BOOK OF PROVERBS
CHAPTER 23
When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite [Better not be a glutton when in the presence of high ranking whoever in your society; it’s not etiquette - Keith Hunt]
3 Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food [Be careful of any fancy delicacies, for they may be a plan to deceive you into opening up what he may think you know; over friendliness can be deceptive - Keith Hunt]
4 Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! [ Weary not yourself to be rich; cease from your own (human) wisdom (Prov. 28:20; 1 Tim. 6: 9, 10) - Amplified Bible. I once knew a man that said to me one day, “I’m off this week-end here in Calgary, to an all week-end meeting of….” I said, “What do you mean by all week-end?” His reply. “Oh day and night, we do not sleep!” My reply was “Wow however do you do that?” He answered, “Oh that’s nothing, my wife and I went to California and had a 5 day no sleep seminar; I want to be a Millionaire, I want to be a Millionaire!” This proverb from the Lord would be against all such endeavours - Keith Hunt]
5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven [And so it sure can be so, depends on your wisdom. They did a survey of Lottery winners once; it was amazing how many of them with 100s of thousands of dollars, some with a few million, had gone through it all in a few years time, and were pretty well back to where they were before they had that money - Keith Hunt]
6 Do not eat the bread of a miser, nor desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
[This is really saying do not even attend this guys meal; he’s really a miser; something more is learking in his miserly ways; maybe to embarrass you while everyone else is eating a tiny bit, especially him; he may with outstretched arms say, “There my friend eat as much as you can, dig in and feast.” His heart is mischievously not with you and something deviate is in his mind - Keith Hunt]
8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, and waste your pleasant words [Another result of being misled by this miser, even as you eat a little he’s talking about evil plans, that could be as bad as to make you vomit - you’ll waste your pleasant words on him to get him to see things differently - Keith Hunt]
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words
[As Jesus said, do not cast your pearls before swine, they will trample all over them and maybe you also - Keith Hunt]
10 Do not remove the ancient landmark, nor enter the fields of the fatherless [We’ve had this one before; be satisfied with what you have; don’y steal from others; and the corners of the field are for the widow and fatherless (Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Prov. 22:28).
11 For their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you [If you do what you should not do (above proverb) God will plead their case against you; you will be discovered in what you are doing and face people, shame and ignominy will be your reward - Keith Hunt]
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge [A constant theme through the book of Proverbs….get wisdom, instruction, knowledge - your mind was created not to stay stagnant - Keith Hunt
13 Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die [Once more we see that some children need the paddle, in the time way, at the right time, and on the correct area of their body…. the backside or the fleshly part of the thigh. If a child is reaching for something off limits, a slight slap on the back of the hand and a firm “NO” will do the job of correcting. Many people are delighted with very well behaved children, but would abhor some of the methods used to produce such results. Today with our mentality of “Oh no we do not put to death mass or serial killers… that is barbaric” and we wonder why we are in the mess we’re in; of course the serial killer or mass killer was not doing anything barbaric….. so Governments like Canada have deceived themselves into thinking - Keith Hunt]
14 You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his life from hell (the grave) [physical capital punishment on the right person, for the right offence, often brings the right results. It has worked for Singapore for decades…… it is one of the most safe places to live in the world, obey their laws and you can have a beautiful life; crime is just about unknown there - Keith Hunt]
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From the KJV Study Bible
23:1-3 Unrestrained appetite is doubly dangerous: it may be both a source of disgrace and a point where undue influence may be applied.
23:4, 5 Material wealth is like a vapor—soon gone.
23:6-8 bread of a miser: No real fellowship is developed by dining with a person who does mental calculations about what you are costing him while you eat his food.
23:10,11 See v. 28; Hos. 5:10 and notes, their Redeemer in Israel the close relative of a financially troubled landowner could buy the land back, and thus redeem it (see Ruth 4: 3, 4 and note). Here the Lord will be the close "relative of the fatherless.”
23:13,14 This truth must be considered seriously by those | who have children. Correction and wise physical punishment | have an impact for good. See note on 13:24.
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15 My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoiced—indeed,
16 I myself; Yes, my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak right things
[A righteous father to his son; God towards His children - Keith Hunt]
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day [It is possible that sinners, non-Godly, the unconverted, get away relatively un-scaled with troubles and problems; but their time will come to answer for their sins; you are to stay zealous in the fear (right respect) of the Lord - Keith Hunt]
18 For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off [sinners will answer for their sins when in the second resurrection; they will face the way they lived, and will then have to choose which way they will walk - with God -against God. Those who in this life have remained faithful to the way of the Lord will have the first resurrection and eternal life - Keith Hunt]
19 Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the Way [In the book of Acts “the way” is repeated - 18:26; 19:23; 24:14. Once more a righteous father to his son, or God to His children. A Christian must walk in “the way” of the Lord; God has “a way” to think, to speak, to live….it is His WAY, and that is living by every word of God as Jesus taught we should do - Mat. 4:4. I have a two part study to help you understand this command of Jesus, it is called “Living by Every word of God - How?” I believe it is under section “Christian Living” - Keith Hunt]
20 Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat [This is over-indulgence. Jesus was accused of being a winebibber - kinda strange if Jesus only drank grape juice; He was also accused of gluttony - Mat. 11:19 - because he had meals in homes of reasonably well off people at times - Keith Hunt]
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags [We are back to those who do not hold down a steady job, because of truly being a drunkard, a glutton, and/or just plain lazy. Today we can include those on drugs of various kinds, and indeed they end up with very little and the worst cases, living on the streets - Keith Hunt]
22 Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old [Repect for father and mother being taught….listening….so presumed to be righteous parents - Keith Hunt]
23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding [If someone writes a book on truth (whatever truth it be) they do have the right to sell it to others, so likewise books on wisdom, instruction, and understanding; these categories give a very wide range of books that can be written by Christians and sold. Do not sell it….cherish such books, keep them, you may want to share such books with others, but do not sell yours - Keith Hunt]
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him [It is wonderful for sure, when a child grows up to walk in righteousness - Keith Hunt]
25 Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice [Continuing from above proverb - Keith Hunt]
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways [God talking to His children, or a righteous father to his children - Keith Hunt]
27 For a harlot is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well [A deep pit can be dangerous to fall into, and so also a narrow well; some children in the past fell into narrow well, it is difficult to get them out being stuck, and how far down into it they are; both analogies show the fault of being involved with prostitutes and a seductress - advice from a righteous father and from God - Keith Hunt]
28 She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men [Both the prostitute and the seductress woman are lying in wait, to increase the single and married man’s unfaithfulness from God; if married unfaithfulness to a wife - Keith Hunt]
Evils of Alcohol
29 Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine [This has no bearing on the teaching from some Christians that drinking alcohol is a sin. It has everything to do with “linger long” and going in search of different concoctions of alcohol to take you on a high that blows the mind. It has everything to do with drunkenness; then sorrows, red eyes. Many good things can be taken too much - vitamin A taken too much produces bad effects on your body. The Bible teach MODERATION not abstinence when it comes to wine and strong drink. A full study of this topic is on this website - Keith Hunt]
31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly [This is in the process of becoming wine. To look on it means to drink it while it is fermenting….. just not good for you - Keith Hunt]
32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper [The wrong us of wine or alcohol stings the heart and mind, as those who become alcoholics know only too well. I drink a little wine now and again; less seldom I drink some “strong” drink, but I’ve never ever been drunk in my 75 years come 9/11 2017 - Keith Hunt]
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things [Being under the influence, or being drunk, can do all kinds of strange things to your mind, and to your body; drunkenness is condemned by the Lord - Keith Hunt]
34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, [You’ll think lying down on the sea will keep you afloat, you’ll think nothing will master you, you’ll think your invincible, but your not….
35 Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: They have struck me, but I
was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it ; When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink? [To your drunken mind you are invincible; when you are a FULL alcoholic you’ll want it as soon as you wake up; such will be its hold on you - Keith Hunt]
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From the New KJV Study Bible
23:17,18 The promise of a hereafter means there will be, sooner or later, a reward for those who fear... the Lord.
23:19-21 Bad company corrupts good persons, as well as manners. See note on vv. 29-35.
23:26-28 The wise men of Israel never ceased warning against the harlot and seductress (see 7:24-27 and note). The corruption of character involved in debauchery was considered nearly fatal.
23:29-35 A classic statement on the dangers of alcohol consumption. Like many proverbs, it calls on the young man to look-beyond short-term pleasure (v. 31) to long-term
consequences.
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CHAPTER 24
Do Not Envy the Wicked
Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;
2 For their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of troublemaking [Straight forward are these first two verses - Keith Hunt]
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From the New KJV Study Bible
24:1, 2 The corrupt character and speech of evil men are the real reasons why they should be shunned.
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3 Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established
4 By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
[Wisdom is once more honoured; yes through wisdom and understanding a house and family is built on a solid foundation; true knowledge fills the rooms with pleasant riches that are more emotional precious than physical - Keith Hunt]
5 A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety [Wisdom and knowledge can increase your character and give inner most stregnth; by wise counsel from others you can fight your battles of life, and with others to share those your life’s difficult hard times, there can be safely - Keith Hunt]
7 Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate [People get to know foolish individuals and ones that lack wisdom and knowledge; they themselves get to perceive what others think of them, and so usually keep their mouth shut in times of open discourse; being a fool in speech too many times in public, gets the fool to keep his mouth shut - Keith Hunt]
8 He who plots to do evil will be called a schemer
9 The devising of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men
[This is all in the context of plotting and planning to do evil; it is also foolishness; most, the majority of people will say such evil planning is an abomination; most people desire to live a respectful life before others, and have no respect for those who do not - Keith Hunt]
10 Faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small [Getting into a “defeat” attitude will mean you will not put up much of a fight against the adversity facing you - Keith Hunt]
11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling
to the slaughter [Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back (from their doom) - Amplified Bible. Sounds like even back in ancient Israel there was a “suicide problem” as there is today among Canada’s First Nations People; and also today we have a huge problem in the West of drugs and those who die from them each day. It is a serious issue and we have to address it and work to try and eradicate it from our societies - Keith Hunt]
12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your life, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? [The answer to the problem of verse 11, is not the “ignorant” plea, “I just did know about this problem” excuse. Gods knows you should know about it (by and large the Western nations do know the problem) and be doing something to alter the problem. God will render us accountable and so give us according to our deeds; if nothing we shall pay a large price in the deaths of our younger generation coming up to adulthood - Keith Hunt]
13 My son, eat honey because it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste [Natural unpasteurized is good for you; I have read that ALL of the “B” vitamins are in honey - Keith Hunt]
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your life; if you have found it, there is a
prospect, and your hope will not be cut off [Like honey is good for you, so is knowledge with wisdom; knowledge is the true facts etc. - wisdom is how to apply those true facts in any given situation; using knowledge and wisdom there is prospect of a good life - individually and nationally - Keith Hunt]
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not plunder his resting place [The Lord talks to the wicked concerning their feelings towards the righteous; maybe some would pick up the book of Proverbs and heed the admonition of the Lord - Keith Hunt]
16 For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity [The righteous man of God may fall, does fall, but he’ll get back up again and plug on; the wicked mostly do not rise up after a fall, some get caught by the police and end up in jail, or killed by the other mob, or pushed to the bottom of the wicked and stay there - Keith Hunt]
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles [Be humble in everything, even the falling of an enemy, for by the grace of God there go I, is well worth remembering. David of Israel did not rejoice when king Saul, his enemy was killed - Keith Hunt]
18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [Lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him (to expend it upon you, the worse offender) - Amplified Bible.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked;
20 for there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out [We must always look to the final end of it all; it will be disaster for the wicked! They may seem like they are getting away with having justice come upon them, but the end of it all is that justice will be given them; so keep your eyes on the future end not on the present - Keith Hunt]
21 My son, fear the Lord and the king; do not associate with those given to change;
22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin those two can bring? [My son (reverently) fear the Lord and the king (obviously this is a good king - you ain’t going to respect {fear)}an Adolph Hitler) and do not associate with those who are given to change (of allegiance and are revolutionary); for their calamity shall arise suddenly, and who knows the punishment and ruin which both (the Lord and the king) will bring upon (the rebellious)? - Amplified Bible. There are times when we must be very thankful for the government powers we have, of course the context is “good” powers. We need to be thankful for our freedom to live and work and play, and be a Christian in the liberties allowed us, and freedom to teach the Gospel. We should not associate yourselves with radical people who are opposed to just about anything and everything a government mandates; there are some who do not want government at all. Some wealthy guys in the USA and many behind the so-called “tea-cup” movement, are for no government at all. A thick documented book has been written on this behind the scene group of people, called, “DARK MONEY” - an eye-opener, I’ve read it - Keith Hunt]
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From the New KJV Study Bible
24:3, 4 Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are a threefold cord that leads to solid and satisfying achievement.
24:6 See 20:18 and note.
24:7 The gate was the place where the wise men gathered to talk (see note on Ruth 4:1).
24:9 Here, foolishness is not foolish behavior, but ignoring God and scoffing at godly living.
24:10 Through love, faith, and strength of resolve we are able to endure much adversity.
24:11,12 Rebuke and aid those who are headed toward their own destruction. It is the compassionate Son of God who sends us on these missions of love (see Matt. 9:36-28). 24:14 hope ... not... cut off: See 23:17, 18 and note.
24:15,16 The staying power of the righteous is assured.
24:17,18 The OT does not permit the hating of one's enemies. Jesus stated this same principle positively (Matt. 5:44,45).
24:19-22 Two important life principles: Do not envy the wicked, and do not be a slave of fads (v. 21). their calamity: Trouble arises for those who always desire change. The expression those two refers to the Lord and the king.
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23 These things also belong to the wise:
It is not good to show partiality in judgment [Should be no favourites when having to judge righteous judgment - Keith Hunt]
24 The who says to the wicked “You are righteous," him the people will curse [Nations will abhor him [Sometimes in the crazy politicking some get into power by others claiming this man of their’s is righteous, yes calling the wicked righteous; in the long run the nation of people will curse both the wicked and those that said to the wicked you are righteous; anyone saying that any wicked is righteous will be found to be curse. In Bible prophecy it was foretold long ago that there would be a whole-sale development where people would say good is evil and evil is good; we live in those times now! -Keith Hunt]
25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good bless will come upon hem [The good blessing will the first resurrection and the age to come; remaining faithful to God’s word there will be blessings the human mine can not imagine; standing for truth pays the best dividend - Keith Hunt]
26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips [Yes I guess so, for it is always nice when you get the right answer to anything - Keith Hunt]
27 Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house [A good solid well planned foundation work is very important in whatever your doing, certainly for building a house or anything larger. Jesus talked about building on the sand or on a rock and applied it to Christian living - Keith Hunt]
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, for would you deceive with your lips? [Being a witness is to anything is a mighty important matter; better be a very good cause; and be as truthful as you can possibly be on every point - Keith Hunt]
29 Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work." [Jesus said do not repay evil with evil, but contrariwise do good to those who do evil to you; love your enemies. I remember my Mom bringing me up on “If you can’t say something nice about someone say nothing at all.” Keith Hunt]
30 I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was,.
31 Its wall overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest;
34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler; and your need like an armed man.
[Pretty straightforward talk about NOT being lazy. Most of us do not inherit millions, most of us need to work, we should work; even if a millionaire we should still work at something; work is good for us. Most of us need to work to have the basic moderate income for moderate living; being lazy will not give us even that moderate status in life - I’m 75 on 9/11 2017, and I still work at two part time physical jobs….it’s good to work; then I also have the care of this website, always uploading studies. I keep my mind and body active, people think I’m 55 and not 75….work is good for the mind and body - Keith Hunt]
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From the New KJV Study Bible
24:23 These things: Verses 23-34 are additional proverbs to the collection of the wise introduced in 22:17 (see note on 22:17—24:34).
24:24-25 The prophet joins the wise men of Israel: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil" (Is. 5:20).
24:27 The work of the field should be given priority, build your house: Probably refers to having a family.
24:28, 29 Vengeance was reserved for God in the OT, and equally so in the NT (see Rom. 12:19-21 and note).
24:30-34 God created human beings to work for their well-hood. Success attends diligence; sloth feeds failure.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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