seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
those who anger him forfeit their lives.
those who anger him forfeit their lives.
3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.
but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4 Sluggards do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.
but one who has insight draws them out.
6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?
but a faithful person who can find?
7 The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.
blessed are their children after them.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin”?
I am clean and without sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.
the Lord detests them both.
11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?
so is their conduct really pure and upright?
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.
the Lord has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20 If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
23 The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
and dishonest scales do not please him.
24 A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?
How then can anyone understand their own way?
25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.
and only later to consider one’s vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.
he drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.
through love his throne is made secure.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.
gray hair the splendor of the old.
30 Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.
and beatings purge the inmost being.
a. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
So this morning... I'm just going to pull out a few from the easy English site.
Verse 1 A drunk might say that alcohol is like a friend to him. Solomon does not agree. A friend would not insult you. But wine and beer do this. Alcohol insults your mind and confuses your thoughts. It can hurt your body and put you in danger. It causes divorces and upsets families. A wise person should not allow wine and beer to tempt him.
Verse 4 Solomon uses humour here. The farmer in verse 4 was too lazy to plough his land. When the harvest is due, he gets a bad surprise. There is no food. Even a stupid farmer knows that he must plough the ground. This farmer was lazy, so he will be hungry. If we work hard, then we shall have enough food. Work is good. We should not be lazy.
Verse 14 This buyer bargains for a cheap price. Perhaps he even cheats the seller. The buyer says that the seller is selling something bad. But later, he tells the opposite to his friends. He has bought something good at a cheap price.
Verse 30 Nobody likes pain. But a wound often heals, whilst it hurts. The body removes the bad part of the wound, and this hurts. In Solomon’s country, judges might punish a guilty man with the whip. The second line means, ‘Punishment removes a man’s evil behaviour.’ No punishment is pleasant. But the intention is to teach good behaviour. If we smack a child, then the child learns to behave. When a judge punishes a thief, the thief should learn not to steal.
Now... be very careful taking Solomon's advice this morning.... if I smack a child these days... I might wind up in trouble. It's better to spank them... using a flat hand on the butt than to just smack a kid. Smacking a kid across the head [back or face] is assault.... so careful.Maybe that's why Solomon only had four kids.... maybe if he had more... they would have overwhelmed him and he wouldn't have appeared to be so wise.... after all... I know kids gang up on adults... and kids can be very clever!
