Posted on 03/29/2014 9:02:03 AM PDT by OneVike
Proverb 29 (NKJV)
Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law
01 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
00 Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
02 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
00 But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
03 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
00 But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
04 The king establishes the land by justice,
00 But he who receives bribes overthrows it.
05 A man who flatters his neighbor
00 Spreads a net for his feet.
06 By transgression an evil man is snared,
00 But the righteous sings and rejoices.
07 The righteous considers the cause of the poor,
00 But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
08 Scoffers set a city aflame,
00 But wise men turn away wrath.
09 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
00 Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
00 But the upright seek his well-being.
11 A fool vents all his feelings,
00 But a wise man holds them back.
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
00 All his servants become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
00 The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
14 The king who judges the poor with truth,
00 His throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
00 But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
00 But the righteous will see their fall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
00 Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
00 But happy is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
00 For though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?
00 There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his servant from childhood
00 Will have him as a son in the end.
22 An angry man stirs up strife,
00 And a furious man abounds in transgression.
23 A man's pride will bring him low,
00 But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
00 He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.
25 The fear of man brings a snare,
00 But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler's favor,
00 But justice for man comes from the LORD.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
00 And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
The purpose of Writing the book of Proverbs by Solomon is to reveal the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and Godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.
Without wisdom, knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, influenced by emotional feelings. Many highly educated people are in positions of power in the United States, but very few of those educated leaders have the wisdom needed to rule properly.
One can say that they have been educated well beyond their intelligence. A cursory look at the court system will prove my point that knowledge without wisdom will only lead to an immoral society that eventually crumbles from within. Judges are supposed to be above the fray, and immovable to emotions. Instead, the vast majority of judges today are Godless individuals who are vacant of wisdom. So their rulings are totally based upon emotional feelings.
We the people are to blame, because we ignored God';s guidance in appointing our leaders. Instead of putting leaders full wisdom in power, we instead chose those who would scratch our itchy ears to lead us.
Along with my daily routine of reading the Bible, I try to read through the book of Proverbs once a Month. It's an easy task when you consider there are 31 Proverbs. So all you need to know is what day of the Month it is to know which Proverb to read. In the Months that have less than 31 days, I just double so I can begin the next month with Proverb 1 on the first again.
Proverbs, chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
1Those stiff-necked in the face of reproof
in an instant will be shattered beyond cure.*
2When the just flourish, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.* a
3Whoever loves wisdom gives joy to his father,
but whoever consorts with harlots squanders his wealth.
4By justice a king builds up the land;
but one who raises taxes tears it down.*
5Those who speak flattery to their neighbor
cast a net at their feet.*
6The sin of the wicked is a trap,
but the just run along joyfully.b
7The just care for the cause of the poor;
the wicked do not understand such care.*
8Scoffers enflame the city,
but the wise calm the fury.c
9If a wise person disputes with a fool,
there is railing and ridicule but no resolution.
10The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
but the upright seek his life.*
11Fools give vent to all their anger;
but the wise, biding their time, control it.d
12If rulers listen to lying words,
their servants all become wicked.
13The poor and the oppressor meet:e
the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
14If a king is honestly for the rights of the poor,
his throne stands firm forever.f
15The rod of correction gives wisdom,
but uncontrolled youths disgrace their mothers.g
16When the wicked increase, crime increases;
but the just will behold their downfall.*
17Discipline your children, and they will bring you comfort,
and give delight to your soul.
18Without a vision the people lose restraint;
but happy is the one who follows instruction.*
19Not by words alone can servants be trained;h
for they understand but do not respond.*
20Do you see someone hasty in speech?i
There is more hope for a fool!
21If servants are pampered from childhood
they will turn out to be stubborn.
22The ill-tempered stir up strife,
and the hotheaded cause many sins.j
23Haughtiness brings humiliation,
but the humble of spirit acquire honor.* k
24Partners of a thief hate themselves;*
they hear the imprecation but do not testify.
25Fear of others becomes a snare,
but the one who trusts in the LORD is safe.
26Many curry favor with a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that one receives justice.
27An abomination to the just, the evildoer;
an abomination to the wicked, one whose way is straight.
* [29:1] The idiom “to stiffen one’s neck” occurs in a context of not heeding a message in Dt 10:16 and 2 Kgs 17:14. To stiffen one’s neck in this sense risks having it broken, as in 1 Sm 4:18.
* [29:2] Popular response to a just or unjust ruler is expressed in sound—shouts of joy or groans of anguish. “Rejoice” can mean to express one’s joy, i.e., joyous shouts.
* [29:4] In Hebrew as in English high and low are metaphors for prosperity and depression. A king who is just “causes the land to stand up,” i.e., to be prosperous, and one who makes taxes high brings a country low.
* [29:5] When one addresses deceptive words to someone’s face, one equivalently throws a net at their feet to snare them.
* [29:7] As in 12:10 (on care for animals), the righteous care for those who are without a voice and often treated like animals. Colon B has a double meaning: the wicked have no such knowledge (care for the poor) and they have no knowledge (wisdom), for they are fools.
* [29:10] An enigmatic saying in that “seek one’s life” is a common idiom for killing. The saying probably plays on the idiom, interpreting “to seek the life of another” not as killing but as caring for another (as in 11:30).
* [29:16] When the wicked grow numerous they sow the seeds of their own destruction, for there is a corresponding increase in offenses calling down divine retribution.
* [29:18] This much-cited proverb has been interpreted in several different ways. “Vision” and “instruction” mean authoritative guidance for the community. People are demoralized without credible leadership, but any individual heeding traditional instruction can still find happiness. As in 15:15 wisdom enables an individual to surmount days of trouble.
* [29:19] The give and take of reproving is not possible for servants or slaves. Ancient custom dictated silent acquiescence for them. There is no open and free dialogue, which is part of ancient discipline.
* [29:23] One’s prideful height brings one down and one’s lowly state brings glory.
* [29:24] Hate themselves: because they not only incur guilt as accomplices but, by their silence, bring down on themselves the curse invoked on the unknown guilty partner. Such a case is envisioned in Lv 5:1. After a theft, a public proclamation was made, enforced by a curse. No one in a town or city could avoid hearing it. The curse hung over the accomplice. By doing nothing, neither directly stealing nor confessing, accomplices put themselves in serious danger.
a. [29:2] Prv 11:10; 28:12, 28.
d. [29:11] Prv 12:16; 25:28; Sir 21:26.
f. [29:14] Prv 16:12; 20:28; 25:5.
g. [29:15] Prv 13:24; 22:15; 23:13–14; Sir 22:6; 30:1.
i. [29:20] Sir 9:18; Prv 26:12.
k. [29:23] Prv 11:2; 16:18; 18:12.
A lesson for all:
**17Discipline your children, and they will bring you comfort,
and give delight to your soul.**
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