Proverbs Chapter 14
14:12. The way which seemeth right may not be the best or righteous way.
14:20, 21. Social standing is improved with riches, but the good neighbor will have concern for all, regardless of
their status.
14:34. National righteousness and national sin have opposite effects: exaltation versus reproach.
Proverbs Chapter 15
15:1. Anger is removed by a gentle response, but a heated response fuels the flame.
15:8. The best that the wicked can offer God religiously is completely rejected.
15:16. Spiritual riches are better than material riches.
15:19. The lazy man multiplies his own obstacles in life, but the righteous man moves freely down life's road.
15:28. The righteous studieth to answer or thinks before he speaks, but the wicked blurts out whatever is on his
mind.
15:29. Whose prayer does God really hear?-that of the righteous.
Proverbs Chapter 16
16:1. The Lord is sovereign, even over a man's thoughts and words.
16:2. The Lord is the great discerner of motives.
16:9. The Lord is sovereign over man's scheming and planning.
16:28. Gossip destroys friendships.
16:31. The hoary head or white head of old age is only a crown if it is accompanied by righteousness.
16:33. What people call chance is under the Lord's sovereignity.
Proverbs Chapter 17
17:6. Different generations within the family are a crown to each other.
17:17. A true friend has unquenchable love that is not diminished by adversity.
17:22. A cheerful mind is revitalizing to the entire person.
Proverbs Chapter 18
18:8. A talebearer is a gossip, and his words bring internal wounds.
18:10. The righteous find protection in the Lord.
18:19. Reconciliation with an offended brother is difficult. Barriers between friends can arise easily but are
destroyed with difficulty.
18:24. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly may also be translated, "A man of many friends comes to
ruin." In other words, a man must not spread himself too thin among many superficial relationships. Far better is it to
have genuine friends who become like family and love at all times (17:17).
Proverbs Chapter 19
19:10. Two unfitting situations: a fool in luxury and a slave in power.
19:13. The foolish son or the contentious wife ruins a man’s life and home.
19:14. Riches may be passed on by inheritance, but only the Lord gives a wise and prudent wife (df. 8:12; 18:22; 31:
30).
19:24. The slothful man is so lazy that even eating is too much work for him!
19:25. The simple learn from corporal punishment, but the wise man learns from careful instruction.
Chapter 20
20:1. Wine is personified as a mocker because it deceives those who partake of it. It is contrary to wise living.
20:4 The sluggard is too lazy to plow in the cool of the morning; therefore, he begs futilely at the time of harvest.
20:10 Divers weights are deceptive weights used to cheat customers.
Chapter 21
21:1 The Lord sovereignly controls political powers.
21:9 Solitude with little is better than much with a contentious wife (cf. v. 19)
21:22 Wisdom is mightier than brute strength.
21:31 Military preparedness is useless apart from the Lord, who really gives the victory.
Book of Proverbs chapter 22
22:1 A good reputation is more important than wealth
22:2 Everybody is equal before God, rich and poor alike.
22:6 Train up a child refers to the total process of molding a child's life. The word train (chanak) comes from the root
meaning to "put in the mouth" and implies the idea of conditioning the palate. Thus, parental training should help
children develop a taste for the things of God. The biblical pattern of effective parental training emphasizes a
balance of instruction and discipline (Ephesians 6:1-4). The ideal parent is to be neither overly authoritarian nor
overly permissive. Rather, he must balance love and discipline so as not to "provoke" his child to rebellion. When he
is old means simply, "when he is grown up," or a mature adult. It does not refer to his elderly years. The verse
stresses the simple principle that education in the home forms the man throughout his lifetime.
22:13 The slothful man uses preposterous excuses to avoid work.
22:15 Corporal punishment is necessary for children due to inherit foolishness
22:17 The verse begins a new section called simply the words of the wise. Extending through 24:22, it contains
many parallels with an Egyptian wisdom book. This fact is not surprising in light of Solomon's interest in international
wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34).
22: 28 Removing the ancient landmark was the equivalent of altering a deed for a larger share of the land
(Deuteronomy 19:14).
Proverbs Chapter 23
23:20-21 Winebibbers are drunkards and riotous eaters of flesh are gluttons. Both are sinners and both are
avoided by the wise man.
23:29-35 Six rhetorical questions drive home the fact that alcoholism has both physical and psychological effects (v.
29). These effects are further specified: physical and psychological poisoning (v. 32); delusion (v. 33, strange
women should be translated “strange things”); stumbling(v. 34); unconscious wounds (v. 35a): and enslavement (v.
35b).
Proverbs Chapter 24
24:10 Strength in the face of adversity is the true test of one’s endurance.
24:16 The righteous man always recovers, but the wicked man faces permanent destruction.
24:23 This begins further sayings of unidentified wise men.
24:30-34. The slothful is too lazy to keep thorns and nettles out of his vineyard or to keep his stone wall repaired (v.
31). His laziness is further exhibited in sleeping late when he should be working (v. 33). Therefore, his poverty will
come as one that traveleth: that is, a bandit or vagabond. Small surrenders lead to great disasters.
Proverbs chapter 25
25:1 A third collection of Solomon’s proverbs, this one made by Hezekiah.
25:2 God has the prerogative to conceal (cf. Deut. 29:29) but a king’s duty is to get to the bottom of things.
25:11 A timely and fitting word is precious and pleasing.
25:15 Patience is ultimately persuasive, and a gentle answer gets the desired response.
25:17 Proper social etiquette dictates that one should not spend so much time at a neighbor’s house, that it invades
his privacy and thus wears out one’s welcome.
25:19 Faith is only as good as its object, and an unfaithful man is useless.
25:20 Untimely cheerfulness is unbearable. To pour vinegar upon nitre (i.e., soda) is to cause it to effervesce and
lose its constituent power.
25:22 Coals of fire does not refer to revenge or punishment but to he pangs of shame that will lead to reconciliation.
Proverbs chapter 26
26:4-5 Sometimes you should not answer a fool lest you be brought down to his level; on the other hand, sometimes
you should answer a fool, but in such a way that he is put to shame.
26:14 The slothful man loves sleep so much that he seems hinged to his bed!
26:18, 19 a man who deceives his neighbor, and disguises his deception as a joke, is as dangerous as a madman
shooting arrows.
26:23 Silver dross may also be taken as “glaze.” The point is this: just as glaze covers the rough pottery but cannot
ultimately change its character, so the evil man cannot change his character by covering it with eloquent speech.
Proverbs chapter 27
27:6 True criticism from a friend may hurt for a time but may be welcomed, for it issues from his love, whereas the
kisses of an enemy are an attempt to conceal his hatred.
27:13 Any man who is foolish enough to guarantee a stranger’s loan, especially if that stranger is a seductress, is a
bad credit risk. If you make a loan to him, be sure to get adequate collateral.
27:14 Insincere blessings are actually counted as curses.
27:17 As the proper tool shapes and sharpens iron for its desired use, so a man sharpens his friend morally and
intellectually by their personal friendship.
Proverbs chapter 28
28:1 A clear conscience is prerequisite for confident living and spiritual boldness.
Proverbs chapter 29
29:18 Vision refers to the divine revelation received by the prophet. Morality is based on adherence to God’s
revealed will.
29:21 The meaning of the verse is uncertain, but it seems to teach that a pampered servant will begin to expect the
rights of a son.
Proverbs chapter 30
30:1 Nothing is known Agur, but he was likely one of the international sages of Solomon’s day (cf. 1 Kin 4:30, 31).
The expression unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal may possibly be translated “I have wearied myself, O God, I
have wearied myself, O god, and am faint.”
30:4 The questions are designed, as God’s questions to Job in Job 38-41 to press home the limitations of man’s
knowledge.
30:7-9 Agar’s prayer is for a consistent and lifelong integrity, accompanied by a rejection of lies and riches. His
resting in God’s provision for him (v.8) anticipates the words of our Lord.
30:10-33 The sage leaves to his readers a number of proverbial axioms (vv. 10, 15a, 17, 20, 32, 33) and several
sets of wise pronouncements on some of the people, things, and situations that are observable in the ongoing
activities of life, These latter thoughts are given in groups of four: four kinds of sinners (vv. 11-14), four insatiable
things (vv. 15b, 16), four incomprehensible things (vv. 18, 19), four kinds of intolerable people (vv. 21-23). Conies
(v. 26) are “rock badgers” or “marmots.” Spider (v. 28) may be translated “lizard” though the point remains the
same. The word greyhound (v.31) is a nickname for an animal and would be translated literally “girt in the loins.”
Other suggestions include “rooster,” “zebra,” and “war-horse.”
30:32,33 If you have acted foolishly or wickedly, be silent; to press the matter would only bring strife.