Verses 1-6
v1 God hates false measurements.
God loves honest measurements.
v2 A proud man suffers shame.
A humble man becomes wise.
v3 A good man is honest. He is like a traveler who chooses the right way.
Evil actions will ruin evil men.
v4 Money has no value in the day of judgment.
If you do the right things, then this can save you from death.
v5 An honest man is like a traveler who walks along good paths. This is because his actions are right.
But the evil actions of evil men ruin their lives.
v6 If you do the right things, you will be free.
If you do the wrong things, you will go to prison.
Commentary
Our actions, like our words, are important to God. At work, we should not cheat other people. We must be fair. In a shop, a kilo or pound weight should be accurate. If we use false measurements, we lie to our customers. We should be honest.
Humble people know that God is great. God likes humble people.
God likes humble people because they look after other people. A humble person considers that other people are important.
A proud person thinks only about himself.
An honest man is a good man. He loves the truth. His decisions will be right.
Jesus met a man called Nathanael. Jesus said, ‘This man is a genuine member of the nation of Israel. This man is totally honest.’ (John 1:47) Nathanael had the right attitudes, and these attitudes helped him to find Jesus.
An evil man is not honest. He will suffer because of his lies.
A judge in court does not ask whether a man is wealthy. If a man is guilty, then the judge will punish him. The judge does not care whether the guilty man is rich or poor.
God will be the judge of everybody. We have all done evil things, so we all deserve punishment. Our money cannot save us from God’s punishment. We must trust in God. God can forgive us. He will teach us to do the right things.
Solomon compares life to a journey. We must be honest. Then we will be like travelers who walk along good paths. We shall take the correct route to heaven. This is a good, straight path. It does not bend into dangerous places. We shall not lose our way.
Verse 6 We have a simple choice. We can choose to do good things. Or we can choose to do evil things. We can choose to do the right things. Or we can choose to do the wrong things. We can choose freedom or prison.
The decision to obey God is also a simple choice. A wise person invites God into his life. This person loves God, and God looks after him. But a foolish person will not listen to God’s wisdom.
Verses 7-14
v7 When an evil man dies, he loses everything.
His best hopes achieved nothing.
v8 God will rescue a good man who is in trouble.
But an evil man will not avoid trouble.
v9 If a man does not respect God, then the man’s words will ruin his neighbor’s life.
A good man will escape because of his knowledge.
v10 If good men succeed, then the people in their city are glad.
If evil men die, then the people in their city shout for joy.
v11 The words of good people will make their city great.
But the words of evil people will destroy a city.
v12 Only a fool will say bad things about his neighbor.
A wise man would rather say nothing.
v13 If you speak too much, you will tell someone else’s secrets.
If you can keep a secret, then people will trust you.
v14 Without advice, the nation loses the war.
With many advisers, the nation wins the war.
Commentary
Death is terrible for an evil man. He will lose all of his money. He will lose all of his possessions. He will lose everything that he achieved in life. He will discover that he was wrong. But then it will be too late.
The true Christian will have a different experience. Paul wrote, ‘While I live, Jesus comes first. When I die, I shall benefit… I want to go to be with Jesus. Heaven will be much better than this world. However, I must live longer, because I need to help you.’ (Philippians 1:21, 23-24)
Both verses explain that a good person can avoid troubles.
In verse 8, God cares about a good man. But an evil man will suffer.
Verse 9 explains how a good man can avoid trouble. He is wise, because he has studied many things. His knowledge protects him. He is safer than someone who knows nothing.
However, an evil man, who does not know God, can be dangerous. Even his neighbor can suffer.
An evil man’s words destroy his neighbor (verse 9). In verse 10, everyone suffers because of the evil man. Perhaps the evil man ruled the city. Perhaps he was very cruel. The evil man’s death means that the people will be free. This is why they shout for joy. This is why they want good men to succeed.
Verse 11 explains the reaction of the people in verse 10. In verse 11, when evil men talk about a city, they plot to destroy it. Perhaps their plan is to steal from the people. Perhaps the evil men want the people in the city to be their slaves. Words can be terrible. The words of evil men can destroy a city.
The words of good men also achieve great things. Because of their words, the city becomes great. They pray, and God helps the city. They speak about God, and people trust in God.
Words are powerful. It is better to say nothing than to speak evil words.
This verse is also about silence. We must think before we speak. Christian leaders often hear other people’s secrets. People should be able to trust their church leaders. The church leader should not tell someone’s secret to another person.
Ordinary people need advice. Church leaders need advice. The leaders of cities need advice (verses 10-11). Even entire nations need advice.
Good and bad words affect the lives of ordinary people. But good and bad words can also affect whole nations.
The wise person is not afraid to ask for advice. Sometimes, we need to ask many advisers before we receive the best advice.
Verses 15-21
v15 Do not promise to pay someone else’s debt, if they do not pay it. You yourself will suffer.
If you do not promise, then you are safe.
v16 A kind woman benefits from her kindness, because people respect her.
Cruel men get only one benefit: wealth.
v17 A kind man benefits himself.
A cruel man brings troubles upon himself.
v18 An evil man does not get benefits that last.
The person whose behavior is right gets a certain reward.
v19 If a man is really good, then he will live.
But an evil man will die.
v20 God hates evil men.
He loves good men.
v21 Be sure about this! Evil people will receive their punishment.
Good people will go free.
Commentary
We should make a promise only if we can carry out our promise. See also Proverbs 6:1-5.
Many people ask about the benefits that a Christian receives. These verses compare kind people with cruel people.
Kindness brings a real reward (verse 18). People respect the kind person (verse 16). This is a real benefit for a kind person (verse 17).
A cruel man causes himself pain (verse 17). He receives money as his benefit (verse 16). However, this is not a real benefit (verse 18). He cannot take his money with him when he dies (verse 19).
Nobody is ‘really good’, except God (Luke 18:19). Nobody deserves to live with God in heaven. Heaven is God’s gift to us, but we must trust in him.
These verses explain simple principles. These principles explain many things.
God wants us to live good lives, but we are all evil. God hates our evil actions. God will punish evil people.
If we want to be good, then God will help us. He wants to forgive us. He sent Jesus. We deserve punishment for our evil actions, but we do not need to suffer this punishment. When Jesus died, he received our punishment. If we ask God, then he will forgive us. We can be free from the evil things that are in our lives. Then, when we die, we shall go to heaven.
God loves good people. When we trust in him, God will change us. As we learn God’s wisdom, God will make us into his people. ‘God called you from the darkness. He called you into his wonderful light. Before this, you were not a nation. Now you are God’s people.’ (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Verses 22-23
v22 A beautiful woman can be foolish.
She is like a pig whose nose has a gold ring.
v23 A good man wants to achieve good things.
But an evil man’s desires will cause his punishment.
Commentary
Solomon uses humor in this verse. Solomon and his nation hated pigs. Everybody in Israel believed that pigs were unholy animals. The people never ate pig meat (Leviticus 11:7).
An ugly pig does not become beautiful, even if it has a gold ring! In the same way, a foolish woman is never really beautiful! (By ‘foolish’, Solomon means a person who refuses God’s wisdom.)
A beautiful woman should be kind and generous. The woman’s face might be ugly or pretty. But she is really beautiful if she does good things! (1 Peter 3:3-4)
A good man wants good things, and he will receive good things.
An evil man wants evil things. God will punish this man because the man’s actions are evil.
Verses 24-31
v24 One man gives, and his wealth increases.
Another man does not give to anybody, and he becomes poor.
v25 A generous man will become rich.
As he helps other people, so he himself receives help.
v26 Sometimes a man keeps food for himself when other people are hungry. People curse him.
They bless the man who will sell his food.
v27 Look for the things that are good! You will find kindness.
Look for the things that are evil! Evil things will come to you.
v28 If you trust your wealth, you will fail.
If you do good things, your life will develop.
v29 Do not bring trouble upon your family! In the end, you will have nothing.
A fool will be a servant to someone who is wiser than him.
v30 The good man receives a good life as his reward.
A wise person can understand how to teach wisdom to other people.
v31 Even in this world, the good man gets what he deserves.
So does the man who hates God.
Even the evil man will get what he deserves.
Commentary
‘One man gives, and his wealth increases. Another man does not give to anybody, and he becomes poor.’ This is a puzzle.
When a man gives, he loses money. When a man does not give, he saves his money. This verse says the opposite.
Solomon has not made a mistake. When someone is generous, God is kind to this person. Sometimes God gives more money to this person. (Luke 6:38)
There are many generous people who have great wealth. God has provided for them, so they provide for other people by their money. Then God provides the giver with more wealth, so that they can give even more.
This verse is about greedy people.
In business, we are generous, if we are fair. When poor people are hungry, some shopkeepers might refuse to sell food for a reasonable price. Then hungry people would have to pay a higher price or remain hungry.
The fair shopkeeper sells at a fair price.
There is a good reward for the person who does the right thing.
There is a severe punishment for the person who does evil things.
Wealth does not matter. If we are wealthy, we must not trust in wealth.
Once a wealthy young man wanted to follow Jesus. Jesus told him to give everything to poor people. Jesus loved the young man, but the young man refused. The young man trusted his wealth more than he trusted God. (Mark 10:17-23)
A person might expect to receive money from his parents. If he upsets them, then he will get nothing. He will become poor. Perhaps he will have to be someone’s poor servant. He must suffer because he is foolish.
We can bring God’s life to other people. Our wisdom can show other people the way to God. This is another reason to learn God’s wisdom.
God is fair to everybody. The good man will receive good things. God will provide for him.
God is also fair with evil people. They will receive a fair punishment.
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