Proverbs

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight. Proverbs‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬ Solomon is reflecting on what Moses wrote in the law: You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and…

The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.‭‭ Proverbs‬ ‭10:32‬ ‭NASB ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ It’s fitting to end chapter 10 with a Proverb about our words. Rotherham translates it: “The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the mouth of the lawless speaks perversities.”…

The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. Proverbs‬ ‭10:31‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬ The word “flows” means to germinate and figuratively: to causatively make flourish. As if the mouth of the righteous was a garden that demonstrates the good seed planted in the heart. I love the word picture.…

The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. Proverbs‬ ‭10:30‬ ‭NASB There are many things which threaten humanity regularly. Being righteous doesn’t exempt me from difficulty or challenges. But those things will never remove my confidence in my relationship with Yahweh and Jesus Christ. Nor in the place…

The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ The word refuge brings to mind a deep sense of assurance of safety. It means: a fortress, rock, or stronghold, referring to a place of defense. Life in these bodies brings…

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness, but the expectation of the lawless shall vanish. Proverbs 10:28 (Emphasized Bible) The thing I for which I wait patiently will result in gladness, joyfulness, mirth, pleasure, rejoicing. Not that joy is the object of my hope, but that my hope, whatever it is, will result in…

The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. Proverbs‬ ‭10:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬ The reverence of Yahweh addeth days, but the years of the lawless shall be shortened. (Emphasized Bible) To one, days are added. To the other, years are lopped off (“cut short” from the Hebrew…

As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them. Proverbs‬ ‭10:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬ This is a funny way to describe a lazy person. Every person impacts others, for the better, or for the worse. Its better for everyone if I engage fully in everything in front of…

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. Proverbs‬ ‭10:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬ I like how the Emphasized Bible translates it: “Like the passing away of a tempest so the lawless one is not, but the righteous hath an age-abiding foundation.” What a visual picture! The lawless are related…

What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous will be granted. Proverbs‬ ‭10:24‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬ Every person has fear about something, and sometimes that thing happens, most often it doesn’t. Similarly, we also have desire, and it too is sometimes fulfilled, other times it remains a fantasy. But the imaginations…