speak. The words of the righteous are a blessing on the community (the city is exalted). The words of the wicked are disastrous (the city is overthrown).
v.12 Be a good neighbor. A man who lacks sense belittles his neighbor; but a man of understanding remains silent. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
v.13 Keeping confidence. This proverb contrasts the gossip and the trustworthy man (or woman). Like the last verse the righteous keeps silent.
v. 14 Good advice. Wise and intelligent counselors are essential to the stability of a nation or people. Pray that our leaders will seek the advice of many wise counselors.
Wages and outcomes.
v.15 Avoid pledges. If you want to remain financially sound, do not pledge security for a stranger (or others). See also 17:18 and 20:16.
v.16 Kindness brings respect. One can seize (only) wealth by violent means, but respect comes (only) to the gracious. It is better to be poor with honor than rich without it.
v.17 Kindness is better than cruelty. Contrast between dispositions. Kindness is healthy (beneficial), but anger (or cruelty) is harmful to yourself (and others).
v.18 Rewards justly earned. The prosperity of the wicked does not last. You will earn rewards based on your character. That is to say, you reap what you sow.
v.19 Conduct brings life or death. The righteous will live and the evil will die. Life and death (beyond the grave) result from moral choices we make.

Pursue righteousness and your reward will surely be life (and death otherwise).

Read Proverbs 11:1-19

The effects of obedience and disobedience (17).
v.17 Whoever follows Wisdom’s instruction is on the path to life. But whoever rejects it will lead others astray (from the path to life). Learning from your mistakes is a key to gaining wisdom. The fool refuses to learn from the constructive criticism of his teachers.

The effects of righteous and wicked speech (18-21).
v.18-19 The fool multiplies his words, (concealing his hatred with) lies, and utters slander; but, whoever restrains his lips is prudent. Speech should follow reflection about the impact of your words (15:28).
v.20-21 The tongue of the righteous is as valuable as silver and nourishes many (edifies/builds up). But the heart of the wicked (and his speech) is of little worth and he dies for lack of sense (or character).

The expectation and hope of the righteous and wicked contrasted (22-32).
See also Ps 37.
v.22-23 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth without painful toil. Doing wrong brings pleasure to a fool; but wisdom pleasure to a man of understanding.
v.24-26 What the wicked man dreads will come upon him; but to the righteous, his desire will be granted to him (Ps 37:4). The wicked cannot weather trouble (their way ends in ruin); but the righteous have a firm foundation (they are on way of the Lord).
v.27-30 Contrasting expectations for the righteous and wicked. The righteous has days added to his life and his expectation is joy. The wicked have shortened years and their hope perishes.
v.31-32 The words of the righteous bring forth wisdom and life; the wicked speak perversity and end in death.

Pray that your words will bring forth life, for yourself and others, like the righteous person described in this poem. Good people use few, well-chosen words. The wicked say things that are worthless and perverse.

Read Proverbs 10:17-32

The first collection of Solomon’s proverbs.
Antithetical proverbs (10:1-15:29), righteous versus wicked.
v.1a Inscription attributing this collection of proverbs (10:1-22:16) to Solomon.
v.1b Contrast of (psychological) effect on parents of the wise son and the foolish son.
v.2-5 Contrasting the wealth of the wise and foolish sons. The wise find salvation and the foolish find death. In a paradox, we are told that the wealth of the wicked does not profit him (no eternal value). God protects the righteous but does not care for the needs of the wicked.
v.6-9 The effects, on yourself, of good and bad speech contrasted. The righteous receive blessings and the babbling fool comes to ruin.
v.10 Transition from v.6-9 to v.11-14. Once again the babbling fool comes to ruin.
v.11-14 The effects, on others, of good and bad speech contrasted. The righteous utters life-giving words; but the wicked violence. In v.12 we learn that love covers up the wrongs that tend to separate us. The wise accumulate wisdom while the fool brings on ruin with his mouth.
v.15-16 The wealth of the righteous is eternal life; the wages of the wicked are sin and death.

The wise will soak up this book’s wisdom and knowledge and speak words of life (and the wicked will be ruined by his speech). The “riches” of this world don’t guarantee happiness. Our character determines how we use our wealth. Righteous living leads to a meaningful life, while the wicked earn ruin.

Read Proverbs 10:1-16

The young man is addressed first by Woman Wisdom (1-6) and then by Woman Folly (13-18) with intervening wisdom advice (7-12).
v.1-6 Wisdom has built her house and prepares a feast. She invites the simpleminded to come to her feast and leave simple ways behind and walk in the way of understanding.
v.7-12 Advice contrasting wisdom (the wise) and folly (the scoffer). This may be a continuation of Wisdom’s instruction in v.1-6. The passage reminds us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” If you don’t listen to criticism and acknowledge your errors, you are doomed to repeat them.
v.13-18 Folly issues her rival invitation to dine (but on stolen food). The last verse, however, shows the awful consequences to choosing her path (i.e., death).

This is the final chapter in the first part of Proverbs (1-9). It requires the reader to make the fundamental life decision of choosing the way of wisdom or the way of folly. Choose well my friend.

Read Proverbs 9