Impulsive risk takers are fools. Without thinking, they make financial commitments they should not make. Puffed up by pride, they want to appear wealthier than they are. Shortsighted, they cannot see that promises made today may be more than they can pay tomorrow. In order to impress friends, they co-sign loans or guarantee performance in other ways. Wise men seek to reduce risk, but these pompous fools do not understand. Striking hands was the custom of shaking hands to confirm a man’s commitment, though often it was simply clasping or gripping another’s hand. The striking or shaking verbs are extraneous to the act – a hand of one person is touched solidly to the hand of another person to establish a transaction or promise an intention. In the context of this proverb, the hands are clasped to guarantee financial backing for a friend with poor credit. A surety is a guarantor. The fool guaranteed his friend’s debts by shaking the creditor’s hand and promising to pay if the friend does not. Though the lender would not accept the friend’s assets or character, the financial fool boldly flaunted his economic power to complete the deal. Many wives and children have learned too late that family assets and future income were promised to another in just such a hasty moment of financial folly. Helping a friend in need with a little financial backing is one thing. Over-committing by taking on excessive contingent liabilities is another. An appeal from a lazy friend and proud thoughts of closing a deal can form a powerful temptation. Solomon warned his son about losing his bed from such deals (Pr 22:26-27). He told his son to get out of such commitments with the desperation of a deer trying to escape from a hunter or a bird from a fowler (Pr 6:1-5). Co-signing is a great financial danger (Pr 11:15; 20:16; 27:13). Many politicians and governments violate this simple rule. Wise men reduce financial risk and minimize contingent liabilities. But men running for office are sorely tempted to promise great things. How else can they buy votes? Since they cannot bribe each voter, they instead promise future benefits to each voter, even though the total cost of such benefits is financially and/or politically impossible. They are either run out of office for not keeping their promises, or they resort to deficit spending to fulfill their obligations. The lesson is simple. Do not co-sign loans, unless the amount is small, the situation desperate, and it is for a real need. Other lessons are evident. Hate debt. Reduce risk. Stay insured. Avoid contracts. Fear leases. Limit promises. Love cash. Hate credit. Exalt savings. Maximize your credit rating. Warn your friends against borrowing. Consider the greatest story of a surety (guarantor) in the universe. God was the creditor. Sinners were the debtors, and they could not pay or buy their freedom. God’s holy nature required they each die and spend eternity in the debtor’s prison of the lake of fire. But a Prince stepped forward and promised to pay for them. Did He mean it? Yes! How? By dying for them! “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament” (Heb 7:22). Reader, you are a sinner deep in debt to Almighty God. If Jesus is not surety for you to guarantee your righteousness to God, then you will pay for your sins in eternal torment (Rev 20:10-15). Run to Jesus Christ and beg for Him to be your surety by repenting of your sins, believing on Him as the Son of God and only surety for sinners, and doing what He requires to make your salvation sure (Matt 7:21; II Pet 1:5-11; I Thess 1:2-4).

Every man thinks his way is right, because it feels right and seems right. But God warns that such thoughts lead to death. Most men love their opinions too much to change, even if the Bible condemns their ideas and thoughts as sinful and self-destructive. There is only one criterion for truth and wisdom, and that is the will of God revealed in the Bible. Reader, you have strong opinions of how life should be lived and things done. Your thoughts that seem so right come from parents, habits, culture, teachers, friends, religion, various media, experiences, and most of all, your deceitful heart and wicked imagination (Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9). But these sources, far apart from divine truth, all lead to your death. The first clause describes one way of one man. This is a man’s personal opinion about a particular matter. He is confident his opinion is good and right, because he came up with the idea and has enormous bias to justify himself and defend his thinking. He has thought about the issue, and he is comfortable and quite content with his thinking on the matter. The second clause describes the end, or result, of one way of one man to be the plural ways of death. There are many ways men can die, and each man’s own arrogant thinking is able to get him there easily and surely. When the foolish ideas of individual men are combined, they result in plural ways of death. Learn to hate your thoughts (Ps 119:113). Because every man is very vulnerable to arrogant thinking and errors, Solomon repeated this proverb to emphasize the value of its lesson (Pr 14:12; Phil 3:1). He also included several proverbs with different wording for a similar lesson (Pr 12:15; 16:2; 21:2; 28:26). He knew you would foolishly think your ideas are noble and wise. Humble yourself now. A wise man learns not to trust his own thinking and to seek God’s will on every matter (Pr 3:5-6). He then avoids the world’s seductive ways that lead to death (Pr 12:26; Ps 1:1-6). He humbly confesses his ignorance, prays for God to search his heart and thoughts, and judges every opinion by clear Bible doctrine (Pr 30:2-3; Ps 139:23-24; 119:128). Self-deceit is blinding and damning. It leads you to destruction, but you cannot detect you have lied to yourself, because you are in love with your thoughts (Pr 18:2; 26:12,16). No one can give reasons to persuade you, because their ideas are inferior to yours. And once you commit yourself to a course of action, you are too proud to admit any error (Ps 36:2). Popular thinking on matters of truth and wisdom is always wrong. The majority is in love with themselves and each other, but God considers their most noble thoughts to be an abomination (Luke 16:15). He plainly declared that most men take the wide gate and broad way to destruction; only a few take the strait gate and narrow way to life (Matt 7:13-14). God knows the thoughts of men are vanity – worthless trash (Ps 94:11), and you should think the same of them – whether your own or another man’s (Ps 119:113). King Saul of Israel had an idea, and it seemed right. Instead of slaughtering and wasting all the good animals of the Amalekites, he would allow the people to keep them for an offering to Jehovah. But Jehovah had already stated they were to be slaughtered. So Samuel the prophet condemned his thinking as witchcraft and idolatry (I Sam 15:1-35). Saul of Tarsus thought with himself to do many things contrary to Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 26:9). Notice that he thought with himself, which is the sin of this proverb, because he had no internal check on false thoughts. You need an outside opinion that is perfectly right to correct your thinking, and God’s will in the Bible is perfect (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20).

Your response to those correcting you says a lot about you. Where you go for advice also gives you away. If you resent reproof, or if you avoid godly and wise men when needing help or advice, then you are a scorner. You can also measure others by these two criteria. Fools are bad, with Solomon using many proverbs to describe and condemn them, but scorners are worse. Fools are stubborn and stupid, but scorners despise being corrected and hate those who do it. A scorner is the worst person described in the book of Proverbs. The lesson is two character traits of scorners. They hate reprovers, and they avoid wise men. Disrespect and avoidance are often signs of rebellion. Scorners hate being taught or reproved, so they also hate those who try to teach and reprove them. They will not go to them voluntarily; they do not want to be told their ideas and ways are foolish and wrong. Good men love those who teach and reprove them (Pr 9:8; 25:12; 27:5-6,9; Ps 141:5; John 3:21), but fools and scorners hate them (Pr 9:7-8; 12:15; 23:9; II Chr 18:7; Amos 5:10; John 3:20). When a person resents or avoids a good leader or teacher, you have likely found a scorner. You are living in a generation of scorners, and you can observe it. Why do children sometimes isolate themselves and avoid parents? They do not want their sins discovered, and they do not want to be corrected (Pr 13:1; 15:10). Why do people avoid church assemblies or isolate themselves at church assemblies? They are scorners that think they are superior to the instruction given and the people gathering there. Wise parents pursue children who avoid them or their correction. They also correct facial expressions or body language that shows a haughty or sullen spirit toward authority, instruction, or correction (Pr 19:25; 21:11). The bud of scorn in a child must be nipped quickly and totally, unless you want hell in your home and future (Pr 21:24; 22:10; 24:9). Not all scorners are verbal and direct; you must look for quiet scorners. Passive and quiet rebellion is just as wicked as active and noisy rebellion, but it is much harder to detect and deal with than the obvious rebel. Do not allow the devil this door into your home, by excusing a distant, sullen, or withdrawn child because they do not openly confront you. Why do most Christians today want entertainment, activities, and fables? Because they are scorners, and they hate being told what to do in their lives by Bible preachers (II Tim 3:1-7; 4:3-4). They want smooth things to coddle them (Is 30:9-11). They will not walk in the old paths (Jer 6:16). Paul’s prophetic warning to Timothy of perilous times is being fulfilled before your eyes. Are you part of it? Or are you fighting against it (Jude 1:3)? What about you? Do you love reproof from parents? Friends? Your spouse? Your pastor? Church members? If not, why not? Wise men love reproof, for they know they cannot be wiser without unlearning bad habits or thinking (Pr 9:8-9). What sins are you hiding? Do you have the scornful spirit of this proverb fighting against authority and correction? The LORD will crush scorners, so do not think you will get away with a wicked spirit toward counselors (Pr 3:34; 15:10; 19:29; 29:1; Ps 18:26; Is 29:20-21). He has kindly and mercifully sent these reprovers into your life, and you better respond to the wisdom they bring you from God, or Lady Wisdom’s warnings will fall on you (Pr 1:20-33; 8:32-36). Why did conservative religious leaders hate Jesus Christ and demand Pilate crucify Him? Because He reproved their hypocrisy, and they showed that they were devilish scorners (Jn 3:19; 7:7). Yet Peter and others could not be pushed away even by His wise dissuasion (Jn 6:66-69). Are you equally committed to the Son of God and His rebukes?

Great women are not born – they are made. A great woman chooses to be great. She has the right priorities for her life; she is wise and disciplined; her family and estate prosper. On the other hand, many women are foolish and rebellious; they are distracted and lazy; their families and estates fall into ruin during their lives and afterwards. What a waste! Here is encouragement and a warning to women. You have a tremendous opportunity to build a family and estate that will be to the glory of God and profit of others well into the future. It is your choice to be wise and to build. Forsake the foolish and prosper (Pr 9:6). Learn the proverb. You have never seen a woman literally tearing shingles and siding from her house by hand. Solomon used a metaphor, where one thing represents something else, to contrast a woman either improving or destroying her family and estate. The word “house” in Proverbs and the rest of Scripture is often much more than the building you live in. It is broader than that. It describes a family and/or estate. Consider: House. The persons living in one dwelling; the inmates of a house collectively; a household, family. A family including ancestors and descendants; a lineage, a race: esp. one having continuity of residence, of exalted rank, or high renown. [OED]. Consider use of “house” elsewhere (Ge 7:1; Deut 25:9; Ruth 4:11; I Sam 2:30,35; II Sam 7:11) and in Proverbs (Pr 11:29; 12:7; 14:11; 15:25,27; 24:3-4). Of course, taking care of the residence is also her job, but it is not the emphasis (Eccl 10:18). The house you must build is your marriage, family, husband’s estate, and family tree (Pr 24:3-4; Tit 2:3-5). A wise woman can greatly improve a marriage, family, home, and estate, even into future generations. A foolish woman can ruin all of this and destroy her legacy. The opportunity is very great for every woman that will appreciate this encouragement and warning from God and Solomon. For any woman that wants to be great, read on and learn. There are few better modern examples than Sarah Pierpont, the wife of Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards. She was a great wife to an exceptional man and public figure, trained eleven children in the fear and love of God, kept a model home in holiness and warmth, and established a legacy through her descendants unmatched in American history. A woman is either a crown to her husband or rottenness in his bones (Pr 12:4). This difference cannot be hid from the eyes of others, for his shame comes from them witnessing his curse (Pr 27:15-16). A husband’s flattery is of little value when others can easily witness a wife’s neglect of him, the children, the house, or the estate (Pr 24:30-34). The virtuous woman had great influence over her family and husband’s estate. She directed the care of the children and household and engaged in commercial real estate development and manufacturing and sales. Her husband’s importance in the city was greatly due to her superb management of these matters. Read it carefully (Pr 31:10-31). Houses were built up by Hannah, Lois, Eunice, and Bathsheba; all of whom invested in their children and grandchildren to the glory of God. Houses were torn down by Michal, Jezebel, and other odious and lazy women. The only widows to be financially supported by the church are those who build up houses well (I Tim 5:3-10). Others will be rejected. How can you identify a wise woman? Look first at her husband. He will be successful in his vocation, for she will have relieved him of most or all the household duties (Pr 31:13-27). He will be confident, happy, and content, for she will have been a great lover and companion (Pr 5:19; 19:13; 31:11-12). He will apply himself well to the larger matters of family and estate, for his wise wife will have taken care of the lesser ones herself.

Failure or success? Poverty or riches? Shame or honor? Which do you prefer? Of course, you want success, riches, and honor. But it is far easier to desire them than to get them. There is a basic requirement to get them, and the vast majority of men will not meet this condition. They must humble themselves to appreciate reproof and accept instruction. You are making a decision right now about your future. Some will presume they already know the lesson, so they stop reading and go back to their foolish games. Others will read a little further and stop when the author implies they are likely a fool or scorner. Only a few will be thrilled to see such an offer of honor and devour each word to gain the prize. Most men are too proud, rebellious, or stubborn to appreciate reproofs or accept instruction. They want to do things their way. They do not like to be told they are wrong. They love their own opinions. Solomon warned over and over that your willingness to be corrected and taught is the key to your future (Pr 1:24-33; 2:1-5; 3:1-2; 5:9-14; 8:7-8,36; 9:7-9; 10:17; 12:1; 13:13; 14:12; 15:5,31-32; 16:25; 18:1-2; 26:12; 28:11). The lesson is simple. You arrived in life knowing nothing. Your heart and motives are twisted by inherited corruption from your first parents – Adam and Eve. The world is filled with ignorance, superstition, and tradition. You are assaulted daily with profane ideas, enticements, and actions. You will self-destruct in ignorance without serious help. There is a simple technique for success in a world doomed to failure. Find teachers that have the truth and wisdom of God and submit to their reproofs and instruction. It is that simple. God has revealed the wisdom of heaven to men. If you will find them and accept their correction and teaching, you can deliver yourself from failure, poverty, and shame. Where are such teachers? Where God’s preserved scriptures are taught! Intelligence or education cannot substitute for the Bible. There is no light or understanding outside the Bible (Is 8:20; I Cor 1:19-20; 3:19-20; I Tim 6:3-5,20-21). If you seek God’s truth with your whole heart, He will send a teacher (Job 33:19-26; Acts 8:26-35; 10:1-6; 18:24-28). Once you find such a teacher, there is another obstacle in the way of success – your own thoughts, imaginations, and opinions. A man that arrogantly presumes he is right is worse than a fool. He is a scorner, and God will blind and punish that man (Pr 9:7-9; 26:12; Eze 14:1-11). A fool is too lazy and distracted to learn, but a scorner refuses to be taught. Learning and progress requires change. Either you must correct errors you have learned, or you must add new knowledge to your inventory. The first requires accepting reproofs, and the second requires accepting new ideas through instruction. Pride, rebellion, and stubbornness will not allow a man to do either of these two things. Most men are losers. A true teacher is an enemy of your thoughts and imaginations (II Cor 10:4-6). He must destroy and pull down the strongholds of your mind, where you hold false ideas and concepts. He must replace them with truth and wisdom, which you have not heard or accepted before. While the relationship is affectionate, the process is definitely conflict. You were born in a foolish generation. Sharing is the new method of learning. Ignorant students, which were messing on themselves a few days earlier, are asked their opinions on same-sex marriages, capital punishment, origins, and other subjects. Real education does not ask for opinions – it makes God’s absolute truth and wisdom the only opinion! Today’s churches are no better than today’s schools. Men will no longer endure sound doctrine – teaching designed to convey God’s absolute standards for faith and practice. Instead, they want teachers to entertain them with fables that will please their itching ears – saying things that match up with their carnal and foolish presumptions (II Tim 4:3-4).

Wicked men use words to slander and snare their victims. They want to destroy the helpless, the oppressed, or the righteous. They conspire to steal their assets; they pursue them to death (Pr 1:11-19). But upright men use their mouths to deliver the helpless, the oppressed, and the righteous from trouble. They only want to speak the truth and help. You cannot trust the words of wicked men. They speak to confuse, to entice, to slander, or to trap. Their goals are to injure, steal, or kill. Since the object of their envy, greed, or malice is not their own blood, it must be understood as the blood of the helpless, the oppressed, or the righteous. It is these same persecuted ones that the upright man saves. Good men always speak the truth, and it is their desire to help any man in trouble. King Lemuel’s mother exhorted him to use his mouth to deliver the poor, the needy, and any unjustly appointed to death (Pr 31:8-9). As king, he would have frequent opportunity to righteously judge the cases of those who were being pursued by deceitful murderers. Consider the pronoun “them” in this proverb. What is the plural antecedent? Who are those the upright man delivers? It cannot be the wicked, because that would be confusion. It cannot be the words of the wicked, because wicked speech cannot be saved. It cannot be the upright, because that violates the proverb’s parallelism, and it also is singular. It must be the innocent victims of the wicked, understood elliptically from the first clause. The wicked Haman flattered and deceived King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire to pass a law for the extermination of the Jews. His words were to lie in wait for blood, not only for his enemy Mordecai, but for all of Mordecai’s people as well. However, it was the mouth of Queen Esther that delivered both Mordecai and his people from the decree. Jesus Christ once ate at the house of Simon the Pharisee, who despised a sinful woman that came to beg for mercy (Luke 7:36-39). But the Lord Jesus, the most upright Man ever, used His mouth to condemn Simon and deliver the woman (Luke 7:40-50). He did a very similar thing with the adulteress brought to Him by the Pharisees (John 8:1-11). God despises men who use words to harm others (Pr 26:24-26). Death and life are in the power of the tongue, so be careful how you use it (Pr 18:21). The tongue is an unruly evil that must be guarded and ruled (Jas 3:1-12). The Lord considers unjustified name-calling to violate the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” (Matt 5:21-26). He ground to powder a generation of Jews that used words to snare His Son (Matt 21:44; Luke 20:20). Avoid angry and deceitful men (Pr 22:24-25; 23:6-8). Reject all arrogance, backbiting, deceit, flattery, railing, scorn, sedition, or talebearing. Drive away such wicked tongues (Pr 25:23). Always use your words to help those in trouble, because the holy and just God will reward or punish you accordingly (Pr 24:11-12; 31:8-9; Eph 4:29). Is there a helpless, oppressed, or righteous person you could deliver today with your mouth? Do it.

Generosity pays! Here is a secret of wisdom, if you believe Jehovah is God of the universe and the Bible is true. If you do not believe, then the proverb is not for you. Generosity pays! If you are liberal in your giving to the Lord and to the poor, He will pay you back liberally. And He can outgive you more easily than you can say 10 – 2 = 13. This proverb is closely connected to the one before it, which reads, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty” (Pr 11:24). Throwing away your money – to the right causes in the name of God – will bring increase. Restraining your giving will reduce you to poverty. God has been very generous to mankind, and He rewards men that show a similar generosity to others (Pr 19:17; 22:9; 28:27). You can get ahead financially by learning to give generously, for the Lord will abundantly bless you. This is the lesson of the proverb. Of course, such wisdom is too high for any business school or economics class in the world, for they reject the existence of God and His supernatural impact on finances. God has blessed you, so you should give liberally to the poor, even if they are leaving you (Deut 15:14). God carefully observes your giving and will treat you accordingly. Paul wrote, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (II Cor 9:6). If you are generous, He is able to pour you out an abundant return (Eccl 11:1-6; Is 32:8; Mal 3:10; Luke 6:38). R. G. LeTourneau (1888-1969) was an inventor with 299 U.S. patents to his credit and the manufacturer of the largest earthmoving equipment on earth. He is best known as the Christian businessman who gave 90% of his income to the Lord, keeping only 10% for himself. He prospered by this arrangement according to the proverb before you. It is impossible to outgive God, who fully sees all gifts, both large and small (Luke 21:1-4). A strong evidence of a righteous man, a man going to heaven, is his generous spirit in giving to others (Is 58:6-12; I John 3:16-19). Job was such a man. He took gentle and kind care of his servants (Job 29:11-17; 31:13-22). God blessed him greatly. If you take care of those needing financial help, the Lord will take care of you (Ps 41:1-3). Wise men will lay hold of eternal life by purposing to give liberally (Matt 25:31-46; I Tim 6:17-19). Every time there is an opportunity to give to God, to the poor, or to compensate someone working for you, give more than average, more than normal, more than you would have given without this proverb. Think about church offerings, tips, day laborers, contractors that help you, donations to worthy causes, the poor that need help, workers that need to be encouraged, ministers that labor in the word and doctrine (I Tim 5:17), and others. Many reason to themselves that they cannot afford to give – they say they will give generously once they get ahead financially – but this is perverse and reverse reasoning. Based on the true law of this proverb, you will not get ahead until after you become a generous giver. If you get ahead before or without generous giving, God is likely judging you with the prosperity of fools (Pr 1:32). Be careful, lest He punish you more severely. God does not miss or forget your giving (Heb 6:10). He will reward it. The Corinthians eventually became liberal givers, and Paul promised God’s blessing on them for it (II Cor 9:8-11). And there was the further effect of those receiving the charity being very thankful to God for the Corinthians (II Cor 9:12-14), which was not a bad reward either. Giving must be done cheerfully, for grudging charity does not count (II Cor 9:7). If you know anything of God’s great payment for your redemption, giving cheerfully to others should not be a problem (II Cor 8:9). The more liberal and cheerful your giving, the greater your blessing. What liberal giving will you...

A simple rule of wisdom is to cut your words in half. Many words and much speaking greatly raise the chance of sinning with your lips. Because of this dangerous risk, wisdom teaches you to reduce your number of words and maintain silence longer than usual. A wise man reflects soberly after speaking a great deal, for he remembers the grave warning of the first half of this proverb. If he spoke quite a few words, he has probably sinned in his speech and appears a fool (Eccl 5:3). In this context, silence is very golden. The God of wisdom tells you to be faster to hear and slower to speak (Jas 1:19). If you emphasized listening and being skilful at that, you would have little time for talking. If you were slow and reluctant to speak, you would have an excellent spirit (Pr 17:27). Wisely consider your words before you speak, rather than regret them after they are out. Even if you are not very bright, if you can reduce your words, those around you will assume you are wise – this is a rule from Solomon to boost your reputation (Pr 17:28). Ah, dear reader, have you not wasted many painful hours reviewing words you spoke? Have you often said, “I wish I’d never said that,” or, “Why did I say that?” Such misery could be reduced, if you would simply refrain your lips from idle or foolish speech. If you would hold your tongue, you would not have to worry about words that escaped. Wisdom is easy – cut your words in half. Talk less. The tongue is a fire, so douse its sparks by swallowing words (Jas 3:1-12). The tongue is deadly; use it slowly (Pr 18:21). Words and sin are not an arithmetic, but a geometric, relationship. The words you add beyond necessary speech contain most of your verbal sins; those sins increase rapidly the more and longer you talk (Eccl 10:13). If you swallow those extra words that are unnecessary, easily half your words, you will stop many sins. Cutting your words by 50% will reduce your sins of speech by 90%! Wisdom is easy! Bridle your mouth (Ps 39:1)! If children cut their words in half, there would be less foolishness, teasing of siblings, and dishonoring of parents. If wives did it, they would be less odious, contentious, and overbearing. If employees did it, managers would find their jobs much easier and production and unity would improve. If angry, bitter, and cruel people did it, there would be much less bleeding of wounded souls. If fools did it, they would be esteemed wise. Of course, there are people who hardly ever speak, and this proverb does not apply to them. They need to use more words to be gracious and a tree of life to others. If they do not learn to speak, their lives will have little value for anyone, and they are a regular source of disappointment and frustration to others. True wisdom feeds many (Pr 10:21).

The virtuous woman is diligent, foresightful, and classy. She looks and thinks ahead, so that future needs never catch her by surprise. She is ready for winter or any other situation that requires special preparation. Not only does she prepare in advance, but she also has a sharp eye for quality and appearance. Her family is well prepared for the cold weather, but they will also look good in the fine clothing she obtains for them. The ideal woman fears the Lord above all else, which lays the foundation for her perfect character and conduct (Pr 31:10-12,30). Diligence is the main practical virtue of the wonderful woman in this extensive description. Verse after verse describes her energy, initiative, labor, and productivity, both in the home and in her business enterprises. She is not distracted or diverted by amusement, recreation, sleep, or vacations. She is a worker. But hard work poorly directed is wasted effort. Wisdom is valuable for directing energy and strength in productive projects. A tree is cut down most efficiently with a sharp axe, rather than more effort applied with a dull one (Eccl 10:10). A virtuous woman has a mind as well as a back. She thinks as well as works. She looks ahead and sees the needs that are coming, so she can prepare for them in advance and be ready when they arrive. For those living in parts of the world with seasons, one of the duties of a great woman is to have clothing prepared for the cold weather of winter. With growing children, this requires obtaining whole new sets of sweaters, coats, boots, and other protective clothing for each child. Since most budgets cannot afford all the expense at once, a wise woman plans ahead and begins securing the clothing items long before the first snow falls. A foolish or lazy woman lives day to day. She barely makes it through each day. The future overwhelms and intimidates her – she hardly has the commitment and energy to survive today. She is preoccupied with taking a nap, getting out of fixing supper, or planning a vacation. Future needs that require budgeting and prudent shopping can wait, she says. She does not see the coming evil, and she does not hide from it (Pr 22:3; 27:12). How does scarlet protect? Can a bright red color warm the body? This proverb – a short pithy saying with hidden wisdom – describes a great woman’s concern for quality and class, not just functionality. Rags were not dyed scarlet! Her family has warm clothing ready, but it is also attractive and stylish. She is diligent, foresightful, concerned about quality, and conscious of beauty. She overlooks nothing. She knows appearance, image, and reputation have a limited value, so she includes them in her planning and buying. Woman, what will your family soon need? Does the house need painting? The gutters cleaned? The garden planted? The nursery furnished? The freezer filled? The daughters educated about marriage? Clothes prepared for your husband’s business trip? Long-term care planned for your parents? A preventive physical for them or you? Money set aside for an insurance bill? A wise woman will have such things taken care of with style.

Here is a treasure of blessings! What more could you want? Lady Wisdom offers you life and God’s favor. This is the abundant life; this is the best life; this includes eternal life. Where will you look for it? Will you look where she can be found? Will you find her? Lady Wisdom is not hiding, for she is standing in open places appealing to men of all ages and stations in life (Pr 8:1-5). She encourages you to love her and seek her early – when you are young (Pr 8:17). If it is too late to be young, then you should seek her now. Proverbs chapter eight is a personification of wisdom, where Solomon presented wisdom and understanding as a woman, much like America represents freedom as Lady Liberty and weather as Mother Nature. Solomon invented Lady Wisdom to encourage you. How you treat wisdom will have great consequences in your life – for good or evil. If you seek wisdom diligently, you will be blessed (Pr 8:34). If you neglect or resent it, you must love death and want the destruction of your own soul, for it is coming (Pr 8:36). Any man and every man would say he wants an abundant life. They would also say, at worst, that the favor of the LORD could not hurt. They spend much effort, time, and resources on vain things that do not improve life, and these things also vex their spirits. Yet how many men seriously apply themselves to wisdom? Very few (Matt 7:13-14)! Wisdom will lead you to life – a satisfying and successful life of joy, peace, hope, and contentment (Pr 3:13-18). It will bring the favor of God – the blessings of protection, prosperity, and personal fellowship with the Almighty. It is found by rightly fearing Him (Pr 1:7; 9:10; Ec 12:13), and it surely brings His abundant rewards (Ps 112:1-3; 128:1-6). What is wisdom? It is knowing the perfect will of the infinite God for every aspect and choice of life. It is the ability and knowledge to make decisions to maximize the utility and pleasure of every part of your life. It is discernment and understanding to see all angles of matters to perceive any errors and lies and to recognize righteousness and truth. Only a few men have wisdom; with it you will stand out favorably before God and men. Where will you look for wisdom? She is not hard to find, but she is not where the world congregates. They glory in their country clubs, nightclubs, social clubs, and educational fraternities, but there is no wisdom in these places. Wisdom is found in the Scriptures, a Bible-preaching church, and the company of wise men (Pr 13:20; Ps 119:104; Col 1:28). But wisdom must be sought diligently. It does not rub off on the slothful; it is not absorbed by the lazy; it cannot be picked like fruit. It must be sought with serious zeal, or you will not find it (Pr 2:1-6; 18:1). Reading the Bible is not enough; attending the right church is not enough; talking with wise men is not enough. You must conscientiously and eagerly seek it with your whole heart. If you make such effort, you will find it (Pr 18:1). The greatest life and blessing is found believing on Jesus Christ. He said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn 14:6). Fellowship with God and fullness of joy are two marks of this great life (Jn 15:11; I Jn 1:3-4), and it ends in everlasting life inheriting the universe with Jesus Christ (Rom 8:17).

A whore speaks. Her words are precious. She describes her passion, efforts, and success at finding her lover. She romantically seduces him from his conscience and training. She flatters him with eager desire, and he falls for it as easily and quickly as a bird flies into a trap. She knows how to kiss and flatter her prey into the numbing nightmare of false love. Any woman other than your wife can be the strange woman. And she is the strange woman – and an enemy – if she does anything to excite or invite your lusts for intimacy with her. Her kisses or words are a lie, for they tell of affection and pleasure, though there is only hatred and pain. Do not get near her kisses, and do not listen to her words. Solomon used this chapter to warn against the strange woman. In detail he described her seduction: her subtle character, her romantic actions, her flattering words, and her careful precautions (Pr 7:10-21). As the perfect example of a wise father, he made the efforts to warn his son about one of the most dangerous temptations in life – whorish women. Solomon’s extensive experience with women – 700 wives and 300 concubines – gave him a unique advantage (I Kgs 11:3). He warned often of the appeal and power of a woman’s flattering speech (Pr 2:16; 5:3; 6:24; 7:5,21). But here is a preview of some of her words – the flattering expressions of ardent passion and fervent love for her victim. Let every man tremble in fear of this enemy. Joseph ran from a seductive whore, even though it landed him in prison (Gen 39:7-20). Samson listened to the enticing lies, and it cost him his hair – and his life (Judges 16:4-21). A woman’s passionate flattery is too much for most men. The adoring words and eager efforts overwhelm most resistance. Safety is simple. Avoid desirable women you have not married. Reject any words or correspondence that even hint of affection, and end the relationship altogether. Recall that kisses and flattery from other than a wife are simply an alluring guise for your destruction, no matter whether they were given in malice or ignorance. Christian wife, if you starve your husband of flattering affection and praise, you will be an accomplice in his sexual sins, for you make him vulnerable to the thing other women know how to give and are willing to give. When was the last time you praised his good features of appearance and character (Song 5:9-16)? Even Paul encouraged it (I Cor 7:3). The warning here extends also to belly worshippers and religious compromisers – Christians with a form of godliness, but not living holy lives. Their good words and fair speeches deceive the simple, just as the whore deceived the young man here. So Paul warned to mark and avoid all such persons (Rom 16:17-18; Phil 3:17-20; I Tim 6:3-5). Remember, the kisses and words of an enemy are deceitful (Pr 27:6; 26:24-28). Their lives are false, so it is no surprise their words and affection are false (Ps 28:3; 55:21). As with the harlot, their hearts are subtle (Pr 7:10); they have compromised truth and integrity in their souls, so their words are deceitful as well. Their great swelling words of vanity are just so much lying foam (II Pet 2:18; Jude 1:16). Judge them by their lives. When they say, “It is so good to see you,” what in the world do they mean? What is good? What good have they done for you, or what good have they received from you? What good do they want to give you, or what good are they expecting from you? Instead of talking about good, they ought to be doing good, by either joining in your good worship of God or correcting your worship so it might be good.

You can buy or talk your way out of some sins, but not adultery. Solomon warned against adultery by describing the rage of a jealous husband (Pr 6:20-35). Stealing food due to hunger is understandable, but having sex with another man’s wife is not (Pr 6:30-35). Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, other than Jesus Christ. He used several arguments to warn his children, especially his son, about the heinous sin of adultery (Pr 2:16-19; 5:1-23; 6:20-29; 7:1-27; 9:13-18; 22:14; 23:27-28; 30:20; Eccl 7:26). In this chapter he threatened his son with the danger of an angry husband (Pr 6:30-35). For men to live holy lives, they need to remember this sober warning along with Solomon’s other arguments about the folly of adultery (Pr 6:20-24). It is for this reason David wrote, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Ps 119:9). Keep an angry husband’s face before your eyes! If you stole food because you were hungry, you would be required to make restitution under God’s laws (Pr 6:30-31). However, men would understand your offence, and you could eventually be exonerated. But there is no such understanding of adultery; there is no restitution to repay the stolen pleasures; you cannot be exonerated (Pr 6:32-35). A man’s wife is his most prized possession, his most intimate friend, and his most secure ally. The marriage bed is the sacred place of his dearest pleasures with her. Her body and the unique union with it that lovemaking creates is his most personal privilege. When a stranger intrudes into that sacred relationship and takes from his wife what belongs only to him, such a profane and violent act cannot be explained or undone in any way. While Christian men may be able to forgive this offence in some measure, Solomon used the natural reaction of men to this heinous crime to sober his son against ever thinking about it. Though a godly man is deeply indebted to forgive others as God forgave him (Matt 18:21-35), God saved men from having to do so in His economy by legislating capital punishment for both the adulterer and the adulteress (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22). What are the best rules to avoid adultery? “Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids” (Pr 6:25). Reject all thoughts about any woman you have not married (Job 31:1; Matt 5:28; Jas 1:14). Avoid any situation where you can see beautiful or whorish women (Pr 5:8; 7:8; Judges 14:1; II Sam 11:2; Rom 13:13-14). There is more than marital adultery. You can befriend this world, its people, philosophies, and lifestyles, and commit adultery against God, Who chose His elect to be only His (Deut 6:4-5; Matt 6:24; Jas 4:4; 11:1-4). Rather than the rage of a mere jealous husband, you will face the furious rage of the jealous God of heaven, Who does not take kindly at all to flirting or sleeping with His enemy (Ex 34:10-17; Ezek 16:35-43). What are the best rules to avoid spiritual adultery against God? Keep your heart thinking in His word alone by rejecting the teaching and traditions of this profane world and its religions (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5,20-21). Attend a church where compromise with Roman Catholicism’s pagan traditions or contemporary worship’s entertainments and fables are rejected (I Tim 4:1-6; II Tim 3:1-5; 4:1-4; Rev 18:4). Delight yourself in apostolic simplicity and true worship regardless of tempting offers by compromisers.

Fornication or adultery will destroy you. Whores are cruel. They will steal and destroy your reputation, time, money, family, soul, and health. Pretending love, loyalty, and pleasure, they will use you until you no longer benefit them; then they will dump you. Solomon warned his son about the strange woman – an adulteress or whore that preys on men (Pr 5:1-7). His advice was simple, “Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house” (Pr 5:8). His remedy was just as simple – have a great relationship with your legitimate wife and have lots of legitimate children (Pr 5:15-23). Solomon’s son was the kind of man whores pursue (Pr 6:26; 23:27-28). Base or wicked men cannot provide emotional, financial, social, or intellectual satisfaction. Instead, whores seek a man of ability, confidence, intelligence, leadership, and even spirituality. Only a precious life has honor to give away. Solomon’s sons, princes all, were in danger. When a girl gives her virginity away, or a wife commits adultery, God declares they are humbled – reduced in value and polluted (Gen 34:2; Num 5:11-31; Deut 21:14; 22:24,29; Judges 19:24; Ezek 22:10-11). Therefore, virgins carry a high premium to godly men (Ex 22:17; Lev 21:14; Deut 13:22-31; II Sam 13:18-19; II Cor 11:1-2). If it is true for the woman, it is also true for the man, who is the image and glory of God (I Cor 11:7). When a man falls to a whore, he spoils himself in the sight of God and men (Pr 6:32-33). Samson gave away his honor as the strongest man to a conniving, conspiring, and seducing Philistine prostitute. Though he knew she was a liar and wanted to destroy him, he could not resist her wiles. He lost his strength, reputation, office, sight, and his life. His story should be read and reread by men to learn the fatal danger of flirting women. Solomon married a thousand women, and he said of them, “And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her” (Eccl 7:26). It is these kind of women that increase the sinners among even strong men (Pr 7:26; 23:27-28). Nehemiah wrote, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin” (Neh 13:26). If the wise author of Proverbs got into trouble with women, you must surely avoid them. The danger is real. An attractive woman can flatter and seduce a man into the heinous sin of adultery. Her beauty and offers of intimacy are too powerful (Pr 6:25). Therefore, Solomon warned against her honey-like words (Pr 2:16; 5:3; 6:24), and he illustrated her methods in a lengthy parable (Pr 7:6-23). Safety is by staying far away from her (Pr 5:8). It is confounding that base women in ability, character, and intelligence can exert power over men who should know better. But their sexual sins have enslaved these men (Pr 5:22), and they give up everything for the fantasy of love from women who are hardly capable of real love. What a cheap exchange! What a wretched future! Stay far away! A whorish woman is a cruel creature. She is selfish, only feigns affection and loyalty, and has no compassion for her victims (Pr 30:20). She will steal a man’s reputation and money, ruin his marriage, and break his heart without a twinge of conscience. When the prodigal returned home, where were the harlots that eagerly took his money, promising him love by word and deed (Luke 15:30)? As is usually true, they were lying leeches.

There is a great woman who will protect you from pain and trouble in life. Every man needs her, for his life depends on his relationship to her. She is perfect and beautiful, yet available to any man. He must not forsake her, and he must love her. If he meets these simple conditions, she will look out for him and cause him to prosper. She will keep and preserve him from failure. Who is this woman? She is the wonderful Lady Wisdom. Young men think a lot about women, so David personified wisdom as a woman to get his son’s attention with this enticing figure of speech. It is David’s literary creation here, for Solomon had just described his childhood, “For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also-” (Pr 4:3-4). Solomon encouraged his son by appealing to the relationship and training he had received from his father. We understand David’s instruction to Solomon to begin at Proverbs 4:4, but it is harder to determine where its ends and Solomon’s resumes. Consider this wonderful endorsement of the book of Proverbs! The illustrious David contributed to its valuable content both directly by composing proverbs and indirectly by teaching Solomon. The man who neglects such a book, who forsakes Lady Wisdom, is choosing to be a failure in life. Americans appreciate the idea of a great woman protecting them, for they have in New York Harbor the grand figure of Lady Liberty holding aloft her torch to light the way for the tired, poor, huddled, and homeless masses, yearning to breathe free. She has been a beacon of freedom to millions of immigrants and a sign of safety to returning soldiers. Her words are encouraging; her image is impressive; and the combination is powerful. A wise reader will consider David’s words, visualize the metaphor, and accept the lesson. Your life depends on how you treat the wisdom you are offered. Your parents taught you wisdom first. After that, teachers and pastors attempted to teach you. But most of all, wisdom is found in the pages of the Bible, which is where the God of heaven has revealed the rules for you to have a successful and prosperous life and eternity (Deut 29:29; Ps 19:7-11; 119:98-100,104,130; Isaiah 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5; II Tim 3:16-17; 4:1-4). You make many choices daily that have short and/or long-term consequences. Life is like walking through a mine field. A wrong step here, or a wrong step there, will bring loss, pain, or trouble. Life is like a maze, missing the right turns will hinder you from realizing God’s best for your life. But God has offered you a special guide through life’s mine field and an expert through life’s maze to the prize of the best life possible – Lady Wisdom! If you forsake the wisdom your parents, teachers, and the Bible offer, then you will suffer the painful consequences of a foolish life. But if you will hold and love wisdom, it can deliver you from the dysfunctional difficulties that most live with every day. The lesson is simple. What will you do with wisdom? What have you done today with the book of wisdom, the Bible? Have you humbled yourself before its understanding and truth?

What does the water cycle mean to you? It should increase your desire for wisdom. Mother Nature is an hallucination of God-haters, just like Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. The great God meticulously created and governs all oceans, springs, and the water cycle, and His infinite wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are clearly displayed in them. By this illustration of how the LORD God created and rules water, Solomon exalted the importance of three things – wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (Pr 3:19-20). The value of these things from God’s creation and providence should promote them to you. Observing the water cycle exalts the glory of God and the importance of true knowledge. When He made the earth, about 6000 years ago, God created hydrogen and oxygen, their combination that forms water, the three forms of water, the properties of the three forms, the temperatures at which they change forms, and the amount and location of water in these forms in the universe (Gen 1:1-2,6-10). It was nothing for Him (Gen 1:16). Charlie Darwin (1809-1882) could not be found. The sovereign Judge of all did not order him to appear on earth for about 5800 years. He now knows his fantasies were foolish, for he has met Jehovah, Creator of heaven and earth. He despises his profane and vain babblings, for he knows they are not reasonable or science (II Thess 3:2; I Tim 6:20-21). God sent a mist from the ground to water Eden (Gen 2:6). Around 2400 B.C., He broke up the fountains of the deep and opened the windows of heaven to flood the earth (Gen 7:11-12). A year later, He ordained the refraction of light in water to cause rainbows, to remind Noah and other saints there will not be another worldwide flood (Gen 9:12-17). The water cycle is His (Eccl 1:7). Solomon, living around 900 B.C., knew about it in detail from the LORD. Elihu, who never took a course in meteorology from a Darwinist, knew much about water. He wrote about clouds holding water vapor and distilling it in rain upon the earth (Job 36:26-33). He wrote about thunder, lightning, snow, tornadoes, ice, and many other aspects of water and weather (Job 37:1-24). Only God fully knows the springs of the seas, the direction of lightning, and other mysteries (Job 38:1-41). Consider that a one-inch rainfall, which occurs often, brings 10-15 billion gallons of water on a typical U.S. county. How do puffy clouds, through which airplanes pass easily, hold billions of tons of water? The Lord balances them by His knowledge (Job 37:16). He numbers the clouds and holds the water in their bottles (Job 38:37). Human discoveries involving water are only that – discoveries. They are men finally finding things God created and put in place long ago. The wisdom of the one merely finding the invention is infinitely inferior to the wisdom of the Inventor. Human inventions are no greater. They are men finally using the matter God created or properties God ordained long before. God’s wisdom excels man’s wisdom as light excels darkness. Man is so ignorant that God must help him discover or invent (Pr 8:12; Is 28:23-29). Maternal death rates during childbirth in American and European hospitals in the 19th century ran near 25%, until Holmes, Semmelweis, and Pasteur called for doctors to wash their hands, a practice required in 1500 B.C. by the Bible to be done with running water for dealing with infectious diseases (Lev 15:5,13). Praise God for sharing His wisdom. The blessed Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, upholds all forms of water and all other things by the word of His power (Heb 1:3). The molecules of the universe consist – are held together – by His great power (Col 1:17), for in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3). God made Him wisdom for the benefit of His people (I Cor 1:30). Men shall soon face Him as the Judge of the universe (Acts 17:30-31).

If you desire success and safety in life, here are the conditions for them. If you choose to love the wisdom of God, and if you choose to appreciate knowledge as a precious gift, then certain and substantial blessings will surely follow. But if you are not willing to meet these conditions, your life will be a dysfunctional and painful experience. What are the certain and substantial blessings that follow wisdom and knowledge? They are discretion and understanding (Pr 2:11). They are deliverance from the lifestyle and punishment of wicked men (Pr 2:12-15,20-22). They are deliverance from the seduction and painful results of whorish women (Pr 2:16-22). These are great blessings indeed. What is wisdom? The power of right judgment – ability to perceive and grasp a situation to know what should be done to please God and men. Wisdom begins with the fear of God – the submissive reverence that seeks to please Him in all things (Pr 9:10). The details of wisdom are God’s commandments found in the Bible (Ps 19:7-9; Eccl 12:13). How does it enter into your heart? You choose to love it! You choose to make it a priority for your life by pursuing it sacrificially (Pr 18:1-2; Matt 6:21). Job valued God’s words more important than his necessary food (Job 23:12). David counted wisdom more precious than much fine gold and more delightful than honey (Ps 19:10). David chose to set his heart on wisdom (Ps 119:97,103,111,162). Have you? You should (Col 3:16). What is knowledge? It is the worldview detailed in the Bible – the separation of fact from fiction, truth from lies, to know reality and righteousness. Knowledge also begins with the fear of God (Pr 1:7), for the existence of God is the first fact and the first cause of all things (Gen 1:1; Rom 11:33-36). Men who reject the existence of God are unreasonable; they are profane and vain babblers, even if called scientists (II Thess 3:2; I Tim 6:20-21). How is knowledge pleasant to your soul? You choose to admire it as a precious and valuable thing. You cry to God for it (Pr 2:3; Ps 119:66); you crave instruction for it (Pr 12:1; 19:27; 21:11); you use it with holy confidence (Pr 22:17-21; Job 36:1-4). When you choose to delight in knowledge, you will certainly be rewarded (Pr 24:13-14). The greatest wisdom and knowledge in the universe are the mysteries revealed in the gospel (I Cor 2:6-16; I Tim 3:16). In it are fabulous secrets unknown to natural men, but clearly revealed to sincere believers (Matt 13:35; Rom 16:25-27). Has this precious wisdom entered your heart? Is this special knowledge pleasant to your soul? It will bring understanding and assurance of eternal life to those who appreciate it and embrace it. https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-2/proverbs-2-10/

The world is getting what it wanted – most nations, families, and individuals are suffering the painful consequences of foolish choices. There is a simple explanation. When men turn their backs on God and the knowledge and wisdom for successful living He offers, He lets them have their own folly and the horrible results that it brings (Pr 1:29-30). Our father Adam chose Eve and death over God and life, and all men have suffered sickness, dying, and death since (Rom 5:12-14). God had warned Adam, but he chose Eve and death anyway (Gen 2:17). Solomon warned clearly and repeatedly by these proverbs about a blessed life by wisdom or a cursed life by folly, but most ignore him. For a master’s degree in social studies, identify the areas of human life where men have rejected God’s wisdom the most and consider the painful results. Or identify those areas of life where humanity suffers the most, and trace it back to where they despised their Creator. You will learn the cause and nature of man’s dysfunction and pain. Men do not want God and wisdom, so He gives them each other and insanity. All human pain is the simple result of rejecting their Creator’s wisdom, which is plainly revealed in the Bible. Paul explained this human disaster very clearly, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations – Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts – For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections – God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Rom 1:18-32). Today, men and women throughout the world despise God, the Bible, and any moral restraint. They ridicule Bible preaching and sober religion as anachronisms. The Ten Commandments are outlawed in public places. Prayer is forbidden in school. The Quran is justified; the Bible is ridiculed. Rap stars are memorialized; preachers are satirized. The world’s dysfunctional misery is easy to see, and it could be just as easy to correct. Parents and educators fret over children being disobedient, disrespectful, learning-disabled, unruly, and violent. Many parents are ashamed of their children, to whom they gave everything. What happened? The problem is not difficult to identify. These are the Benjamin Spock generations – the first generations to generally reject the Bible wisdom that children need corporal punishment to develop properly (Pr 19:18; 29:15; 30:17). Married men are oppressed, seeking peace and relief in extra work, hobbies, or adultery. Unmarried men do not want a wife, for they have seen the great pain of being married to an odious woman (Pr 30:21-23). How did this cruel creature multiply so fast? Women rejected reverence and submission to their husbands (Is 3:12; Eph 5:33; Col 3:18). Economists scramble to cover national debts, keep interest rates low, lower taxes, and fund new deals, all at the same time. How did this mess get started? A great nation became financial surety for the world (Pr 6:1-5), promoted pleasure over labor (Pr 21:17), penalized savings as counterproductive (Pr 6:6-8), and exonerated massive debt (Pr 22:7). Children are sexually abused, even on film. Mothers wring their hands and wonder why. Bible morality was thrown out when mommy gushed and moaned about Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Today it is Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Once the road of sexual freedom is chosen, what will stop a nation from going all the way to hell? The Bible had wisely taught that love and sex were for marriage only (Pr 5:19; 6:25; I Cor 7:2-5; Heb 13:4).

Great women have wise and kind speech. A virtuous woman is gracious in word and deed, and she is always admired and honored (Pr 11:16; 31:28). Her family and others praise her, and she benefits all those around her by the gentle and helpful things she says. An odious woman, the kind of woman the earth cannot stand (Pr 30:21-23), is known by foolish or critical speech (Pr 9:13; 21:19). Her husband cannot get away from her (Pr 25:24), and he cannot hide his marital shame in public due to her mouth (Pr 27:15-16). This proverb reminds women how they can enhance their reputations and contributions to those around them. But God gave it for another reason. It is an excellent prerequisite for young men to look for in finding a great woman for marriage. Young man, pay attention. Here is one of the defining marks of good and bad women – how do they talk? What is their speech like? A virtuous woman is always careful, kind, and helpful with what she says. And she seldom says anything harsh, negative, or sarcastic; she is gracious. This is not rocket science, and it usually only takes a few minutes to make a correct judgment. King Lemuel’s mother taught him how to find a great wife (Pr 31:1,10). The rule taught by this proverb is of great value for all men. Instead of looking at women, listen to them! Looking will deceive you by the temptation of their bodies and eyes (Pr 6:25; 31:30), but listening reveals character more accurately (Pr 14:7; Eccl 10:3,12-14; Matt 12:34-37). What precious wisdom! Many men have been seduced into marital hell and years of frustration and pain by marrying a body and forgetting what noise it could make every day for the rest of its life. You have seen these women and their husbands, and it should cause grief for him and anger at her. When God inspired a king’s mother to give wise advice like this for finding a queen, you should give it deep and long consideration. A great woman worth marrying speaks wisely. She does not argue or give her opinion until it is asked for. She does not respond emotionally. She does not cackle or giggle. She does not jest or poke. She does not complain or pout. She uses her mouth to spread wisdom (Pr 1:8; 6:20; 15:7; 20:15). She does talk: she feeds many by sober answers with certain words of truth (Pr 11:30; 22:17-21). She only makes a noise when it helps others. She knows the right words for any occasion (Pr 10:32; 24:26). She would never sing songs to a heavy heart (Pr 25:20). She has warnings for the unruly, comfort for the feebleminded, support for the weak, and patience toward all (I Thess 5:14). Criticism is only when necessary, and then only a pinch, and then only with grace (Col 4:6). Her words instruct others in the pure faith of the gospel and direct them upward toward God. She is cautious and only speaks after studying her answer to a question or situation (Pr 15:28; 18:13). She says only what is needed and holds the rest in reserve (Pr 29:11). Her words are appreciated, esteemed, and sought for, because they always have value. Like Abigail, she knows how to defuse even an angry and great man with wise counsel (I Sam 25:20-35). Like Priscilla, she can help convert a theologian to the truth (Ac 18:24-26). When a man marries such a woman, he has engaged the assistance of a wise counselor for himself, his children, their spouses, his grandchildren, his friends, their wives, and others. What a blessing! His children will get sound, practical, godly, and scriptural advice when needed. He knows she will hold the company line at all times. He knows that with women or others where he may be limited, she will give them the plain truth.

The prophet Agur taught inspired wisdom for your life by sets of four things (Pr 30:11-31). He began with four kinds of people, identified by particular sins. Some people love to take advantage of others and oppress them, especially those who are relatively weak and unable to help themselves. These violent persons have no ordinary compassion or pity, but mercilessly use others in any way they wish for their own pleasure or profit. Generation here means a kind of person, for it lacks demonstrative pronouns or other modifiers for a period of time. It is not a prophecy of the future, when violent men would hurt the poor, for all ages have such sinners. It is not a prophecy of bad men in Christ’s time, for such a use would be unique in Proverbs and without practical wisdom for life. The four generations are more than four temperament types – melancholy, phlegmatic, sanguine, and choleric – though each has sinful tendencies. The lesson here is beyond disposition: it is four kinds of people with specific sins. Rather than assign temperaments to each generation, learn the sin and the corrective wisdom for each kind of person. The fourth generation, or kind of evil person, is oppressive and cruel in word and deed, especially toward the helpless, poor, and weak. This critical and condemning brute has no pity or regard for those in need or trouble. He or she is selfish, merciless, and violent. They do not have ordinary compassion for those under them or near them, and they may rise to positions of influence or power by corrupting or destroying those in their way. Consider the first two brothers, Cain and Abel. How could Cain kill his brother for merely doing what was right? Especially after God warned him and told him how easily he too could be accepted? How could Cain then casually hide the murder, even when God Himself inquired? Because he was a child of the devil (I John 3:12), and you show the same devilish spirit of murder when you are angry without a just cause (Matt 5:21-26). It is easy to direct the proverb at rulers or murderers in history like Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, Mao Tse-Tung, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Harold Shipman, Luis Garavito, and others. But Solomon directed his wisdom closer to home, where aggressive or violent treatment of the poor and needy qualifies, from abortion to oppressing employees to defrauding spouses to harshly crushing the spirits of children to excessively taxing the poor to paying less or charging more than fairness indicates to callously ignoring those who are in need. David faced such men during his life, Saul, Doeg, Absalom, and others. Even his own nephew Joab had a cruel spirit of revenge far different from David’s, which caused him grief on several occasions. He wrote of his predicament with such men in these words, “My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword” (Ps 57:4). Jesus Christ, the Son of David, had to endure cruel and hateful treatment by the Jewish leadership during His life, and they forced His crucifixion in the end, though He had done nothing to harm them or their nation. Within his own band of apostles was a heartless thief, who stole from the poor and betrayed His lord, master, and friend for a measly thirty pieces of silver. Together they fulfilled this proverb better than anyone else. Godly men are merciful men (Matt 5:7). In fact, they love mercy (Mic 6:8). Solomon taught elsewhere that righteous men are even merciful to animals, but the men of this proverb are cruel even when mercy should be shown (Pr 12:10). It is the pure religion of Jesus Christ to kindly consider the poor and to visit orphans and widows in their affliction (Gal 2:10; Jas 1:27). Instead of picking on the less fortunate, they pick them up!

Here is good advice for managers. Wise and careful treatment of an employee can lead to a relationship with him similar to a family member. There is a great distance in the Bible between masters and servants, approximating employers and employees today. This significant difference in ability and position is to be preserved. But prudent managers also win affectionate loyalty from their employees in addition to diligent obedience. The Bible teaches, defends, and promotes authority more than any other philosophy or religion, for the foundation of all human relationships is the sovereign authority of a creator God. Jehovah ordained the five spheres of human authority – husband, parent, master, magistrate, and pastor. Therefore their offices are not to be compromised (Eccl 10:5-7; Rom 13:1-7; I Cor 11:9; Eph 6:1-9; Col 3:18-25; Heb 13:7,17; I Pet 2:13 – 3:7). But the Bible also restricts and penalizes abuse of this God-ordained authority (Ps 12:5; Eccl 5:8). Masters are limited in their authority over servants, and they are bound to treat them with a minimum level of fairness, kindness, and consistency (Lev 19:13; 25:39-46; Deut 15:12-18; 24:14-15; Eph 6:9; Col 4:1). And the doctrine of God further teaches love of neighbor, including servants, by the standard you seek to be loved (Luke 6:31; 10:27). The older conservative and evangelical commentators understood this proverb very differently. They believed it condemned treating a servant too well in his youth, for he would be spoiled by the luxury, forget his proper place, and later presume to be equal to the heir. Since most commentators generally follow one another, they agreed with each other here. Their interpretation and application are wrong for the following reasons. First, an ironical or sarcastic use of words should be obvious to the reader, which is not obvious here. A straightforward reading of the proverb indicates positive instruction for the wise management of servants. To take the words in the opposite sense of a sarcastic rebuke is difficult indeed, for there are no words or contextual hints to do so. Second, “delicately” does not require a definition of pampering luxury, for it also means careful and tactful treatment, as in Agag coming delicately to Samuel (I Sam 15:32). Third, Solomon taught elsewhere in Proverbs that a wise servant would, and therefore should, be promoted over foolish sons and given an interest in the family inheritance (Pr 17:2). And he taught that kings recognize and promote wise servants (Pr 14:35). Jesus taught that a wise and faithful servant would be highly promoted (Luke 12:41-48). Fourth, Scripture warns against abusive treatment of servants and requires kind treatment of them. Moses commanded regarding servants, “Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God” (Lev 25:43). Maidservants were to be treated as daughters and given food, clothing, and the duty of marriage – regular lovemaking, or be set free (Ex 21:9-11). Moses allowed for servants loving their masters and staying with them for life (Ex 21:1-6). And Solomon admitted masters and servants ate the same (Pr 27:27). Consider Job’s holy and perfect attitude toward servants. He said, “If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?” (Job 31:13-15). Though slaves had no legal rights, Job granted them the right to appeal to him. Abraham had such a close relationship with one of his servants – Eliezer of Damascus – he planned on making him his heir (Gen 15:2-3). He later entrusted another servant to pick a bride for his son Isaac, which resulted in Rebekah being the mother of Israel (Gen 24:1-67). And Paul told Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother-servant (Phile 1:16).