Proverbs 29

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise person holds it in check (Proverbs 29:11 CSB). It is the nature of the fool to think that everyone is interested in his feelings, and there is some sort of obligation for the fool to reveal to everyone exactly...

Proverbs 28

Better the poor person who lives with integrity than the rich one who distorts right and wrong (Proverbs 28:6 CSB). Some people become rich by taking advantage of others financially, with little regard for honesty and fairness. God will protect and be on the side of those who are humble...

Proverbs 27

Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17 CSB). A piece of iron can sharpen another piece of iron, and it usually happens by striking the pieces together, with friction from one piece to the other, creating heat and causing sparks to fly. This is reminiscent of the...

Proverbs 26

As a dog that returns to his vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness (Proverbs 26:11 CSB). This chapter continues in the nature of the fool and the lazy man. A fool will normally not change his ways unless he has some sort of catastrophic event that causes the...

Proverbs 25

Don’t boast about yourself before the king, and don’t stand in the place of the great; for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here!” than to demote you in plain view of a noble (Proverbs 25:6,7 CSB). We should always avoid self-exalting. Even as we...

Proverbs 24

Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.” (Proverbs 24:29 CSB) When we speak against others without cause, the tendency is to exaggerate or bend the truth into something that is more deceptive. This is exactly what wisdom...

Proverbs 23

Don’t gaze at wine because it is red, because it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper (Proverbs 23:31,32 CSB). Today’s chapter devotes seven verses to the misery of abusing alcohol.  Wine can be pleasing on...

Proverbs 22

Start a youth out on his way; even when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6 CSB).  As every parent knows, children need training, and it is their responsibility to train their children in the way they should go. The Book of Proverbs presents the idea...

Proverbs 21

All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs hearts (Proverbs 21:2 CSB). Our human nature is to justify our words and actions. Sometimes we do this correctly in honest, godly sincerity. But other times, we justify with deception and stubborn pride, which makes us think we...

Proverbs 20

The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, searching all his innermost parts (Proverbs 20:27 CSB). There are mysteries and specific truths in each of us; this is the spirit of man. And this spirit of man is something that only the lamp of the Lord can expose. The...