On Life and Conduct
aWine is a mocker, bstrong drink a riotous brawler;And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11Gen 9:21; Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11Prov 31:4; Is 5:22; 56:122 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;Whoever provokes him to anger aforfeits his own life.Num 16:38; 1 Kin 2:23; Prov 8:36; Hab 2:103 It is an honor for a man to akeep away from strife by handling situations with thoughtful foresight,But any fool will start a quarrel without regard for the consequences.Gen 13:7f; Prov 17:144 The alazy man does not plow when the winter planting season arrives;So he begs at the next harvest and has nothing to reap.Prov 13:4; 21:255 A plan in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well,But a man of understanding draws it out. Prov 18:46 Many a man aproclaims his own loyalty and goodness,But who can find a bfaithful and trustworthy man?Prov 25:14; Matt 6:2; Luke 18:11Ps 12:1; Luke 18:87 The righteous man awho walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his godly beliefs—bHow blessed happy and spiritually secure are his children after him who have his example to follow.Prov 19:1Ps 37:26; 112:28 aA discerning king who sits on the throne of judgmentSifts all evil like chaff with his eyes and cannot be easily fooled.Prov 20:26; 25:59 aWho can say, “I have cleansed my heart,I am pure from my sin?” 1+@Kin 8:46; 2+@Chr 6:36; Job 9:30; 14:4; Ps 51:5; 1+@John 1:81 Kin 8:46; 2 Chr 6:36; Job 14:4; Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:9; 1 John 1:810 aDiffering weights one for buying and another for selling and differing measures,Both of them are detestable and offensive to the LORD. Deut 25:13; Mic 6:10, 11Prov 11:1; 20:2311 Even a boy is aknown and distinguished by his acts,Whether his conduct is pure and right.Matt 7:1612 The hearing aear and the seeing eye,The omnipotent LORD has made both of them.Ex 4:11; Ps 94:913 aDo not love excessive sleep, or you will become poor;Open your eyes so that you can do your work and you will be satisfied with bread.Prov 6:9, 10; 19:15; 24:3314 “It is almost worthless, it is almost worthless,” says the buyer as he negotiates the price;But when he goes his way, then he boasts about his bargain.15 There is gold, and an abundance of pearls,But the lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness the most precious of all. Job 28:12, 16-19; Prov 3:15; 8:1116 The judge tells the creditor, “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger;And hold him in pledge when he guarantees a loan for foreigners.” Prov 27:1317 aFood gained by deceit is sweet to a man,But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair.Prov 9:1718 aPlans are established by counsel;So bmake war only with wise guidance.Prov 11:14; 15:22Prov 24:6; Luke 14:3119 He who agoes about as a gossip reveals secrets;Therefore do not associate with ba gossip who talks freely or flatters. Rom 16:17, 18Prov 11:13Prov 13:320 Whoever acurses his father or his mother,His blamp of life will be extinguished in time of darkness.Ex 21:17; Lev 20:9; Prov 30:11; Matt 15:4Job 18:5; Prov 13:9; 24:2021 An inheritance hastily gained by greedy, unjust means at the beginningWill not be blessed in the end. Prov 28:20; Hab 2:622 aDo not say, “I will repay evil”;bWait expectantly for the LORD, and He will rescue and save you. Deut 32:35; 2+@Sam 16:12; Rom 12:17-19; 1+@Thess 5:15; 1+@Pet 3:9Prov 24:29; Matt 5:39; Rom 12:17, 19; 1 Thess 5:15; 1 Pet 3:9Ps 27:1423 aDiffering weights are detestable and offensive to the LORD,And bfraudulent scales are not good.Prov 20:10Prov 11:124 aMan’s steps are ordered and ordained by the LORD.How then can a man fully understand his way?Prov 16:925 It is a trap for a man to 1speak a vow of consecration and say rashly, “It is holy!”And not until aafterward consider whether he can fulfill it.Such a vow would single out an item for sacrifice or for the use of the temple or the priests. The classic example of a careless vow was Jephthah’s promise to sacrifice to the LORD whatever came out of his house to meet him on his return from a successful battle (Judg 11:30-35).Eccl 5:4, 526 A awise king sifts out the wicked from among the goodAnd drives the bthreshing wheel over them to separate the chaff from the grain.Prov 20:8Is 28:2727 The 1aspirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being. 1+@Cor 2:11Lit breath.1 Cor 2:1128 Loyalty and mercy, atruth and faithfulness, protect the king,And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.Prov 29:1429 The glory of young men is their physical strength,And the ahonor of aged men is their gray head representing wisdom and experience.Prov 16:3130 aBlows that wound cleanse away evil,And strokes reach to the innermost parts.Ps 89:32; Prov 22:15; Is 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24