Proverbs
Proverbs 13:23 Turning graves into gardens
Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, But it is swept away by injustice. Proverbs 13:23 NASB One could read this two ways: The fallow ground is producing the food on it’s own — a volunteer crop; or the land has much potential, if only there was one to cultivate it. Either…
Read MoreProverbs 13:22 Magnetism and money
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22 NASB There are a lot of similarities between people worldwide, but there is something extraordinary about the children of God: I have enough, and often more than enough. Humans must work,…
Read MoreProverbs 13:21 I don’t deserve this!
Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things. Proverbs 13:21 NIV [Adversity, disaster, hurt] pursue [chase, hunt, follows] sinners [criminals, one guilty of offense], but the righteous [just, lawful] will be rewarded [make amends, make an end, finish, full, give again, make good, repay again, from a root meaning to be…
Read MoreProverbs 13:20 Hocus focus and becoming
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 NIV Friendship is empathy. Understanding, aligning with, and accepting another. When you associate with someone, it creates a natural context for the heart to follow. The tighter a relationship, the more I will become like what I’m observing, accepting,…
Read MoreProverbs 13:19 Knowing what I want
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. Proverbs 13:19 NIV Two times in one chapter Solomon writes about human desire being fulfilled. Here in verse 19 it is, “sweet to the soul” where earlier in verse 12 it is, “a tree of life.” Every day, first thing out…
Read MoreProverbs 13:18 The richness of listening
Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs13:18NIV Not having or having. The attitude of poverty or honor (our substance) begins in my heart and lodges there. One of the foundational messages in Proverbs is encouraging the reader to have a heart that listens. Being teachable. When am…
Read MoreProverbs 13:17 A healing message
A wicked messenger falls into adversity, but a faithful envoy brings healing. Proverbs 13:17 (NAS) A [wicked, lawless] messenger falls into [trouble, hardship, mischief, evil, adversity], but a [faithful, trustworthy] [envoy, ambassador, herald] brings healing. Solomon contrasts the two words used for messenger. The first is “malak” and is translated almost equally as messenger and…
Read MoreProverbs 13:16 Yard sale: everything is free!
All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly. Proverbs 13:16 NIV As I am reading through the Proverbs, I often check what commentators say about a verse, hoping to understand the language better. I regularly pick up on a sense of black and white; the writer’s perspective is typically the standard…
Read MoreProverbs 13:15 Love does the work
Good understanding produces favor, But the way of the treacherous is hard. Proverbs 13:15 NASB The Hebrew word for “hard,” ethan, is translated enduring, ever-flowing, hard, normal state, perennially, running water, unceasing. It was used in Exodus when Israel crossed the waters of the Red Sea, then once they made it through the Egyptians followed…
Read MoreProverbs 13:14 “Law” is not a four letter word
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death. Proverbs 13:14 NASB The word teaching is “torah” which is also used to refer to the law, or writings of Moses. It may also be translated “instruction,” which Solomon provides in abundance in Proverbs. There are many…
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