Verses 1-4
v1 Do not become proud about your plans for tomorrow.
You do not know what will happen tomorrow.
v2 Do not praise yourself!
Let someone else praise you, if you deserve it.
v3 Stones are heavy. Sand is heavy.
But a fool’s anger causes more strain than a heavy weight.
v4 Anger is cruel. It is like a flood.
But a jealous person is in a worse state.
Commentary
God controls your life. You could die tomorrow. So trust God about the future. And be ready to meet God.
Do not say that you are important! Be humble! Jesus said, ‘If someone wants to become great, he should become a servant. And if someone wants to be your leader, he should become a slave. I did not come as a king. I came as a servant. And I will die so that God will forgive many people.’
The anger of the fool (evil person) causes great strain. But a good person should not be angry. See Ephesians 4:31. Instead, a good person should forgive other people’s errors.
Anger is terrible. But, like the flood, the anger will soon end. The waters of a flood will soon go away. And an angry man will soon become calm again.
But a jealous person is in a worse state. This feeling will not end quickly. Instead, it will continue to cause trouble for a long time.
Verses 5-11
5 A friend’s word of correction is better than love that is secret.
v6 Do not trust the soft kisses of an enemy.
But a good friend will tell you the truth.
v7 When someone has eaten too much, he will not even eat honey.
But a hungry man thinks that even bitter foods taste good.
v8 A man away from home is like a mother bird away from her nest.
v9 A beautiful smell causes joy.
And a friend causes joy, if he advises well.
v10 Do not forget your friend!
Do not forget your father’s friend!
When you are in trouble, do not go to your brother!
A near neighbor is better than a distant brother.
v11 My son, be wise!
I shall be glad if you are wise.
And I shall be able to answer my enemy.
Commentary
A word of correction might be unpleasant. You do not want your friend to see your error. And you may not want your friend to talk about such matters. But he warns you because you are wrong. He speaks the truth to you because he wants to help you. He does these things because he loves you. See also my note on Proverbs 24:26.
But your enemy does not love you. Even his kiss has an evil reason. See Mark 14:44-46.
Our reactions depend on our circumstances.
A rich man cannot recognize the best foods. He has eaten too much. So he cannot even enjoy honey.
But a very poor man will not even see good food. He is glad to have anything to eat.
The rich man has a huge meal, but he does not enjoy it. The poor man has a tiny meal. But he is hungry and his meal tastes good. Sometimes a poor person enjoys life more than a rich person. But both men can have a better life if the rich man is generous.
A mother bird that wanders from her nest cannot look after her young birds. And a man who leaves his home cannot look after a family. That man may have no children. But if he has children, he cannot teach them to be wise. Such a man cannot establish a strong family.
We like to smell flowers. We like to smell good food. And many other smells give joy to us. These smells are beautiful.
And we have great joy when our friends help us. We are glad when their advice is good.
Some young people will not ask older people to help them. But often, a family friend is more willing to help than your own friends. Your father’s friend used to help your father, and perhaps your father’s friend would like to help you now. Older people have plenty of experience, and their advice is often wise. When you have troubles, such people may be better helpers than even a brother.
A father is responsible for his son’s good behavior. If the boy develops well, his character is proof of the father’s success.
Verses 12-17
v12 When a wise man sees danger, he stays in a safe place.
But simple people do nothing, so they suffer.
v13 If a man promises to pay a foreigner’s debt, then take his coat.
If he promises on behalf of a foreign woman, then keep his coat! Otherwise, he may never pay.
v14 A man shouts a greeting and wakes his neighbor very early in the morning.
But his angry neighbor will consider that the man is a great nuisance.
v15 A wife who argues sounds like constant rainfall.
v16 You cannot stop the wind.
You cannot grasp oil in your hand.
And you cannot stop this wife’s constant arguments.
v17 You use an iron tool to make another iron tool sharper.
So one man improves another.
Commentary
Solomon uses humor here. This stupid man will waken his neighbor. The man wanted to show how cheerful he was. But the neighbor will still be angry.
We must think about the probable results of our actions. And we should not waken our neighbors.
Wives should try not to upset their husbands. Some wives are always arguing. But a good wife is calm. She gently teaches her husband when he is wrong. And she works hard so that he is content.
Friendship is good. Friends should encourage each other. They should help each other. And they should teach each other about God. In the Bible, Jonathan and David were special friends. See 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-6; 20:1-42; 23:16.
Verses 18-22
v18 The man that looks after a fruit tree will eat the fruit.
The servant who looks after his master will receive his reward.
v19 As water reflects a face,
so a man’s thoughts show his character.
v20 Death and hell always claim more lives.
And nothing can satisfy a man’s desire.
v21 Test silver with heat!
Test gold with fire!
If you praise a man, then you will test him.
v22 You can strike a fool as hard as you strike grain.
But he will still be a fool.
Commentary
A good farmer deserves his harvest. And a good servant deserves a reward. His master should pay this servant well.
We see our own good and bad qualities when we notice the same qualities in other people.
Nothing satisfies a man’s desires. And nothing can satisfy death and hell. Only Jesus can completely satisfy human desires.
But as Christians, we must learn to be content.
You can find out whether gold is real in a fire. Gold does not burn. And silver does not burn.
And you can test a man’s attitudes. Some people are proud if you praise them. Some people are foolish if you praise them. And humble people will still be humble, even if you praise them.
You strike grain to make flour. A fool is an evil person who hates wisdom. A judge might order a cruel punishment for an evil person. But an evil person will learn nothing, even if you strike him many times. After his punishment, that evil man will still be evil. He will learn nothing from his punishment.
Verses 23-27
v23 Look after your animals!
Be careful on your farm.
v24 Wealth does not last.
Even a king’s family can lose their land.
v25 Store the hay! New grass will grow.
Gather grass from the hills.
v26 The wool of sheep will be your clothing.
The profit from your goats will provide the rent for your fields.
v27 You will have plenty of goat’s milk.
The milk will feed you and your family.
And the milk will provide for your servant girls.
Commentary
Solomon is describing a farm. He warns the farmer to be responsible. If the farmer does not work, he could lose his land. But if the farmer works hard, his family will be content. The sheep and goats will grow well. And the farmer will make a profit from his animals. The farmer will also obtain clothes and milk from his animals. The farmer will receive a good income. The farmer will live well. And his family will live well. Even his servant girls will enjoy their lives because the farmer is responsible.
These verses teach us several lessons:
· Do not only aim to make money (verse 24).
· God created the seasons of the year. So plan your work at the right time of year (verse 25).
· Use wisely the things that God has created. Then God will supply the things that you need (verses 26-27).
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