1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
"Instruction" is the act of teaching or educating. You cannot love knowledge without loving instruction because instruction is where knowledge originates. Sometimes instruction comes along with the instructor "reproving" the student for illogical or erroneous actions. Sometimes the instructor has to tell the student, "You are going in the wrong direction, grasshopper. Turn around and go back." The student who loves knowledge will trust the instructor and act accordingly. The student does not resent being corrected. He/she is happy to be turned around before too much time has been wasted.
The student who "hates reproof" is "brutish." A "brute" is either a "non-human creature, a beast," or a "brutal, insensitive or crude person." To be "brutish" is to be "brutal; cruel" or "gross; coarse," or "bestial; like an animal, " or to be "carnal, sensual." In this particular verse, I suspect it means to be like an animal--without reason. Without the desire to learn. Possessing only the desire to do what he/she wants to do. Not what is right to do.
2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
A "good man" is a person who is "morally excellent," "of high quality," "excellent," "honorable," "worthy," "genuine," "reliable," "dependable," "responsible," and so on. Verse 2 says that the good man gets the "favor" of the Lord. "Favor" as it is used here means "well-disposed regard; good will" and "the state of being approved or held in regard."
A man of "wicked devices" is a man who has a "device" which is defined as a "plan or scheme for effecting a purpose," or a "crafty scheme; trick," or "something elaborately or fancifully designed." A device on its own probably isn't so bad, but this person's "device" is a wicked one. Wicked means "evil or morally bad in principle or practice; sinful; iniquitous," or "spiteful; malevolent; vicious."
It says that God will condemn this sort of man. To condemn means "to express unfavorable or adverse judgement on; indicate a strong disapproval of," or "to pronounce guilty," or "to judge or pronounce unfit for use or service." Another possibility offered is "to declare incurable."
Verse 3 says that a man will not be "established by wickedness." To be established meand to be "placed or settled in a secure position or condition." The wicked man hopes his schemes will set him up, make him secure, but God will not bless a scheme.
It goes on to say that the "root of the righteous will not be moved." To be rooted means to be "firmly implanted." It also means a "condition of being settled and of belonging to a particular place or society." A righteous man will be settled in a safe and comfortable place where he will be respected and blessed. He is "rooted"--he has permanence. He will not be "uprooted" which means to be "forced to leave an accustomed or native location" and "to destroy or removed completely; to eradicate."
The righteous man does not need to fear being forced out of his place of safety nor does he need to fear being eradicated (erased from existence).
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
A virtuous woman is one who "conforms to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright" it also means "chaste" ("pure," "free from obscenity," and "refraining from immoral sexual intercourse.") When the word "crown" is used like this, it probably means "the distinction that comes from a great achievement."
I think the first part of the verse means that a man who has a good woman for his wife is as well off as a king--she is his crowning glory--the best of all the things in his life--the plump, succulent cherry on the top of his hot fudge sundae of life.
On the other hand, a wife who makes her husband feel ashamed is as bad as if his bones began to rot inside his body. (Eww.)
Metaphorically speaking, a good wife makes a man feel like a king--a not-so-good wife makes him feel like shit.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
The righteous thinks thoughts that are "in accordance with what is good, proper, or just." The counsels (advice) of the wicked are deceitful--they are "distortions of the truth for the purpose of miseading; duplicity; fraud; cheating." (verse 5)
The words that come from the wicked advise you to stalk someone to take their blood (kill them). The words that come from the mouth of the righteous person will save the people the wicked wants to attack. (verse 6)
In verse 7, we learn the wicked are destined to be "knocked down," "overturned," "defeated." But the "house" (that which has been established by the righteous) will "stand" (which means to remain firm or steadfast--the house of the righteous cannot and will not be knocked down.)
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
The wise man will be praised and approved of in direct relationship to how wise he is--but not so lucky is the man who has a "perverse heart" (one that is willfully contrary; one who turns away from or rejects what is right, good, or proper. One who is wicked or corrupt.) This man will be "despised"--meaning he will be regarded with contempt, distaste, disgust, or distain. He will be scorned and loathed.
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
This verse, I think, means that the person who is scorned by others but has a servant is better off than a man who spends all his time patting himself on the back for how great he is, but has no food to eat.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
A good man takes care of the creatures he is responsible for and treats them well, but the wicked man's "tender mercies" are neither tender nor merciful. The wicked man mistreats his beasts just because he can.
This reminds me of one of the stories told to me by a student whose dad was a farmer. Apparently their bull was lying in the paddock sunning himself. Now, if you have ever seen a bull, you know that they have enormous testicles. Anyhow, this guy had a cattle prod, and for no reason at all except because he could and because he was cruel, he used that cattle prod to give the poor bull an electric shock to his testicles. Why? The kid thought it was hilarious. It made me feel sad for that poor animal.
This was written at a time where almost everyone was involved in animal husbandry. Now days, not many people work with animals. However, I think this verse holds true with the way people treat those they are involved with.
I have been teaching for many years. I have seen teachers and administrators who take delight in treating kids like shit. I have seen others who make those kids feel loved and accepted and GOOD. I have been to doctors that treated me like I was stupid and pathetic, and to others who treated me like an intelligent human being. I think this is all connected to this verse. A good person treats others well. An evil person amuses himself by hurting others.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
The first part of this is easy to understand--if you plant and tend and harvest your garden, you will eat well. The other half is not so easy to understand. It says that someone who follows a "vain person" (it can mean someone who is excessively proud of his appearances, qualities, and achievements, but in this case, it is more likely that it means an "ineffectual or unsuccessful" person. Perhaps it means that if someone chooses to follow a leader that is worthless, he has a big empty spot in his head where his wisdom should be.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
A bad person wants to prosper by taking the "easy way" of steaing from others or cheating. But the foundation that the righteous person has allows him to produce "fruit."--That is, it allows him to be successful and content.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
Someone who lies is always eventually going to get caught because his lies cannot be hidden forever. A man who is "just" (fair and good) will always find his way out of trouble because he does what is right.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
A person who says good and truthful things will be rewarded by the goodness which comes from doing and saying what is proper and good. "Recompence" means reward or compensation (it means to be paid, basically). Basically, the second part of the verse means that a man will be paid what he earns.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
No matter what you say to a fool, he/she will always think that he is right--he/she doesn't want to hear anything anyone else has to say. But the person who is truly wise will really listen to the advice of others and behave accordingly.
16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
When a fool is angry, everyone knows it because a fool just spews out his/her venomous nastiness without thinking of the consequences. A "prudent" (wise, judicious) person will not behave shamefully--even if he/she is angry. He will suck it up and behave decently so he has no reason to feel shame.
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
Good people speak the truth. People who lie are treacherous and cannot be trusted.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Some people speak so nastily to others that it is as painful as being stabbed by a sword. (Hmm....recently had this experience with someone I thought was a friend. It WAS as painful as being slashed up with a knife. The more he ranted, the more irrational he became--and the more false information he spewed out--and the more he justified his attack on me--even though he repeatedly lied about what I had said or done and deliberately twisted just about everything I said. It was extremely difficult to go through this.... the more he attacked, the worse I felt, the more certain it was our friendship was doomed.
On the other hand, what is said by a wise person leads to things getting better, not worse.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
The person who says what is true will be permanently accepted and remembered. The liar will have his few seconds of attention, but then he/she and his/her lies will be gone and forgotten.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
People who love to imagine and plot bad things are evil and deceitful, but those who work for the good of all will experience the joy of having made things better.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
Nothing bad will happen to those who are fair and righteous, but wicked people will be plagued with troubles and misery.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
God is disgusted by people who tell lies, but he is made very happy by those who tell only the truth.
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
A smart person doesn't tell everything he knows just because he knows it. Sometimes the truth doesn't help a situation and may in fact make it worse. Fools blab out everything they think they know. (And they usually don't know much, but it never stops them from blabbing on and on anyhow. Makes me think of the evil troll Brett J.)
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
People who are diligent (hard working) will rise to positions of authority. Those who are slothful (lazy) will be paying taxes to the diligent guy who has risen to a better position.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Depression crushes a person. But hearing some loving encouragement perks a person right up.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
A truly righteous person is superior to his neighbors. But a wicked person is able to lead others astray--fool them, trick them into doing something that is not good.
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
The lazy man goes hungry because he is too lazy to go hunting--so he has nothing to cook. A hard working man has plenty of what he needs, and it is GOOD quality stuff.
28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
A righteous person lives life well...there is not death in the pathway of the righteous person. Because he is righteous he will live forever.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}