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Since wisdom is the main theme of Proverbs, we should understand what it is. Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge: the ability to use what we know to live according to God’s wise principles, principles that reflect who He is.
Wisdom helps us make better decisions, recognize danger, respond well to difficulties, develop godly character and serve God more effectively. Its fruit is a more successful life in this world followed by eternal life in the world to come.
Wisdom begins with respect for God, submission to His authority and a desire to live according to His Word. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The Proverbs of Solomon: How good of God to give us these short, wise, practical and spiritual teachings from one of the wisest men who ever lived!
1 A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.
A wise child brings joy to his father because he fears God, practices the Word of God, conducts himself properly and makes good decisions. Having a wise child is one of the greatest sources of happiness for a father.
A foolish child brings grief to a mother because a mother’s love is deep, and when her child makes foolish, sinful or destructive choices, she experiences heartache, worry and sorrow.
So, parents, do everything you can to help your children become wise. Be wise yourselves. Model a godly life. Spend time with them, teaching them to fear the Lord and obey His wise principles. Teach them to build good spiritual habits like reading the Bible every day, praying and being actively involved in a good community of Yeshua followers.
2 Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.
Tainted wealth has no lasting value because money acquired through lying, cheating, stealing, exploitation or other dishonest means cannot provide lasting security or happiness. It may bring temporary financial gain, but it comes at the cost of one’s integrity, character and relationship with God. Eventually, the consequences of wrongdoing catch up with those who practice it.
Right living can save your life because living according to God’s principles protects us from many of the harmful consequences of sin and wrongdoing. It brings God’s favor, guidance and protection and ultimately leads to eternal life. Righteousness is far more valuable than anything money can buy.
Therefore, we should earn our money honestly and never compromise our integrity or our relationship with God for financial gain. We should value being right with God more than becoming rich. The greatest wealth is God’s approval in this life, followed by the eternal life He gives us.
3 The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.
The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry because He favors those who are committed to doing right. They are pleasing to Him, and He wants them to succeed and influence others, so He provides for their needs.
He refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked because what they crave displeases Him. If He satisfied it, they might think they are on the right path when they are not. God may withhold what they want to humble them and lead them to turn to Him.
So, get right with God, do the right things and trust Him to provide for your needs.
4 Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
This is a true biblical prosperity teaching, not the false teaching that those who have faith will get richer. Hard work produces better results than laziness. A lack of effort leads to poverty, while diligence leads to prosperity.
So, have a good work ethic. Work hard at your job and work hard at being a good husband or wife, father or mother. Work hard at serving the Lord, proclaiming the message about the Messiah and loving your brothers and sisters in Messiah’s Community. Work hard at learning the Word of God and praying without ceasing.
5 A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.
There are seasons in life when we have to work harder than at other times. When the crop is ready, the wise person doesn’t delay or get extra sleep. He gets to work. My busiest season is the month of Tishri, with extra services for Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. I know that I have to work extra hard during that time – and I do.
The person who sleeps during the harvest is irresponsible and suffers loss. Others see his negligence and think less of him.
So, know when you need to work hard, and then work hard. You will have a more successful and honorable life.
6 The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
The righteous are showered with blessings because blessings are the natural outflow of walking according to God’s ways. God loves and favors the righteous, so He does many good things for them.
The words of the wicked conceal violent intentions because they are willing to harm others to get what they want, and they’re often smart enough to hide it. They will experience destructive consequences instead of blessings.
You want to be showered with blessings? Be righteous. Be godly. Consistently do what is right. Be a giver not a taker. Don’t be willing to use force to take from others.
7 We have happy memories of the godly but the name of a wicked person rots away.
We have happy memories of the righteous because they love God, consistently do what is right and make a positive difference in the lives of others. They are remembered for their integrity, kindness and generosity, and their example inspires others to follow the Lord.
The name of a wicked person rots away because his life was characterized by rebellion against God, selfishness and wrongdoing. He may have been wealthy, powerful or famous, but his dishonorable conduct eventually overshadows his accomplishments. He is remembered with contempt or simply forgotten.
So, live in such a way that your family, friends and fellow believers will remember you with gratitude and affection. We may not be remembered by the world, but we want to be remembered fondly by those whose lives we have touched and to have our Heavenly Father’s approval.
8 The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.
The wise are glad to be instructed because they are humble. They know they don’t know everything and that others may be able to teach them something. They are teachable and receptive to correction, so they grow in wisdom.
Babbling fools fall flat on their faces because they are proud. They think they already know enough and resent being instructed. They don’t want to hear from others. They want others to hear from them. Because they refuse to learn, they make foolish decisions and suffer failures that could have been avoided.
So, be humble and welcome instruction. Listen to godly counsel and accept correction, even when it is uncomfortable. The more willing we are to learn, the wiser we will become.
9 People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.
People of integrity walk safely because they are honest, trustworthy and consistently follow God’s principles, even when no one is watching. They don’t have to worry about being caught in a lie or confronted about something unethical. Their integrity gives them a clear conscience and protects them from many troubles that come from doing wrong.
Those who follow crooked paths will be exposed because dishonesty and wrongdoing eventually catch up with them. They may think they can get away with lying or cheating, but they can’t hide from God, and they can’t always hide from people. What is done in the dark has a way of coming into the light.
So, be a person of integrity. Do what is right, even when it costs something and even when nobody is watching. Don’t take shortcuts, compromise your convictions or do anything you would be ashamed to have exposed.
10 People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.
People who wink at wrong cause trouble because they silently approve of dishonesty and wrongdoing. A wink communicates that we know someone is doing something wrong but are willing to go along with it. We become accomplices, and that encourages further wrongdoing.
A bold reproof promotes peace because it honestly and courageously confronts wrongdoing rather than pretending it doesn’t exist. Although correction may be uncomfortable, it can stop harmful behavior, resolve misunderstandings and restore relationships.
So, communicate honestly and never wink at wrongdoing. When someone does something wrong, have the courage to lovingly but firmly confront it. Honest communication and godly correction promote peace.
11 The words of the godly are a life‑giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
The words of the godly are a life‑giving fountain because they enrich the lives of others the way a fountain supplies life‑giving water to plants and animals. The words of those who are right with God encourage, comfort, teach, correct, bring hope and point people toward God and His truth.
The words of the wicked conceal violent intentions because they use language to disguise their true motives. They manipulate words to make harmful things sound acceptable and to make what is wrong appear right.
“We’re not killing human beings in the womb who are made in the image of God. We’re pro‑choice.” Who doesn’t want to have the ability to choose?
“We’re not homosexuals and lesbians. We’re gay.” Who doesn’t want to be happy?
“We’re not globalists, atheists, socialists, perverts. We are progressives.” Who doesn’t want to progress?
The point is that words can be used to influence how people think about something without changing what that something actually is.
So, use your words to give life, not to deceive or manipulate. Speak the truth, encourage others and point people toward God. At the same time, be discerning and don’t let clever wording or attractive labels cause you to accept something contrary to God’s truth. Evaluate ideas by what they actually mean, not by what they are called.
12 Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.
Hatred stirs up quarrels because it takes offense easily and is quick to assume the worst about others. When we dislike someone, we interpret even innocent words or actions negatively, remember their faults and are more interested in proving them wrong than improving the relationship.
Love makes up for all offenses because it is patient, forgiving and doesn’t make an issue out of every wrong. Love gives people the benefit of the doubt and looks for opportunities to restore relationships. Love asks, “Can I forgive this and let it go? What can I do to make this situation better?”
Therefore, we should be people characterized by love rather than hatred. We need to be born again and have a new godly nature that reflects God’s love. Be patient, slow to take offense and quick to forgive. Remember how much God has forgiven you and extend that same grace to others. Hatred looks for reasons to be offended; love looks for reasons to forgive.
13 Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.
Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding because they have learned God’s principles and know how to apply them. They think before they speak and use their words to help rather than hurt others.
Those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod because they lack good judgment and refuse to learn from instruction. They keep making foolish choices and eventually suffer painful consequences. The rod represents discipline and the consequences of refusing to learn the right way.
So, seek God’s wisdom so that your words and actions reflect good judgment. Be teachable and learn from the mistakes of others rather than having to learn everything the hard way.
14 Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.
Wise people treasure knowledge because they recognize its value. They are eager to learn, especially about God and His Word, so they are better equipped to make wise decisions and avoid mistakes.
The babbling of a fool invites disaster because fools speak without thinking. They speak before they have all the facts and often say things that are foolish, hurtful or untrue. Their careless words create misunderstandings, damage relationships and get them into unnecessary trouble.
So, be eager to grow in understanding, especially in the things of God. Before you speak, ask whether what you are about to say is true, helpful and appropriate. Listen more and speak less.
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.
The wealth of the rich is their fortress because money provides real advantages. Wealth can provide security, options and protection, and it can help people deal with unexpected expenses and obtain medical care.
Money can be a fortress, but it is not an ultimate one. It can’t protect us from death, judgment, sin or separation from God. God must be our fortress and our security.
The poverty of the poor is their destruction because poverty makes people vulnerable and leaves them with fewer options when problems arise. Unexpected expenses can become financial crises, and problems that wealthy people can easily resolve can become overwhelming burdens for the poor.
So, use the money God has entrusted to you wisely, but never put your trust in it. When you see people whose financial struggles are causing real hardship, show compassion and help as you are able. God blesses us not only so that we can provide for our own needs, but also so that we can be a blessing to others.
16 The earnings of the righteous enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.
The earnings of the righteous enhance their lives because they earn their money honestly and use it wisely. They provide for their families, help others, support God’s work and enjoy the good things God provides.
Evil people squander their money on sin because they use their resources to indulge sinful desires. Instead of building up their lives, they waste money on things that harm themselves and others, and it produces nothing of lasting value.
How you make your money matters, and how you spend it matters. So, earn your money honestly and spend it responsibly. Use what God gives you to provide for your family, support His work and help others rather than waste it on sinful desires that bring harm instead of blessing.