#917 Proverbs 12 Animal Crackers

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but he who hates reproof is stupid.

2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord,

but a man of evil devices he condemns.

3 No one is established by wickedness,

but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;

the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

but the house of the righteous will stand.

8 A man is commended according to his good sense,

but one of twisted mind is despised.

9 Better to be lowly and have a servant

than to play the great man and lack bread.

10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

12 Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,

but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

but the righteous escapes from trouble.

14 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,

and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice.

16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,

but the prudent ignores an insult.

17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,

but a false witness utters deceit.

18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19 Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

but those who plan peace have joy.

21 No ill befalls the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with trouble.

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

but those who act faithfully are his delight.

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,

but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,

while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.

26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27 Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,

but the diligent man will get precious wealth.

28 In the path of righteousness is life,

and in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12 ESV

Proverbs 12

But he who hates reproof is stupid - What is it that makes the hair on the back of our necks stand when someone says, "you're doing that wrong?" What is it that makes us persist in the wrong way, and prefer the lie over the reality? The wise will always consider reproach and bless the man who turns him from error. 

…16 And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 Then He began to teach them and declare, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 18 When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.… Mark 11: 16-18

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast - The cruel nature of many a man has been exposed in the way he treats his animals. Dominion was never a call to cruelty. I eat meat and am very grateful for the life that sustains mine, but I do not want it to suffer, nor be taken for granted, wasted. All life is precious to God; death entered the world through sin.

“I once in my travels met with the Hebrew of this clause on the sign board of a public inn: yodea tsaddik nephesh behemto. ‘A righteous man considereth the life of his beast;’ which, being very appropriate, reminded me that I should feed my horse.” (Clarke)

…11 but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove. 12 For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your maidservant may be refreshed, as well as the foreign resident. Exodus 23: 11-12

17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.” 1 Timothy 5: 17-18

1 But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside. Genesis 8:1

…28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.… Matthew 10: 28-30

But the mercy of the wicked is cruel - Our age is marred with much talk of compassion, but those who tout it only want power, and give platitudes, like plastic beads, in exchange for freedom. It is considered compassion in our culture to allow someone to take the life of an infant. 

…20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Isaiah 5: 20-21

Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evil doers - Repent of the thought or you will find yourself justifying the act. How quickly mobsters, gang members, rock stars, villains of all sorts become heroes, for they have the things that we covet; the things God has told us not to regard.

The vexation of a fool is known at once - He has no reign over his passions, no self control. His temper is on his sleeve and he is always prepared to erupt. The prudent ignores the insult; he considers the source, the Lord rebuke you.

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord - He never gives an instance where "thou shalt not lie" finds an exception. He hates lying, it's not "just business, a white lie," no, you are a liar regardless of how you like to see yourself. 

A prudent man conceals knowledge - Consider carefully who you are disclosing information to. 

“Someone who is careful in what he says will be equally careful about whom he confides in.” (Garrett)

 

Whoever is slothful will not roast his game - He will either not rise to go hunting for his food, or he will kill and then waste it by not preparing it soon enough. He is either too busy with things that bring no sustaining reward, or too lazy about things that matter.