Proverbs is a timeless book… so relevant for today that it needs little introduction. Pray that God would allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you to understand the message here. Try not to hurry in reading this but pause and reflect after each thought. Ask yourself “How does this apply to me?” and “How does this apply to our nation or the world?”
Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked
1The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2Ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness delivers from death.
3The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.
4Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise of heart will receive commands,
But a babbling fool will be ruined.
9He who walks in integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10He who winks the eye causes trouble,
And a babbling fool will be ruined.
11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.
13On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.
14Wise men store up knowledge,
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
15The rich man’s wealth is his fortress,
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16The wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.
17He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool.
19When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of understanding.
22It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.
23Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
24What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.
27The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.
29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright,
But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
30The righteous will never be shaken,
But the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
32The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
It is easy to skip through these quickly with a smirk and a recognition that they are true and wise, but fail to apply them personally in your own life. I encourage each of you to read through this more than once and pause on each thought, seeking God’s wisdom to enlighten you on how to apply it to the specific situations in your personal life and the lives of those around you.
A few comments regarding verse three that may not be obvious:
3The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.
Verse three refers to more than food and physical hunger. We know there are righteous people who are physically hungry. Solomon is referring to “craving” or strong desires. The wicked will never have enough to satisfy what is missing, because they refuse to seek God, which is what they need. No amount of physical stuff can fill the emptiness they feel with the absence of God in their life. Conversely, the godly will be satisfied in their relationship with God even when they do not have enough to eat.
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