Proverbs 09

Lesson 9 of 28

THE PROVERBS OF KING SOLOMON AND OTHERS Proverbs Chapters 10 to 29

The Proverbs of Solomon form the largest part of the Book of Proverbs. The title is found in Proverbs 10:1. -

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Proverbs 10:1

In Proverbs 22:17, ( Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge) there is another title, the words of wise men, and in Proverbs 25:1 ( These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Juda h copied out) still another title.

1. Proverbs 10:1 to 22:16 - Proverbs of Solomon.
2. Proverbs 22:17 to 24:34 - Proverbs of Wise Men.
3. Proverbs 25:1 to 29:27 - More Proverbs of Solomon, written down by Hezekiah’s men.

Chapters 10 to 29 contain five hundred and ninety-five verses. Most of these are separate proverbs, but sometimes two or more verses go together.

A proverb is a short statement or a saying which will help us to live a good life in a wise way. King Solomon spoke out of the wisdom God gave him.

Some proverbs may have been used in court to warn people, for example, - In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. Proverbs 16:15.

Solomon’s wisdom as a Judge is seen in 1 Kings - And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 1 Kings 3:25.

As we have noted, there are two parts to a proverb: the second part may mean about the same as the first part, or it may teach that the opposite is not true. Some proverbs are the same in both parts; the second part repeats the truth of the first part to emphasize it strongly. For example, both the wicked man and the whisperer cause quarrels between friends, - A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. Proverbs 16:28.

Other proverbs say the opposite in the second part of the verse, but both parts are true. The first part may speak about a wise man and what happens to him; the second part shows us the end of a foolish person, for example, - The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Proverbs 10:1; Wise men lay-up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Proverbs 10:14.

Hebrew poetry is often in one of these two forms, for example, - Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Psalms 100:2.

Also see –

Psalms 32:1 - Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psalms 40:8 - I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalms 91:5 - Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Both parts may mean about the same, but the second part may add to the first, for example,

Psalms 15:2 - He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Psalms 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalms 103:3 - Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Other verses have the word but and the second part is the opposite, for example,

Psalms 20:8 - They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

Psalms 37:9 - For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 119:67 - Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Isaiah 54:7 - a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee

Sometimes two verses are joined together with the word but, for example,
Psalms 1:1-2 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Proverbs 24:24-25 - He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Sometimes several verses take up one subject and can be joined together, for example,

Proverbs 22.17-21 - Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

There are other proverbs in the Bible besides Solomon’s, -

Numbers 21:27 - Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared.

1 Samuel 10:12 - And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

1 Sam 24:13 - As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

Ezekiel 12:21 - And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying.

Ezekiel 16:44 - Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, as is the mother, so is her daughter.

Ezekiel 18:2 - What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

Luke 4:23 - And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

2 Peter 2:22 - But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

A parable is also a wise saying, often longer than a proverb: -

Numbers 23:7 - And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

Numbers 23:18 - And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor.

Numbers 24:3 - And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said.

Numbers 24:15 - And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said.

Numbers 24:20-23 –

20 - And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
21 - And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. 22 - Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 23 - And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

Judges 9:7 - And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

2 Kings 14:9 - And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

Job 27:1 - Moreover Job continued his parable, and said

Job 29:1 - Moreover Job continued his parable, and said

The Lord Jesus taught the people by parables, - All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: Matthew 13:34 and the letter of James is also a book of practical wisdom, almost like the Proverbs.

In the Book of Proverbs some verses teach about the same as others. We will group together these proverbs which speak about the same thing. This is to help you understand the teaching of the Book, and also to assist you to find a proverb on some subject.

Some proverbs could be put in two or more groups, and you may think, that some should be in a different group. This is good, and your study will help you to understand God’s Word better.

Another thing, some Bibles give a different translation and a different meaning to a few verses. We will usually use the King James Version or the Revised Standard Version. It would be good to read through these chapters in Proverbs, 10 to 29, several times in whatever Bible you have. Then read each proverb as we study it together.

First, we will take up those proverbs which give the same teaching in the second half of the verse; then those proverbs which are different in the second half.

1. PROVERBS WITH BOTH PARTS THE SAME
2. PROVERBS WITH THE SECOND PART DIFFERENT

1. PROVERBS WITH BOTH PARTS THE SAME

Here we will group many proverbs together under six main headings:

A. The Tongue
B. The Heart, Good Things
C. The Heart, Bad Things
D. Jehovah
E. Other People
F. Advice about our behaviour
A. THE TONGUE

The Bible teaches us a great deal about the tongue, - And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. Exodus 19:16.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:37

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. James 1:26

HERE WE WILL LIST PROVERBS UNDER EIGHT HEADINGS

1. A good word
2. Counsel
3. Gossip
4. Flattery
5. Boasting
6. Lying
7. Curses
8. Few words

1. A GOOD WORD

The mouth can speak good things as well as bad, - Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3:10.

We will study first some proverbs which tell us how to use our tongues properly. First, read the verse and try to understand it. Then read what we say about it in this lesson.

Proverbs 13:14. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

In this lesson we have learned that the words of Wisdom will give life to one who believes, - So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Proverbs 3:22; For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:22; For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Proverbs 8:35.

Here, wise teaching gives life abundantly and saves us from the sin which is a death-trap.

Proverbs 15:23 - A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

It takes wisdom to say the right word at the right time. Such a word brings joy to the speaker and seems good to those who listen. Abigail spoke good and wise words to David when she met him, -

And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou
didst send. Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. 1 Samuel 25:24-32

So did Naaman's servants - And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 2 Kings 5:13.

Proverbs 16:24 - Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. - Such words are good for the soul and the body.

Proverbs 25:11 - A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. - The right word at the right time is beautiful like a picture made of silver and gold.

Proverbs 18.20 - A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. - Good words bring joy to the speaker and -

Proverbs 24:26 - Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. - others will love him for what he says.

Proverbs18:4 - The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.- A wise man will speak words which give life, like water to a thirsty person, - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John
7:38.

Proverbs 20:15 - There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. - His words may be more precious than gold or jewels. The words of Wisdom are better than gold or silver or rubies, - Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 8:10-11.

Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. - The tongue may speak words of life, and eternal life, like the Lord Jesus’ in John 6.63 (It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life) or words of death like King Ahasuerus’ in Esther 7.9 ( And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon). So we must love good words and be very careful in what we say. The results may be good or bad, life or death, for the speaker and the hearer.

Proverbs 29:18 - but he that keepeth the law, happy is he - Gods prophets often had visions and told the people what they should do, - The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Isaiah 1:1; the vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Obadiah 1:1; the burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. Nahum 1:1.

But sometimes there was no prophet in Israel and the people did what they pleased, - And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 1 Samuel 3:1.

Today we have the writings of the prophets in the Holy Bible, and God does not give visions. We should talk about the truth of Scripture and tell others they will perish if they do not believe. They will be happy if they obey God and accept Christ as Saviour.

Proverbs 16:10 - A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. - Kings and rulers should be very careful about what they say, especially when they give judgment on anyone.

Proverbs 16:13 - Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. - For this reason kings love people who tell the truth and say what is right.

Proverbs 22:11 - He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. - The king’s friend must have a pure mind and be able to speak well.

Proverbs 25:15 - By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. - However sometimes it takes great patience to lead a ruler to change his mind.