Wise Up: Proverbs 10
Proverbs 10 (NIV)
1 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4 Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
14 The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 The wages of the righteous is life,
but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
without painful toil for it.
23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,
but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
24 What the wicked dread will overtake them;
what the righteous desire will be granted.
25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so are sluggards to those who send them.
27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
Once again the bible is teaching us that corporal punishment is necessary for those with “no sense”. I think our society has undermined this principal and the permissive liberal mentality that society has is just another sign that God and Christ are not the center of households today.
Verse 17 talks about those who heed discipline gaining wisdom. I think this goes hand in hand with the above verse. If one is to learn from their mistakes or stupidity they must accept the punishment to gain the wisdom the bible has promised.
Verse 27 talks about “fearing the Lord” and adding longevity to our lives. The bible is full of instruction telling us to fear our God. In fact there are so many occurances the importance is reinforced by the number times you will find it and the different benefits from heeding it. I for one want to respectfully learn to fear my God and am so thankful he sent Christ to save me.
Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
but righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 10:2
As I read this verse, the priorities of life come to mind. Worldly treasures or righteousness. Though we might properly limit ill-gotten gains to those obtained dishonestly, unfairly, or prohibited by common rules; I’ll broaden its scope to include all treasure pursed at the expense of righteousness. Only the righteousness of Christ endures beyond the grave. Jesus warns me by asking,” What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” In the hour of despair, suffering, or death itself; righteousness is proved to be the only lasting and sustaining remedy.
Bill! That last line is golden!
17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
As someone who has worked in children’s ministry for many years, I take this verse very seriously.
v. 29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but the destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
Being faithful in reading God’s word is where we get “strength for the upright”
and makes us wiser in our hearts and minds. Therefore, we will not come to destruction.