Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29: More Proverbs of Solomon (Cont.). 

Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed - without remedy. A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet. The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger. Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both. A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. An angry person stirs up conflict; and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

God wants us to heed a rebuke because rebukes prevent us from continuing to make the same mistakes. God says that if we remain stubborn, refusing to listen to rebukes, that we will be destroyed and there won't be another opportunity to reconcile our mistakes. Joy comes from loving wisdom and God wants us to be wise. God wants us to care about justice for the poor. We shouldn't take advantage of the poor because they are poor, instead we should ensure they achieve justice. Wisdom turns away anger and God wants us to avoid quarrels. We are to bring calm during an argument instead of giving full vent to our rage. God wants us to discipline our children that they would discover wisdom and not turn insolent. Godly discipline won't harm your child, but will benefit their life all the days of their life. God doesn't want us to be angry or to be full of pride, instead He wants us to be lowly in spirit and to trust in Him.

Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28: More Proverbs of Solomon (Cont.).

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crop. Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse. Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are. Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blesses is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. To show partiality is not good - yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread. Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

God tells us that if we are righteous we can be as bold as lions. Our boldness comes from our righteousness. God tells us that if we seek the Lord we will understand what is right and our walk will be blameless. Again we see that God cares more about our walk with Him than the wealth we have. We are to be kind to the poor and if we gain wealth by taking from the poor we will only lose it. Money does not buy wisdom or happiness, but often times money leads to a false sense of belief that it does. God wants us to confess our sins and repent that we would find mercy. We are to always tremble before God. 

Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22: Proverbs of Solomon (Cont.).

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Rich and poor have this in common:  the Lord is the Maker of them all. Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. 

Believers and non-believers are both known for their name. Their name is spread among family, friends, and acquaintances, along with the actions they are known for. God's will is that our names would be good and that our name would be known for righteous actions. Our names are not about our riches or our poorness, but about our Maker, the Lord. God made all of us and whether we are rich or poor God wants us to live generous lives. We are to be kind and share our food with the poor. God's desire is for us to raise our children in His ways and then they will not turn from it, even when old. Our children should have good, generous names.

Proverbs 22: Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1: Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth.

Saying 2: Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.

Saying 3: Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.

Saying 4: Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.

Saying 5: Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6: Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

God's will is for us to be honest and to speak the truth. Speaking falsehood will only lead to destruction. God wants us to take care of the poor and to not exploit the poor or crush the needy. The Lord himself will take up their case and those who crush them will be destroyed. God is clear that we are not to be hot-tempered or to make friends with someone who is hot-tempered because the ways of one easily angered lead to ensnarement. We are to forgive, overlooking offenses, and be slow to anger. God's will is for us to be free and to not be yoked to anyone or anything on Earth. If you take up a pledge or put up security for debts then you are yoked to that person. God warns that if that happens then you will lose your very bed. We are not to move an ancient boundary stone set up by our ancestors, which means that we can't take what was already given. The Promised Land was divided according to the Israelites's ancestors and to move a boundary stone would be to remove an inheritance already given. God's will is that we would be skilled in our work.

Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19: Proverbs of Solomon (Cont.). 

Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord. A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done. Stop listening to instruction and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

God wants our walk to be blameless, so much so that He would rather us be poor than fools. The actions we take, whether wise or foolish, have consequences. Our foolish actions lead to our heartache and God allows us to suffer the consequences that we might gain knowledge. Our lives and our words should be honest for falsehood will be found out and punished. God wants us to be patient and to overlook the offences of others: we all make mistakes. Be kind to the poor and do not stray from wisdom.

Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13: Proverbs of Solomon (Cont.).

A wise son heeds his father's instruction and from the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things. Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.  One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly. A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

God wants us to listen to advice and guard our lips lest we be led to destruction. How often have we spoke the thoughts on our mind only to find those thoughts have hurt people we cared about? God wants our words to bring healing and not destruction. Again, we aren't to pretend to be something we aren't. God wants us to act with knowledge and to leave an inheritance for our children's children. We should live lives based on wisdom.