Proverbs

If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner! Proverbs‬ ‭11:31‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬ Rotherham is more literal: Lo! the righteous… “Lo” is a Hebrew interjection, sometimes expressing surprise. Often translated as behold! or lo! It draws attention to what follows. “Will be rewarded” or “Shall be recompensed” is…

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls. Proverbs‬ ‭11:30‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ A tree produces fruit. And fruit produces a tree. Of the many types of trees on earth, Jesus said you will know it’s type by its fruit. Identity is borne out in this vibrant cycle…

He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. Proverbs‬ ‭11:29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Every person alive has lessons to learn in life, and one way or another we will find ourselves in that classroom. The Hebrew word for wind is the same used for…

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Rotherham translates: “He that trusts in his riches, the same will fall (fade, whither away). But like the leaf shall the righteous break forth (bud, sprout, shoot). Trust is a powerful word and a deep…

Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. Proverbs‬ ‭11:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Whoever seeks” is taken from a Hebrew word meaning “to look for dawn,” carrying the implication that one is awake, ardently waiting for the morning to come. After a long night with darkness obscuring your view, you wait…

He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. Proverbs‬ ‭11:26‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬ The obvious application of this proverb is to those that have control over commodities upon which people’s lives and livelihoods depend. A businessperson would naturally want to save the grain he…

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs‬ ‭11:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Another translations says: The liberal soul will be made fat. The word prosper, according to Strong, is from a root meaning to be fat or to fatten; to anoint; figuratively, to satisfy. Today, for those of us are health-conscious, at first…

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs‬ ‭11:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ This verse erupts in richness in the different translations: There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.…

The desire of the righteous is only good, the expectation of the lawless is wrath. Proverbs 11:23 (EB) Desire and expectation are both forward looking. They spring from hope in tomorrow. What’s around the corner? What will the day bring? My thoughts are constantly scanning the horizon. What will be happening this weekend? The coming…

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. Proverbs‬ ‭11:22‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ To Israel, swine were unclean. The Israelites were not allowed to eat pork and pigs became a symbol of something that was detested, rejected, not to be associated with. “There is probably no animal as…