#916 Proverbs 11 Ring of Fodder

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

but a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with the humble is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,

but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,

but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,

and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,

and the wicked walks into it instead.

9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,

but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls,

but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,

but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

16 A gracious woman gets honor,

and violent men get riches.

17 A man who is kind benefits himself,

but a cruel man hurts himself.

18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,

but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,

but he who pursues evil will die.

20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,

but those of blameless ways are his delight.

21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout

is a beautiful woman without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,

the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;

another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,

and one who waters will himself be watered.

26 The people curse him who holds back grain,

but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,

but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

and whoever captures souls is wise.

31 If the righteous is repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner! Proverbs 11 ESV

Proverbs 11

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord - Fallen man has pride, and can therefore justify practices that God has deemed unfair. Just as lady justice should be blind, judging the weight of the act, looking at behaviors rather than who it is, so should the scales of business be under the law. You should not have a weight for the rich and another for the poor, for those you like, are your friends, and another for those who you think you can fool. Men are greedy, and therefore we have to have outside, third party, regulators, to calibrate fuel pumps and test to see that they are accurate. When I buy a pound of meat at the store, I like to get a pound, but because of human depravity men will justify what God has called an abomination, tipping the scales in favor of their greed. If we are all made in His image, then the departure from equality is an affront to God Himself.

You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light. 14 You shall not have two differing measures in your house, a larger and a smaller. 15 You must maintain accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.…

16 For everyone who behaves dishonestly in regard to these things is detestable to the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 25: 13-16

But a just weight is His delight - The simplest things; a foot is a foot, a pound is a pound, and He will not chastise you for giving extra, but He hates deceit. In the light of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we find that God's word may also clash with our culture, what we have come to accept and expect, but His word has not changed. As an enemy of God, He has given me redemption in His Son, not justice, not my due, but mercy beyond my measure. It should be a small thing for me to be fair to others, but how marvelous a notion to want for them better than they have done to me. 

…29 Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”… Mark 12: 29-31

When pride comes then comes disgrace - "I want this, and by-golly I deserve this, so since I deserve this then the end will surely justify the means." God said, but we decide that it does not apply to us. We lower our standard, but God has not, and so we disgrace ourselves, our fellow man, and stoop below the image of God by trying to assert ourselves above. Pride comes before a fall. It is treason to reason, to others, to God; we are traitors.

You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation. 14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for I had ordained you. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways—until wickedness was found in you.

By the vastness of your trade, you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mountain of God, and I banished you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. 17 Your heart grew proud of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor; so I cast you to the earth; I made you a spectacle before kings. 18 By the multitude of your iniquities and the dishonesty of your trading you have profaned your sanctuaries. So I made fire come from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the eyes of all who saw you.…

19 All the nations who know you are appalled over you. You have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’” Ezekiel 28: 13-19

…9“All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” 10“Away from me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.… Matthew 4: 9-11

…43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!… John 8:43-45

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. Daniel 4: 28-33

But righteousness delivers from wrath - What riches could not do. 

…5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1: 5-6

…5 You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. 7 No one calls on Your name or strives to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.… Isaiah 64: 5-7

…20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 20-21

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted - Pray not just for the city, but for the people of the city, that their hearts be turned to God so that they will walk upright. Pray that those who profess God will live worthy to the Name, and bring light to where they live. 

But by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown - They slander, they lie, promise what cannot and often should not be delivered. Their appeal is to wantonness, to the sin that so easily besets, to greed, lust, and they approve of that which God warns against. They promote what will destroy the city.

But in an abundance of counselors there is safety - I have known too many men in the corporate world who are always "right", and to whom others opinions do not matter. They make costly mistakes and still pat themselves on the back, still cannot hear wisdom, no matter how much it hurts others. I am just a talent scout. I know that I do not know everything, and what will keep my people safe is that I listen, I pick good foreman and I own all our mistakes.

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout - We pick upside down, we make appearance the highest priority, but the most beautiful woman by the world's standard, the trophy wife without discretion, makes her husband a pig. She is a gossip, her worth is set upon that which is fading, and she speaks volumes to her own husbands lack of discernment. 

…24 Then she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” And Herodias answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 26 The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.… Mark 6: 24-26

The people curse him who holds back grain - I think an example of this I have seen is when people influence the market, holding back until the demand inflates the price. The same would never understand the giving man in the verses before. It is not that he does not get, he does, for that is where he gives from, but he isn't greedy. He sees he has much, and he sees his fellow image bearer in lack, and he cannot leave him that way. It is also his joy to do so.

And whoever captures souls is wise - This is not the place the pig looks. It is where love goes searching, the place of eternal consequence, accessed not by pride.

“God himself wins not souls without wisdom, for the eternal plan of salvation was dictated by an infallible judgment, and in every line of it infinite skill is apparent…. There is as much wisdom to be seen in the new creation as in the old. In a sinner saved, there is as much of God to be beheld as in a universe rising out of nothing.” (Spurgeon)

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#915 Proverbs 10 Of No Consequence

A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,

but righteousness delivers from death.

3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4 A slack hand causes poverty,

but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,

but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise of heart will receive commandments,

but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,

but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,

and a babbling fool will come to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up strife,

but love covers all offenses.

13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

14 The wise lay up knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

15 A rich man's wealth is his strong city;

the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

16 The wage of the righteous leads to life,

the gain of the wicked to sin.

17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,

but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever utters slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich,

and he adds no sorrow with it.

23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,

but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him,

but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,

but the righteous is established forever.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

so is the sluggard to those who send him.

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be short.

28 The hope of the righteous brings joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,

but destruction to evildoers.

30 The righteous will never be removed,

but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. Proverbs 10 ESV

Proverbs 10

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother - I didn't have a dad around growing up, but I was blessed with a multitude of mothers, and I was often a sorrow for them. They never stopped praying for me or confronting me about my behavior, and I am now grateful for the truth they told me even if I hated it then. 

Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit - It is deceptive, the gain we may make quickly by deceit, theft, illegal trade, easily convinces us that the reward is worth the risk. We tend to measure only in temporal consequences, things related to the material and here. We are actually excited, exhilarated at the idea of danger and rebellion. Some even reach seats where they look down upon the law, and since they have no one greater than them here, they act as if they will not give account.

…8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, these men are unafraid to slander angelic majesties.… 2 Peter 2: 8-10

…35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. 36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?… Mark 8: 35-37

A slack hand causes poverty - If we have hands, feet and half a mind, then we should use them to our profit and God's glory. Sloth is a horrible thing in a human being; it is arrogant in insisting that others should carry more of the load. Someone else will have to be the slave to my laziness.

…9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.… 2 Thessalonians 3: 9-11

But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence - It looks like a mouth but what comes out of it is from the abundance of the heart.

…36 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”… Matthew 12: 36-38

Hatred stirs up strife - It needs a war, it needs a sacrifice, it's own discontent must be spread. Hatred comes from pride, me thinking that I am just in my anger, finding and object for my wrath and convincing myself that he or she is somehow beneath me. Like misery it begs company. 

…19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.… 1 John 4: 19-21

But a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense - I remember growing up in the 80's, and watching as the rest of the world moved away from repercussions, but my mom would not. When we did the wrong thing, she did not make excuses for us. She confronted us for lying, for getting in to fights, for disrespect to her and our school teachers. When we were small we got spankings, and I even threatened to call HRS (Child Services) on her, once I heard about it. As we got older it changed from that to loss of privileges, like going to a friends house, taking away my fishing rod or BB gun, grounded. She was trying to teach me a hard truth about individual responsibility, but I was proud and stubborn and only wanted to learn the hard way. I was like the man who climbed to the top of a building and jumped off yelling, "I refuse consequences." How dare anyone confront me about my sin, if you wanted to be my friend then you had to go along, tell me how good and noble I was, how unfair and unjust everyone who disagrees with me is. I remember sitting in the principles office at school because me and another boy got into a fight, and they called his mom and she said, "she didn't believe he would start anything like that, not her child, he is a good boy." I knew him a little better than she did; he was a bully, older than me, he was picking on me, threw first, but when the substitute teacher came out I was on top of him with balled up fist. Waiting in the hall, we both decided to lie and say we were just playing, but no one bought that, and while his mom refused to let the school discipline him, they called my mom, and she quickly consented. I would like to say a light went off then, that I realized what she was trying to teach me, but I have a really hard head, and even when I was little I would laugh at spankings. She also told me not to use drugs, and I overdosed, not once, not twice, 3 times, but when she heard I was trying to quit, she moved up to where I lived and helped me rehab. 

…9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a peaceful harvest of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.… Hebrews 12: 9-11

Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool - He will brag about it; it's not embarrassing to him, it's street cred.

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him - Send a lazy man and the report back will be irritating. He will cause embarrassment, ruin your business, steal, cause more work for you and others. The job won't get done, or he will take short cuts that could harm others, damage equipment, or lose business. I have seen many a parent destroy their business by putting their spoiled child in charge, and not correcting him for things they would fire others for. The other employees suffer, sometimes the business closes, but it loses it's good name, and your child is not a better person for all your lack of correction. You make a monster. He sees the hurt of others as necessary, because you won't remove him from the position he is not mature enough to perform, he won't remove himself, because he or she is a little princess. 

…4 When you are gathered in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?… 1 Corinthians 5: 4-6

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#914 Proverbs 9 Oh Folly Girl

Wisdom has built her house;

she has hewn her seven pillars.

2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

3 She has sent out her young women to call

from the highest places in the town,

4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

To him who lacks sense she says,

5 “Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed.

6 Leave your simple ways, and live,

and walk in the way of insight.”

7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,

and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;

teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

11 For by me your days will be multiplied,

and years will be added to your life.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;

if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

13 The woman Folly is loud;

she is seductive and knows nothing.

14 She sits at the door of her house;

she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

15 calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

And to him who lacks sense she says,

17 “Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

18 But he does not know that the dead are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Proverbs 9 ESV 

Proverbs 9 Wisdom and Folly.

Wisdom has built her house - What we know of wisdom thus far, in the Proverbs, would mean a house built with knowledge and understanding. 

11 Then Hiram king of Tyre wrote a letter in reply to Solomon: “Because the LORD loves His people, He has set you over them as king.” 12 Hiram also said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself. 13 So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity.… 2 Chronicles 2: 11-13

She has hewn her seven pillars - Seven is the number of perfection, her house is strong, the foundation is sure. 

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.… 1 Corinthians 3: 9-11

She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine - This is quite a spread considering the cost to her and who she will offer it to, the simple and him who lacks sense. It was apparently a common practice in the Middle East, at that time, to dilute wine with water or mix in spices. 

She has also set her table - Wisdom is hospitable, and this is a practice common to much of the Middle East, also taught and commanded in Scripture.

…32 You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD. 33 When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. 34 You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.… Leviticus 19: 32-34

Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.… Isaiah 58: 6-8

Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight - She offers much and the exchange is to put off the old ways of ignorance. It is like the call of the gospel, "repent and be saved."

“Literally, he that wanteth a heart; who is without courage, is feeble and fickle, and easily drawn aside from the holy commandment.” (Clarke)

…10 Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” 11“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” 12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”… John 8: 10-12

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse - We have to become teachable in order to have wisdom, and so humility becomes the struggle because the proud cannot seem to find where they left it. "You troubler of Israel", and so many taunts, for the fool has said in his heart there is no God, or that there is, but what He says does not matter. 

Isaiah 28:10 is an example of the scorning and taunting of one who delivers the truth. “One observeth that that was a scoff put upon the prophet; and is as if they should say, Here is nothing but line upon line, precept upon precept. The very sound of the words in the original – Zau le zau, kau lakau – carries a taunt, as scornful people by the tone of their voice, and rhyming words, scorn at such as they despise.” (Trapp)

Reprove a wise man and he will love you - We all have error, we all have need of correction, even Peter was rebuked by Paul. The person who will not leave me in my error, that person I have come to love the most. It is easy to seek approval for it's own sake; their are a million lips that will play back what you said, but are they right? Is it the truth? Are you satisfied with just being told you're right, never thinking that you could be wrong?

Teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning - The wise and righteous are not always right, but they are teachable and will attain unto more wisdom.

…11 He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’… Matthew 13: 11-13

And the knowledge of the Holy One is insight - This is something that we are not by nature, Holy, He is set apart in this. Knowing Who He is, Holy, Holy, Holy, we will then see ourselves in a different light. The hypocrite cannot, for he is righteous in his own eyes. Fear is the logical response of a sinner when met with holiness. Where there is no respect, awe, or reverence, there is little understanding. 

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself - The aim is not vanity, not knowledge to impress, but it is worth it even alone. If you are wise, have prized wisdom, have sought her, you have fed yourself. If you reject her, scoff at her, then you have done this to yourself, and you will bear the consequence. There is a sense of individual responsibility. 

“This is perhaps the strongest expression of individualism in the Bible. Such statements (cf. Ezekiel 18; Galatians 6:4-5) are not meant to deny that people benefit or suffer from each other’s characters (cf. Proverbs 10:1), but to emphasize that the ultimate gainer or loser is the man himself.” (Kidner)

The woman Folly is loud - She is the contrast to wisdom, the alternative, speaking over wisdom. She chants, repeats herself, is boisterous, clamoring for attention. I have met her a million times, and she is never so concerned with what she says, but that she is heard. Truth is a bother to her, or she thinks when she speaks it is true because she has spoken. Facts will enrage her.

She is seductive and knows nothing - What she lacks in understanding, she makes up for in how she says it. It is emotional, cliche, filled with gesticulations and much grandstanding. She knows the key words, the phrase that pays, promises prosperity, and speaks with much passion and enthusiasm, but it's empty, a popularity contest.

…5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.… Ephesians 5: 5-7

Whoever is simple let him turn in here - She makes a similar call to the same people, imitating what she has heard wisdom say, but has already rejected for herself. She needs the simple to remain senseless,  because she wants followers, craves their attention. As misery loves company so does folly love her revelers. 

Stolen water is sweet - "It's much better to take than earn." We call abortion compassionate in our land. People right now are calling looters justified in their behavior. It plays to our depravity, but knowing the law is for the lawless, folly would ask that the law be taken away. Socialism, Marxism, they all come in the name of compassion, but what tyrants they end up being.

But he does not know that the dead are there - But she seemed so nice.

“She calls to the same simple ones and invites them to her house. But if they accept her invitation, they’ll be attending a funeral and not a feast—and it will be their own funeral!” (Wiersbe)

iii. “In every city, on every street, by every door of opportunity, these two voices of wisdom and folly are appealing to men. To obey the call of wisdom is to live. To yield to the clamor of folly is to die, How shall we discern between the voices? By making the fear of Jehovah the central inspiration of life. By yielding the being at its deepest to Him for correction and guidance.” (Morgan)

By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. 26 He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.… Hebrews 11: 24-26

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#913 Proverbs 8 Part 2 Wisdom The Attribute

Does not wisdom call?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

4 “To you, O men, I call,

and my cry is to the children of man.

5 O simple ones, learn prudence;

O fools, learn sense.

6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right,

7 for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

9 They are all straight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

10 Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is better than jewels,

and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

and I find knowledge and discretion.

13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

14 I have counsel and sound wisdom;

I have insight; I have strength.

15 By me kings reign,

and rulers decree what is just;

16 by me princes rule,

and nobles, all who govern justly.

17 I love those who love me,

and those who seek me diligently find me.

18 Riches and honor are with me,

enduring wealth and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,

and my yield than choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness,

in the paths of justice,

21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,

and filling their treasuries.

22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,

the first of his acts of old.

23 Ages ago I was set up,

at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains had been shaped,

before the hills, I was brought forth,

26 before he had made the earth with its fields,

or the first of the dust of the world.

27 When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

28 when he made firm the skies above,

when he established the fountains of the deep,

29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

30 then I was beside him, like a master workman,

and I was daily his delight,

rejoicing before him always,

31 rejoicing in his inhabited world

and delighting in the children of man.

32 “And now, O sons, listen to me:

blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction and be wise,

and do not neglect it.

34 Blessed is the one who listens to me,

watching daily at my gates,

waiting beside my doors.

35 For whoever finds me finds life

and obtains favor from the Lord,

36 but he who fails to find me injures himself;

all who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8 ESV

Proverbs 8 Part 2, wisdom comes from God, is an eternal attribute of the Creator.

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work - I remember going over this a long time ago when I invited some Jehovah's Witnesses in to talk and possibly another time with some young men from the Mormon church. It was clear from their interpretation that they viewed Christ as created by God, not One with God, as He described Himself. They felt the word possessed was better translated created or made. At the onset of Creation, the word for God is plural, Elohim.

In Genesis 1:1, the plural noun “Elohim” (“God” in the ESV) is joined with the singular verb “created”: “In the beginning, [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.” The pattern is repeated in Genesis 1:27: “So [Elohim] created man in his own image, in the image of [Elohim] he created him; male and female he created them.”

These examples of subject-verb disagreement seem to be intentional on the part of the author. What is he emphasizing? That God alone created all things by means of his singular agency. Creation wasn’t the work of a committee of heavenly beings partnering together. God alone created heaven and earth, without any guides (Isa. 40:13–14) or helpers (Isa. 44:24; Jer. 10:12; 27:5). Scott Swain

“The verb qanah can mean either ‘possess’ or ‘create.’ The older versions chose ‘possess’; otherwise it might sound as if God lacked wisdom and so created it before the world began. They wanted to avoid saying that wisdom was not eternal. Arius liked the idea of Christ as the meaning of wisdom and chose ‘create’ as the verb. Athanasius read ‘constituted me as the head of creation.’ The verb qanah occurs twelve times in Proverbs with the idea of acquire; but the LXX and Syriac have the idea of ‘create.’” (Ross)

v. “The Arians (who denied the deity of Christ) appealed to LXX’s ‘created’, to prove that Christ, the Wisdom of God, was not eternal. But our concern must be with the word’s normal meaning, and with the general sense of the passage.” (Kidner)

The first of His acts of old -  When God acted it was consistent with His character that He possessed. He is eternal, and so when we say God is love, just, holy or wise, He is, in all three Persons, eternally so. For more on the Trinity see these links:

Trinity Part 1

Trinity Part 2

Trinity Part 3

Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth - What God created, He did in wisdom. When He speaks, it is wisdom, wisdom existed with Him before the revelation of His understanding in the creation. Creation reveals the wisdom of God, in design, in the power of His word to bring forth life, to call into being, from nothing, everything that now exists. 

When there were no depths I was brought forth - The springs, mountains, hills, fields and even the dust, were made with knowledge and understanding. There was an order in creation that came from divine wisdom.

When He drew a circle on the face of the deep - The more progressive revelation we receive, as Scripture, God's Word, unfolds, we see the Persons of Elohim and their roles in both Creation and salvation. They are One in essence and being, in wisdom and power, truth and love. It gives me both awe and much pause to write about such things, for some aspects are so far above my comprehension, and this makes the object of my faith all the more glorious.

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.… Genesis 1: 1-3

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.… Colossians 1: 15-17

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.… John 1: 1-3

Then I was beside Him like a master workman - God's Word is creative, what He says comes to pass, and it is wise, what comes to pass is with His sovereign knowledge. It is the same with His love; it births action.

…8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.… 1 John 4: 8-10

And I was daily His delight - 

…30 And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning— the sixth day. Genesis 1: 30-31

…23 Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening. 24 How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. 25 Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small.… Psalm 104: 23-25

And delighting in the children of man - 

…26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”… Genesis 1: 26-28

And now, O sons, listen to me - We know that man was made in God's image, and this is the seal of worth for all human life. There are no races, only the human race, all coming from Adam and Eve, and all fallen in them as well. In this fallen state, the image is marred, we are dead in our trespasses and sins, wisdom calls out, but no one wants to hear. 

…7 But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;…

…10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned. 12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.…

…13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. 15 Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.… John 16: 7-15

For whoever finds me finds life - The Father calls, the Son provides the way, and the Spirit brings life.

…23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.… 1 Corinthians 1: 23-25

All who hate me love death - 

“Not directly or intentionally, but by consequence, because they love those practices which they know will bring certain destruction upon them.” (Poole)

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