Proverbs 19

 

1 Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, than he that is perverse in speech and is a fool. 2 Also, for the soul to be without knowledge is not good; and he that hurries with his feet sins. 3 The foolishness of man perverts his way: and his heart frets against the LORD. 4 Wealth makes many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbor. 5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he that speaks lies will not escape. 6 Many will seek the favor of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that gives gifts. 7 All the brothers of the poor hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? He pursues them with words, yet they are gone. 8 He that gets wisdom loves his own soul: he that guards understanding will find good.

 

  • We are to guard the wisdom God teaches us by keeping it fresh in our mind.
  • Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
  • Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip

 

9  A false witness will not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies will perish. 10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man defers his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favor is as dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

 

  • A false witness refers to courtroom and earthly justice as well as eternal truths.
  • Psalm 96:13 (rejoice) before the LORD: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

 

The Lord repays kindnesses to the poor

 

14  House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15 Laziness casts into deep sleep; and an idle soul will suffer hunger. 16 He that keeps the commandment guards his own soul; but he that despises his ways will die. 17 He that has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; and that which he has given he will pay him again.

 

  • Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
  • Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.

 

18  Discipline your son while there is hope, and do not let your soul hold back to his destruction. 19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment: if you deliver him you will have to do it again. 20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

 

The counsel of the Lord is what will stand forever

 

21  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that will stand. 22 What is desirable in a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: and he that has it will abide satisfied; he will not be visited with evil.

 

  • The Word of God is His counsel today.
  • The LORD provides the best security and safety.
  • The only One who is everywhere and has all the power in the universe is your security.
  • Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

24  A slothful man hides his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Strike a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that has understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26 He that wastes his father, and chases away his mother, is a son that causes shame, and brings reproach. 27 My son, stop listening to instruction that causes you to stray from the words of knowledge. 28 An ungodly witness scorns judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. 29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

 

  • 1Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

                                          Proverbs 20

 

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise. 2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul. 3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 4 The sluggard will not plow because of the cold; therefore he will beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

 

  • Our God is the most faithful. Never once has He let anyone down.
  • Alcohol or other chemical substitutes give temporary relief to man’s need. The side effects can be devastating.
  • God’s love is what God designed to satisfy the heart of man.
  • God gave us the first and great command, to love Him with all our heart for a very good reason (Matthew 22:37). It is the only thing in life that enduringly satisfies.
  • Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God, he is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and love with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

 

7  The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 8 A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10 Differing weights, and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. 11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

 

  • Double sets of weights and measures were used to cheat people when selling grain, oil etc. God hates cheating

 

The Lord made our eyes and our ears and the ability to use them

 

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made both of them. 13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food. 14 It is nothing, it is nothing, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasts. 15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take his garment that is guarantor for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18 Purposes are established in counsel: and make war with wide guidance.

 

God’s counsel is the best advice in the universe. It’s results last for eternity.

 

19 He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore do not associate with him that flatters with his lips. 20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in obscure darkness. 21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end of it will not be blessed.

 

  • Revelation 21:7 He that overcomes will inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be my son

 

The Lord saves those who wait on Him

 

22 Do not say, I will repay evil; but wait on the LORD, and he will save you. 23 Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good. 24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 25 It is a snare to the man who devours what is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. 26 A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.

 

God searches our inner being by our spirit

 

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. 28 Mercy/love and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy/love. 29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 30 The blueness of a wound is a cleansing medicine against evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

 

  • In the books of Kings and Chronicles some kings reigned 40 years, some reigned 11 years, and some reigned only a few months.
  • Verse 28 explains why.
  • Those who reigned by mercy and truth were preserved.
  • Physical pain cleanses evil from our inner being.
  • God gave thorns and thistles at the fall to help humble man’s pride.
  •  Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

 

 

                                          Proverbs 21

 

God holds the hearts of kings in His hand; He turns the hearts of kings where He will

 

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

 

  • God ponders the hearts of man.
  • God prefers justice to sacrifice, doing the right thing from the start.
  • Philippians 2:13 it is God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
  • 1Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Does the LORD have as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

 

4  A high look, a proud heart, and the plowing/lamp of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty; but every one that is hasty only to poverty. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. 7 The robbery of the wicked will destroy them because they refuse to do justly. 8 The way of a guilty man is crooked: but as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman. 10 The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

 

  • Remember the source of evil is the devil, God’s enemy.
  • 1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness

 

11  When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. 12 The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked: but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness. 13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he himself also will cry, but will not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. 15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction will be to the workers of iniquity. 16 The man that wanders out of the way of understanding will remain in the congregation of the dead.

 

  • Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap.
  • Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments and live and my law as the pupil of your eyes.

 

17  He that loves pleasure will be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil will not be rich. 18 The wicked will be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. 19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. 20 There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up. 21 He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.


  • Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he will give you the desires of your heart.
  • Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I will lack nothing. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

 

The Lord keeps us safe

 

22  A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. 23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name who acts in proud wrath. 25 The desire of the slothful kills him for his hands refuse to labor. 26 He covets greedily all the daylong: but the righteous gives and does not hold back. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind? 28 A false witness will perish: but the man that listens (to God’s truth) will speak forever. 29 A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he makes his way sure. 30 There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety/victory is from the LORD.

 

  • God’s wisdom is more powerful than man’s security systems or weapons.
  • No wisdom or counsel can succeed against the Lord.
  • James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
  • Psalm 125:2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from now and forever.

 

 

                                           Proverbs 22

 

1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and graciousness rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the Maker of them all. 3 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

 

  • Reputation is more important than money.
  • You can’t eat money.
  • Money can’t fill your heart with peace and love.
  • Good is from God. Evil is from Satan.
  • Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.

 

The fear of the Lord brings riches, honor, and life

 

4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: he that guards his soul will be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He that sows iniquity will reap vanity: and the rod of his anger will fail. 9 He that has a bountiful/generous eye will be blessed; for he gives of his food to the poor. 10 Cast out the scorner, and contention will go out; yes, strife and reproach will cease. 11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

 

  • How we live, more than what we say, is what the child is trained to do.
  • Genesis 3:18 Thorns also and thistles it will bring forth to you.
  • God gave man pain and troubles since the fall in Eden to bring man back to humility before his Maker so that he may live and enjoy His blessings.
  • Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto me.

 

The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge; He overthrows the words of the transgressor

 

12  The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor. 13 The slothful man says, There is a lion outside, I will be killed in the streets.1 4 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD will fall in it. 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction will drive it far from him.

 

  • Hebrews 12:6 Those the Lord loves he disciplines, and scourges every son whom he receives. 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh that corrected us, and we gave them reverence: should we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

 

16 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. 17 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you that they may be ready on your lips. 19 That your trust be in the LORD, I have caused you to know today, even you. 20 Have I not written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?


  • God is the most worthy of our trust.
  • He made us in His image.
  • He watches over us and guides us.
  • He has never failed us.
  • He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die in our place.
  • He alone always has the power to help.
  • John 17:17 … your word is truth.

 

The LORD pleads the cause of the poor and afflicted

 

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor: or oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you are not to go: 25 Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul. 26 Do not be a person that gives pledges, among those who become guarantors for debts. 27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you? 28 Do not remove the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set. 29 Do you see a man diligent in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

 

  • The gate (verse 22) was where legal and national matters were settled.
  • Oppression of the poor is high prices for goods and services, high taxes and laws that favor any group over another.
  • Moving a landmark, the boundary marker would be stealing land.
  • God’s inheritance to His people was set by God was to remain with that family forever.
  • Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.


 

 

 

 

SUMMARY: Proverbs 19-22

 

  • The LORD repays kindnesses to the poor
  • The counsel of the Lord is what will stand
  • The LORD made our eyes and our ears and the ability to use them
  • The LORD saves those who wait on Him
  • God searches our inner being by our spirit
  • God holds the hearts of kings in His hand; He turns the hearts of kings where He will
  • God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness
  • The Lord keeps us safe
  • The fear of the LORD brings riches, honor, and life
  • The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge; He overthrows the words of the transgressor
  • The LORD pleads the cause of the poor and afflicted