Verses 1-9
v1 The wise woman builds her house.
But with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
v2 If someone does the right things, then that person respects God.
But a person who does evil things hates God.
v3 A fool’s words bring a whip to his back.
But a wise man’s words protect the wise man.
v4 If you have no oxen (strong farm animals), then you will have no food for your animals.
But the strength of the oxen brings a plentiful harvest.
v5 An honest witness tells the truth.
A false witness tells lies.
v6 A man who insults other people cannot discover wisdom.
Wise people easily discover knowledge.
v7 Avoid a foolish man!
He speaks without knowledge.
v8 Sensible people think about their actions.
The foolish thoughts of a fool lie to him.
v9 Fools insult the guilty person who confesses his evil deed.
But good people are glad.
Commentary
This is a little story that uses humor. We walk along the street and we see two women. Both women are working on their homes. The first woman is wise. She carefully builds her house. Skilfully, she makes a beautiful home for her family.
We expect that the other woman is doing the same. However, we are wrong. In fact, the second woman is pulling down her own home.
The story means this. A wise woman loves her family. She looks after them. She works hard to help them. A wise woman is a woman who serves God.
A foolish woman hates God and loves evil things. She might think that she loves her family. However, her evil actions do not help her family. Instead, her evil actions hurt her family. We should respect God. So we should do the things that please him. See the instructions in Hebrews 13.
Some people hate God. They might not realize that they hate God. But their actions prove this. They refuse to obey God. Instead, they do evil things. Jesus said, ‘If you love me, you will obey my commands.’ (John 14:15)
A fool’s pride makes him talk too much. His many words will lead him into trouble.
A wise man speaks with care. His words will save him from many dangers.
The wise farmer knows that he needs oxen (strong farm animals) to plough his fields. Without them, he cannot produce crops.
Oxen can be difficult animals for a farmer. They need plenty of food. The farmer must work hard to look after them. However, oxen used to be essential animals on the farm. Solomon’s farmers used oxen like tractors, to pull the plough. Without oxen, the harvest would be poor.
Some church members are easy to look after. They are polite and friendly, and everyone likes them. However, they do few things for God’s work.
Other church members act like the oxen. Such church members may ask difficult questions. They have many problems. Sometimes, they make serious errors. They are difficult to look after. However, we must learn to appreciate these members too. Sometimes, they will achieve great things for God. Peter was like this - see Mark 8:31-33, Matthew 26:74 and Galatians 2:11-14. We might not choose these church members, but God chose them for his work.
A person might say nice things. He might be very clever. Many people might want to hear his words. However, if his words are lies, then he cannot help us.
An honest person might seem to be unfriendly. He might be anxious. He might even be angry. Perhaps nobody wants to hear his words. However, he is telling the truth. Like the oxen (strong farm animals) in verse 4, we may not like his character. However, his honest words can really help us.
Knowledge is not difficult to find. It is everywhere. Honest people will tell their knowledge to us (as in verse 5). The Bible will teach God’s knowledge to us. Many other books will teach human knowledge to us.
However, if someone insults other people, he will not learn knowledge or wisdom. Perhaps he insults honest people, so he cannot hear the honest words. Perhaps he insults everyone, and only listens to his own ideas.
A fool is someone who hates God’s wisdom. You cannot learn from this man, because he himself has learned nothing from God.
A sensible person is cautious. He uses his knowledge to make good plans. He thinks carefully and he obtains advice. His decisions are good.
A fool thinks that his decisions are right. However, a fool hates God, so his decisions are evil. The fool does wrong things, because he does evil things instead of good things. His evil thoughts are lies. He trusts in his own lies, and suffers as a result.
When someone becomes a Christian, he will receive a welcome from other Christians. See Luke 15.
However, some people will laugh at a new Christian. Solomon calls these people, ‘fools’. By ‘fools’, he means people that do not respect God. They hate God, and they hate Christians too. They laugh at the new Christian because he has confessed his evil deeds. This is because they love to do evil things. If someone trusts in God, then this person seems stupid to them.
Verses 10-13
v10 Nobody else knows our saddest feelings.
But nobody else knows our greatest joys.
v11 Someone will destroy the wicked man’s house.
The good man may only have a tent, but he will succeed.
v12 Sometimes, a man thinks that he chooses the right path.
But that man will die because he chose the wrong path.
v13 Even when we laugh, the heart can ache.
Even joy can lead to sorrow (sad feelings).
Commentary
We try to sympathize with other people. We try to share their joys and sorrows (sad feelings). Our efforts are kind and good, but we cannot really understand their feelings. Only God really knows the true feelings of a person’s heart.
The wicked man might be rich. He might live in a wealthy house. The good man might be poor. He might only live in a poor tent.
Other people might think that a wicked man is really good. They might see his wealth. They might even suppose that God is pleased with that man.
God knows the truth. When God acts as judge, God will not care about a man’s wealth. God will still punish a wicked man.
The wicked man might not even know who destroyed his house. He might not realise why he lost his wealth. God has punished this wicked man.
Different people have many ideas and many theories. In this verse, Solomon describes our lives, and not just our journeys.
On a journey, if a man chooses the wrong road, he might be in danger. Thieves might attack him. They could kill him.
In the same way, if we choose to live evil lives, in the end God will punish us. We have our own ideas and theories, but these do not matter. The only way to God is to follow Jesus (John 14:6).
When we laugh, sometimes we are sad. Other people do not know this. They think that we are happy if we laugh. God knows our real feelings. He cares about us.
Verse 14-21
v14 A man will receive what he deserves.
This is true both for a good man, and for a man that turns away from God.
v15 A simple man believes anything.
A wise man thinks about his actions first.
v16 A wise man respects God and refuses to do evil deeds.
A fool is sure that he is right. He acts in a hurry.
v17 If you become angry quickly, then your actions will be foolish.
A wise person is patient.
v18 Simple people will become fools.
Wise people will receive knowledge. This reward will be like a crown.
v19 Evil men must give honor to good men.
Wicked people must be humble, when they approach a good man.
v20 Everyone (even a neighbor) avoids a poor person.
Wealthy people have many friends.
v21 Your actions are evil if you hate your neighbor.
God will be pleased with you if you are kind to poor people.
Commentary
Here, Solomon compares a good man with a man who turns away from God.
A good man receives good things, because he deserves good things. An evil man receives evil things, because he deserves evil things.
The man who turns away from God used to be a good man. He turned back to do evil deeds. He too will receive what he deserves. See 2 Timothy 4:14, Jude 5-6, and Hebrews 10:26-31. ‘But we are not the people that turn back. God will not destroy us. We are the people who believe in God. Therefore, God will protect us.’ (Hebrews 10:39)
Solomon compares a wise person and a simple person.
Unlike a fool, a simple person does not hate God. You can teach a simple person. He can learn to do good things. Or he can learn to do evil things. He believes anything that you tell him.
You can teach a wise person too. However, you cannot teach him to do evil deeds, because he is sensible. He thinks carefully about your words. He works out whether you are correct.
In this verse, Solomon compares a wise person and a fool. A wise person respects God, but a fool hates God. The fool thinks that he himself is always right. A fool will not learn from anyone else. He is angry if someone tries to correct him. He loves to do evil actions.
Solomon contrasts two different types of people. The first person is quick. In a moment, he becomes very angry. He has a terrible temper. He does not think about his actions. He does evil things so quickly that he cannot think first.
The second person is slow. He takes a long time to make his plans. He thinks about them carefully.
If a simple man learns to do evil deeds, then he becomes a fool. When he is simple, he does not choose to be evil. He does evil things because he is not wise. He does evil things by mistake.
When he becomes a fool, the same person hates God. Now, the man loves to do evil actions. He refuses to learn good things.
We should help simple people to believe in God. Then they can become wise. Then their reward will be knowledge. As a king receives a crown, so they will receive knowledge. Other people will see their knowledge and respect them.
This is not our experience today. Solomon is describing what should happen. Really, a good man is important. He is even more important than a famous person, or a king. People should respect him.
This is terrible! People love a rich man, because they want to benefit from his money. People hate a poor man, because he has nothing to give to them. Christians must not behave like this. See James 2:1-7.
In verse 20, the neighbor tried to avoid the poor man. In verse 21, Solomon explains that this attitude is evil. God is pleased with the generous person. God is kind to the person who is kind to poor people.
Verses 22-24
v22 Those who plot evil deeds are like travelers on the wrong road.
But if your plan is good, then you will find love and truth.
v23 If you work hard, then you will get your reward.
If you are always talking, then you will become poor.
v24 God gives wealth to a wise man.
A foolish fool is stupid!
Commentary
Life is like a journey. A person who plots evil deeds is like a traveler on the wrong road. The traveler’s road might lead to danger. And the evil man’s life will cause his death. And his evil life will take him to hell. His evil plans might bring him money, but he will lose everything.
A person who makes a good plan is like a traveler on the right road. His plan will achieve good things, for example, love and truth.
In the end, even the best plan is only words. Words without work cannot earn money. Words alone do not achieve results. Only work can bring success. See James 2:14-17.
A wise person deserves wealth and honor. However, many wise people are not wealthy. This may be because, for a wise person, wisdom is more important than money. A wise person works hard, but he does not work merely to get money. He works hard to get more wisdom.
A fool hates wisdom. He might work to get money, but he is stupid. He can only earn foolish things. He should work to get wisdom.
Verses 24-35
v25 A witness who tells the truth saves lives.
A false witness can ruin someone by his lies.
v26 The man who respects God is safe. God is like a castle for him.
God will protect the man, and he will protect his children too.
v27 Respect God, and live!
Respect God, and he will save you from death!
v28 A king cannot rule without the support of his people.
Without his people’s help, he has no army to win a war.
v29 A patient person has great understanding.
If you become angry quickly, then you are a fool.
v30 If your mind is content, your body will be strong.
But if you are jealous, even your bones will be weak.
v31 If you are cruel to poor people, then you hate God. Remember that God made them too.
Be kind to poor people. Then you will give honor to God.
v32 When trouble comes, evil people suffer.
A good person is safe, even when he dies.
v33 A wise person has wisdom in his heart.
Fools do not know wisdom.
v34 If the people are good, then their nation becomes great.
But if the people are evil, then their nation suffers shame.
v35 A king is pleased with a wise servant.
A king is angry if his servant causes shame.
Commentary
An honest man speaks the truth. He can rescue people from death, because he is honest. He will tell people if their actions are wrong. He will show them what is right and good.
A man who speaks lies causes great troubles. His lies can ruin other people’s lives. People suffer because of his lies.
God protects people who respect him. Even their families can benefit. See Psalm 46 and 2 Timothy 1:5.
Solomon was a king. If there were many people in a country, then there would be a large army. The country could win wars. Or the country could be at peace, because nobody would attack it. Solomon wanted peace for his country.
Patience is good. ‘Everyone should be quick to listen. Everyone should be slow to speak. Everyone should be slow to become angry.’ (James 1:19) A patient person will learn many things. This is how he becomes intelligent. See James 5:7-11.
Our emotions are powerful. Anger (verse 29) and jealous attitudes can even affect our health. So can good attitudes, like happiness. Paul wrote, ‘I have learned how to be content in every situation. I am content whether I am hungry or full. I am content whether I have plenty, or nothing.’ (Philippians 4:12)
Solomon tells us to help poor people, because God made them. When we love poor people, we love God. See Matthew 25:34-45.
Evil people have no protection when troubles come. God will protect good people who trust in him. When they die, they will go to heaven. See verse 26.
Another translation of the second line is, ‘Even fools can hear wisdom.’
The wise person does not only think about wisdom occasionally. He is always thinking about wisdom. He is always learning new things. He loves wisdom. Wisdom is always in his heart and in his mind.
A foolish person hates wisdom. He might hear wise words (Proverbs 8:5, Proverbs 1:20-27). However, a fool will not obey these wise words. A fool does not understand wisdom. He only knows his own foolish ideas.
Solomon was a king. He wanted his nation to become a great nation. If his people were evil, then God would punish their nation. He wanted his people to serve God. And he wanted them to do the right things. Then their nation would be a great nation.
A king needs servants and advisers. Solomon knew this, because he was the king of Israel. God is our king (Revelation 17:14). As Christians, we are God’s servants. God does not need advisers, but he wants wise servants.
|
|
