July 3, 2025
Christians should be peacemakers, not peacebreakers!
Proverbs 17-21
Jimmy Comeaux
Big Book Idea
Living wisely: God's way.
Key Verse | Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
Proverbs 17-21
Chapter 17
1
Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting
1
17:1
Hebrew sacrifices
with strife.
2
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the LORD tests hearts.
4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
7
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a prince.
8
A bribe is like a magic
2
17:8
Or precious
stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
9
Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
10
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11
An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
rather than a fool in his folly.
13
If anyone returns evil for good,
evil will not depart from his house.
14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
16
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18
One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19
Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20
A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21
He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22
A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23
The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
3
17:23
Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
to pervert the ways of justice.
24
The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25
A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
26
To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Chapter 18
1
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
3
When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5
It is not good to be partial to
4
18:5
Hebrew to lift the face of
the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.
6
A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7
A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9
Whoever is slack in his work
is a brother to him who destroys.
10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
11
A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12
Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
13
If one gives an answer before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14
A man's spirit will endure sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16
A man's gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
17
The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
18
The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.
19
A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20
From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the LORD.
23
The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.
24
A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Chapter 19
1
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
2
Desire
5
19:2
Or A soul
without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
3
When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the LORD.
4
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
6
Many seek the favor of a generous man,
6
19:6
Or of a noble
and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
7
All a poor man's brothers hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.
7
19:7
The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain
8
Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will discover good.
9
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
10
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11
Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12
A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13
A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
14
House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will suffer hunger.
16
Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life;
he who despises his ways will die.
17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will repay him for his deed.
18
Discipline your son, for there is hope;
do not set your heart on putting him to death.
19
A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
20
Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
22
What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
23
The fear of the LORD leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.
24
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish
and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26
He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is a son who brings shame and reproach.
27
Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28
A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29
Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
and beating for the backs of fools.
Chapter 20
1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
8
20:1
Or will not become wise
2
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
4
The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5
The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6
Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?
7
The righteous who walks in his integrity—
blessed are his children after him!
8
A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
10
Unequal
9
20:10
Or Two kinds of; also verse 23
weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
11
Even a child makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
10
20:11
Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
12
The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the LORD has made them both.
13
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15
There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16
Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.
11
20:16
Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
17
Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18
Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.
19
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
12
20:19
Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
20
If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21
An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22
Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
23
Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD,
and false scales are not good.
24
A man's steps are from the LORD;
how then can man understand his way?
25
It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making vows.
26
A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.
27
The spirit
13
20:27
Hebrew breath
of man is the lamp of the LORD,
searching all his innermost parts.
28
Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
29
The glory of young men is their strength,
but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30
Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.
Chapter 21
1
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
3
To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4
Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp
14
21:4
Or the plowing
of the wicked, are sin.
5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
6
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
15
21:6
Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
7
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8
The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10
The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11
When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12
The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.
14
A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe,
16
21:14
Hebrew a bribe in the bosom
strong wrath.
15
When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.
16
One who wanders from the way of good sense
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17
Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.
19
It is better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.
21
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22
A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
24
“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25
The desire of the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26
All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
28
A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29
A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright gives thought to
17
21:29
Or establishes
his ways.
30
No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the LORD.
31
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the LORD.
Footnotes
[1] 17:1 Hebrew sacrifices[2] 17:8 Or precious
[3] 17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
[4] 18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of
[5] 19:2 Or A soul
[6] 19:6 Or of a noble
[7] 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain
[8] 20:1 Or will not become wise
[9] 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23
[10] 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
[11] 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
[12] 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
[13] 20:27 Hebrew breath
[14] 21:4 Or the plowing
[15] 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
[16] 21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom
[17] 21:29 Or establishes
Table of Contents
Introduction to Proverbs
Timeline
Author and Date
Proverbs itself mentions Solomon (reigned c. 971–931 B.C.) as author or collector of its contents (1:1; 10:1), including the proverbs copied by Hezekiah’s men (25:1). There are also two batches of sayings from a group called “the wise” (22:17–24:22; 24:23–34), and “oracles” from Agur (30:1–33) and Lemuel (31:1–9). No author is named for the song in praise of the excellent wife that ends the book (31:10–31). Although Proverbs was begun in the time of Solomon, it probably was not in its present form until the time of Hezekiah (reigned c. 715–686 B.C.).
Theme
The goal of the book is stated right at the beginning (1:1–7): to describe what wisdom is and to help God’s people become wise. Wisdom is founded in the “fear of the Lord,” and it enables believers to express their faith in the practical details of everyday life.
Audience
The book is addressed to a young man. The situations he will face while he is young receive much attention. These situations supply concrete examples from which all readers can apply lessons to their own lives. Anyone who is wise and who pays attention will benefit (1:5) from this instruction.
Reading Proverbs
The reader of Proverbs must seek to understand the various types of people the book describes. The most obvious characters in the book are the wise, the fool, and the simple. Proverbs urges its readers to be wise, which means embracing God’s covenant and living out the covenant in everyday situations (compare 2:2; 10:1). The fool is the person who constantly opposes God’s covenant (1:7b). The simple is the person who is not firmly committed, either to wisdom or to folly; he is easily misled (14:15).
The first nine chapters of Proverbs are “wisdom poems” that urge the reader to pursue wisdom. The main section of Proverbs—the concise, memorable statements of two or three lines—begins in 10:1. Proverbs often seem to be mere observations about life, but their deeper meanings will reveal themselves if the following questions are kept in mind: (1) What virtue does this proverb commend? (2) What vice does it disapprove of? (3) What value does it affirm?
Key Themes
Proverbs offers wisdom on a wide array of topics from daily life: diligence and laziness (6:6–11); friendship (3:27–28; 18:24); speech (10:19–21); marriage (18:22; 19:14); child rearing (22:6); domestic peace (15:17; 17:1); work (11:1); getting along and good manners (23:1–2; 25:16–17; 26:17–19; 27:14); eternity (14:32; 23:17–18); and much more. It shows that “godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8).
- God’s will is intensely practical, applying to every aspect of life. A proper relation to God involves trying hard to understand his truth, and then embracing and obeying that truth.
- A life lived by God’s will is a happy life (3:21–26).
- A life lived by God’s will is a useful life (3:27–28; 12:18, 25).
- A life lived by God’s will does not just happen. One must seek after it (9:1–6).
Outline
- Title, Goal, and Motto (1:1–7)
- A Father’s Invitation to Wisdom (1:8–9:18)
- Proverbs of Solomon (10:1–22:16)
- The Thirty Sayings of “the Wise” (22:17–24:22)
- Further Sayings of “the Wise” (24:23–34)
- Hezekiah’s Collection of Solomonic Proverbs (25:1–29:27)
- The Sayings of Agur (30:1–33)
- The Sayings of King Lemuel (31:1–9)
- An Alphabet of Womanly Excellence (31:10–31)
Fact: Wisdom
Wisdom is a key term in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. The word can mean “skilled at making sound decisions in life.” Proverbs 9:10 states that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”
Fact: A different kind of security
A different kind of security. In biblical times, if a person was unable to pay his debt, the consequences could be serious. The whole family could be sold into slavery. If someone put up “security” for another person, he promised to pay that person’s debt if he was unable to do so himself. Proverbs teaches that putting up security for another person is generally unwise, since those who do so risk losing everything if the other person cannot pay his debt (11:15).
Fact: Hezekiah’s contribution to Proverbs
Hezekiah’s contribution to Proverbs. Although most of the Proverbs were collected or written by King Solomon, who reigned from 971–931 B.C., the book of Proverbs did not exist in its present form until the time of King Hezekiah, some 200 years later. Hezekiah and “his men,” probably his scribes, recorded chs. 25–29.
Fact: Rock badgers
Rock badgers are small cliff-dwelling animals closely resembling guinea pigs. They live and forage for food in large groups and are good at hiding. They are best known for posting sentries that alert the group when danger is near. Perhaps it was this mark of wisdom that earned them a mention in Proverbs (30:26).
Fact: Bribe
A bribe is anything that is given with the intent of persuading someone to act in a person’s favor. Bribes were forbidden in Ex. 23:8. The poor often lost their cases in court because they could not afford to bribe the judge (Prov. 17:23).
Fact: Casting lots
Casting lots. Though quarrels were often settled by a judge’s decision, sometimes there was not enough evidence to reach a verdict. In such cases, the parties involved might cast lots, trusting that the Lord himself would decide the result (18:18). Lots were like the dice used in various games today.
Fact: A false witness
A false witness is someone who testifies dishonestly against another person (19:5).
Fact: Unequal weights
Unequal weights. The price for some goods was fixed according to their weight. If the seller’s scales were unequal (20:23), the buyer could be charged far more than the fair price of the goods.
Fact: Weighing the heart
The concept of weighing the heart (21:2) originated in Egypt. Egyptians believed that when a person died, the gods placed that person’s heart on a set of golden scales along with the Feather of Truth. If the heart weighed less than the feather, the person was admitted into the afterlife. It is possible that the Israelites brought this imagery with them when they left Egypt and replaced the Egyptian gods with Yahweh, who is the true judge of the heart.
Some Essential Features of a Good Life (Proverbs 19)
| listen to instruction | vv. 16, 20 |
| be kind to the poor | v. 17 |
| be involved in your children’s lives and discipline them | v. 18 |
| avoid friendships with those who lack self-control | v. 19 |
| acknowledge the rule of God | v. 21 |
| understand that love and integrity are what bring real happiness | v. 22 |
| fear the Lord | v. 23 |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Prov. 17:1 A poor but loving home is better than a home filled with feasting and strife (see 5:17).
Prov. 17:3 Crucible and furnace suggest that the LORD tests hearts through difficulties.
Prov. 17:8 A bribe is like a magic stone . . . prospers. The writer observes that those who offer bribes often get what they want, but he does not condone such actions (compare note on 14:20). The wise person will ponder this reality and recognize it as a temptation.
Prov. 17:9–13 This section begins by stressing the importance of friends forgiving one another (v. 9). It then notes the wisdom of accepting friendly correction (v. 10). It concludes with statements about the dangerous effects of constant rebellion against God (v. 11–13).
Prov. 17:14 This verse advises the reader to either avoid or resolve conflict before control is lost. like letting out water. Once a dam has been breached, there is no holding back the water—an appropriate image for the rapid and damaging escalation of a quarrel.
Prov. 17:18 pledge . . . security. See note on 6:1–5.
Prov. 17:9–19 These verses include two collections of proverbs (vv. 9–13 and vv. 14–19) on the theme of interpersonal conflict.
Prov. 17:19 Transgression and strife go together (see v. 14). Transgression is in the heart of the person who loves strife and is unwilling to “quit before the quarrel breaks out” (see v. 14). Such a person is characterized by pride and arrogance (makes his door high). While he aims to ruin others, in reality he is achieving his own destruction.
Fact: Bribe
A bribe is anything that is given with the intent of persuading someone to act in a person’s favor. Bribes were forbidden in Ex. 23:8. The poor often lost their cases in court because they could not afford to bribe the judge (Prov. 17:23).
Prov. 17:25 The picture of a foolish son grieving the mother who bore him expands on v. 21 (see also 15:5, 20; 23:22–25). Such images should encourage both children and parents to seek the benefits of wisdom.
Prov. 17:23–26 Verses 23 and 26 speak of justice being thwarted. Verse 24 speaks of the fool who wastes his life chasing unattainable goals (the ends of the earth), and v. 25 speaks of the fool who causes distress for his parents. Folly and injustice both fill life with grief and irritation.
Prov. 17:27–18:4 This section begins and ends with proverbs on the careful, restrained use of words (17:27; 18:4).
Prov. 18:5–8 These verses concern the consequences of misusing words. Verses 6 and 7 obviously parallel each other. Gossip and lying can lead to a breakdown of the legal system (v. 5).
Prov. 18:9–12 Verses 10 and 11 describe two types of security: the LORD and riches. Verses 9 and 12 describe two things that bring about one’s destruction: laziness and pride. Taken together, these proverbs teach that riches can give a false sense of security that leads to laziness, pride, and eventually one’s downfall. On the other hand, humility and the fear of God is a great benefit.
Prov. 18:18 On whether Christians should cast lots, see note on Acts 1:26.
Fact: Casting lots
Casting lots. Though quarrels were often settled by a judge’s decision, sometimes there was not enough evidence to reach a verdict. In such cases, the parties involved might cast lots, trusting that the Lord himself would decide the result (18:18). Lots were like the dice used in various games today.
Prov. 18:15–19 These proverbs can apply to many settings. Here they seem focused on the courtroom. A judge must have an intelligent heart in order to acquire knowledge about a case (v. 15). A man’s gift (a bribe) interferes with justice, because it gives access to powerful people (v. 16). Wise judges hear all relevant testimony (vv. 15, 17). They let the Lord settle cases that seem unsolvable (v. 18). They realize that family disputes can often be vicious (v. 19).
Prov. 18:22 This verse refers to both the human action (finds) and the divine governance (from the LORD) that results in a marriage. The description of the wife as good agrees with the Lord’s assessment that it was “not good” for Adam to be alone (Gen. 2:18).
Prov. 19:2 Whoever makes haste with his feet likely refers to an impulsive person who acts without thinking or planning. He has a desire to get somewhere but does not have sufficient knowledge to reach his goal.
Prov. 18:23–19:4 These proverbs observe misfortune from various angles.
Fact: A false witness
A false witness is someone who testifies dishonestly against another person (19:5).
Prov. 19:5–9 Verses 5 and 9 begin and end this section with virtually identical wording. Verse 5 stresses the importance of honest testimony (for more on the dangers of the false witness, see 6:19; 12:17; 14:5). In this context, which focuses on poverty and misfortune, “false witness” could relate either to those who exploit the poor in the courts or to poor people who give false testimony in return for money.
Prov. 19:11 In many cultures, any sign of disrespect challenges a man’s honor. He can defend it only by fighting the person who insults him. Overlooking such disrespect brings honor to a man.
Prov. 19:12 The growling of a lion is frightening and precedes an act of violence. Dew is gentle and gives life. The proverb does not say that a king’s anger (or favor) is always right, but that it is powerful.
Prov. 19:13–14 Verse 13 balances v. 14 by recognizing that family life can be painful. Some wives are a great burden to their husbands, and some husbands are a great burden to their wives (see 21:9). continual dripping. This is not a minor irritation but a source of structural damage that can ruin a house. House and wealth may be inherited from fathers and can come to many people, but a prudent wife is a gift from the LORD.
Prov. 19:15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The lazy person is always too tired to work. Then his laziness grows until he is in dire poverty. See v. 24.
Some Essential Features of a Good Life (Proverbs 19)
| listen to instruction | vv. 16, 20 |
| be kind to the poor | v. 17 |
| be involved in your children’s lives and discipline them | v. 18 |
| avoid friendships with those who lack self-control | v. 19 |
| acknowledge the rule of God | v. 21 |
| understand that love and integrity are what bring real happiness | v. 22 |
| fear the Lord | v. 23 |
Prov. 19:25 The simple learn by seeing someone else receive a beating, but the wise learn from a simple word of correction. Notably, although the simple can learn prudence, the scoffer does not have this teachable spirit. (For the difference between the “simple” and the “scoffer” or “fool,” see Introduction: Reading Proverbs.)
Prov. 20:2 The first line of this proverb is almost identical to 19:12a. But 19:12b speaks of the king’s favor, while 20:2b speaks only of his anger. The text does not say that a king’s anger is always justified, only that it is lethal. Therefore, one should take care.
Prov. 20:8 winnows all evil. That is, he sorts and separates it out, and then removes it.
Fact: Unequal weights
Unequal weights. The price for some goods was fixed according to their weight. If the seller’s scales were unequal (20:23), the buyer could be charged far more than the fair price of the goods.
Prov. 20:8–12 This catalog of proverbs looks at judgment from various angles. The purpose of a king, representing human government, is to restrain evil through acts of judgment (v. 8). Awareness of one’s own guilt should make one merciful in judging others (v. 9). Scales (commercial tools that are often used as symbols of judgment) should be fair, balanced, and impartial (v. 10; see 11:1). People’s actions show what they are, and this applies even to children (20:11). As God made both the eye and the ear, he knows best how to assess a person or situation. His judgment will be final and decisive (v. 12). Sometimes these proverbs balance one another: God’s people need to be forgiving, but they also need to be able to judge good and evil in others.
Prov. 20:13–17 These proverbs all relate to wealth. Laziness leads to poverty (v. 13). People will set a value on something as it suits them (v. 14). Wisdom is better than wealth (v. 15). One should not trust a man who gets involved in foolish debts (v. 16). The pleasures that come from dishonest gain are brief (v. 17).
Prov. 20:20–21 The person who despises parental authority will eventually face utter darkness (compare Ex. 20:12). An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning. Too much wealth given too soon is often spent greedily, and so it does not last (see note on Prov. 13:11). In Israel, land was given as an inheritance for the continued welfare of the family (see 13:22), not to use simply for one’s personal pleasure.
Fact: Unequal weights
Unequal weights. The price for some goods was fixed according to their weight. If the seller’s scales were unequal (20:23), the buyer could be charged far more than the fair price of the goods.
Prov. 20:22–25 These four proverbs teach that God, not people (v. 22), is the judge and avenger. He detests all unfair bias in human judgment, as represented by uneven scales. Verse 24 emphasizes the mystery of divine sovereignty (see Ps. 37:23; Jer. 10:23). A person makes his own decisions and is responsible for them, but it is also true that God directs the steps of each.
Prov. 20:26–27 Drives the wheel over them refers to a heavy cart being drawn over the grain to separate the wheat from the chaff. For the health of his kingdom, a wise king must root out evildoers. The king can only use exterior acts to judge a person. God, by contrast, sees the innermost parts (see 1 Sam. 16:7). God’s judgment is thus more fair and more effective.
Prov. 20:28 God’s steadfast love and faithfulness was the foundation of the Davidic dynasty (1 Kings 3:6; 8:23; Ps. 89:28). God’s faithfulness, rather than human wisdom or power, is what will preserve the king.
Prov. 21:1 The stream of water describes water flowing through a channel or an irrigation ditch, which a skillful farmer can direct to flow wherever he wishes.
Fact: Weighing the heart
The concept of weighing the heart (21:2) originated in Egypt. Egyptians believed that when a person died, the gods placed that person’s heart on a set of golden scales along with the Feather of Truth. If the heart weighed less than the feather, the person was admitted into the afterlife. It is possible that the Israelites brought this imagery with them when they left Egypt and replaced the Egyptian gods with Yahweh, who is the true judge of the heart.
Prov. 21:1–4 Like 20:22–25, this section has three proverbs on divine judgment followed by a fourth proverb that is related but does not explicitly mention the Lord. God is a much higher judge than the king, whom he controls.
Prov. 21:10–13 Just as the wicked offers no mercy to his neighbor, so his own pleas for help will . . . not be answered. God both knows and judges the wicked (v. 12).
Prov. 21:17 This proverb does not imply that pleasure or wine or oil are wrong in themselves. However, when they are enjoyed apart from thanksgiving to God, or enjoyed more than following in God’s paths, and thus to excess, they will destroy a person’s life.
Prov. 21:15–18 When justice is practiced, it is a joy for those who have walked in its ways and a terror to those who have perverted it (v. 15).
Prov. 21:9–19 Verses 9 and 19, on the quarrelsome wife, begin and end this unit on the rewards for the wise and the troubles of the wicked.
Prov. 21:25–26 Laziness leads to constant greed and craving. The diligence of the righteous allows them to be generous (see note on 10:4).
Prov. 21:29 The wicked man changes his behavior depending on the situation (puts on a bold face). In contrast, the upright person thinks about his ways and chooses the right way regardless of the circumstances.
S4:158 Proverbs 17-21
Listen NowDive Deeper | Proverbs 17-21
If you're like me, your head may be spinning after so many words of wisdom addressing the reality of trying to live God's way in a fallen world. Isn't that what our days are full of? A thread within these chapters reminds us that God wants us to be at peace with him and with one another. We see a single command in Proverbs 17:14 that tells us to quit strife before we break peace. We've all been there—we get knee-deep in heated conflict or entrenched resentment and look up wondering, "How did we get here?"
Since the fall, sin has brought conflict into the world. When things don't go our way, we are tempted to believe the lies of the enemy who seeks to divide us so that we are more easily drawn away from God. We believe the lie that we're different from others, rather than all being made in God's image. We believe that power or control will satisfy, rather than peace with God and his image bearers. We believe we have to right wrongs, rather than trust that God will execute his judgment in his perfect timing.
There is a lot of wisdom in these chapters that show us principles for making peace:
- Grow alongside, and process conflict within community. "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment." (Proverbs 18:1)
- Listen more, talk less. "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." (Proverbs 18:2)
- Stay humble and own your part. "Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." (Proverbs 18:12)
- Consider whether a minor offense can be overlooked. "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." (Proverbs 19:11)
The good news that God wins, and Jesus will return to restore all things should draw us to lift our eyes to him. Until that glorious day, I pray the wisdom of these chapters helps us all seize the opportunity to model Christ's love and grace as we face conflict.
This month's memory verse
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
– Isaiah 53:5-6
Discussion Questions
1. When you reflect on your relationships, do you more often lean toward breaking peace or faking peace, instead of making peace?
2. What lies do you believe that drive those habits? What is the truth from God's Word that combats those lies?
3. What is one area you need help from the Holy Spirit to handle conflict in a more God-honoring way? Pray for it and invite others to pray alongside you. Check out Watermark's Conflict Field Guide resource for more ideas!