LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 29 V1 A man might refuse to change his behaviour, even if many people try to correct him. A terrible trouble will suddenly ruin that man’s life. No remedy can save him. V2 When good people succeed, everybody is happy. When wicked people rul... [ Continue Reading ]
We try to help people. But they will not always follow our advice. We can try to teach such people. And we can warn them. But we cannot change their behaviour. In the end, they will lose their last chance. If they refuse to learn, then God will punish them. See Proverbs 1:24-33.... [ Continue Reading ]
We do not want wicked rulers. We should pray that our rulers will be good rulers. Everyone will benefit if our rulers are good.... [ Continue Reading ]
A father is glad if his son grows to be wise. But some sons are foolish. They love pleasure. They love sex. And they sleep with many women. These sons waste their own money. They waste their own strength. Perhaps they even waste their fathers’ money. So their fathers are sad. Solomon’s son did not... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon was a king. And he was also a judge. He believed that a ruler must be fair. He taught his officials to refuse bribes (secret gifts). Later Hezekiah became king. His officials found this good advice and they copied it (Proverbs 25:1). Hezekiah was a good king who respected God. And this ver... [ Continue Reading ]
The first man has an evil scheme. He uses words that are not sincere to praise his neighbour. So this evil man pretends that his neighbour is a great man. The evil man wants the neighbour to trust him. Then the neighbour will give gifts to the evil man. Or perhaps the evil man will steal from the ne... [ Continue Reading ]
This evil man causes his own problems. But a good person has great joy. So he sings. V7 Good people want fair laws that will help poor people. But wicked men do not want this. V8 Insults will cause a city’s inhabitants to be angry. But wise men will help the people to be calm. V9 When a wise ma... [ Continue Reading ]
If the law is fair, poor people will benefit. The law will protect them, so that they will not starve. In England, 150 years ago, many good people worked hard to free slaves. These good people persuaded the government to make good laws. But many people opposed these good laws. Selfish people will... [ Continue Reading ]
People hate insults. The inhabitants of this city will be very angry. They might even want to attack the people who insulted them. But this reaction is not always sensible. Wise men will help the city’s inhabitants to be calm. Then people can consider the situation carefully. And they will make a s... [ Continue Reading ]
By ‘fool’, Solomon means an evil man. This evil man does not like the wise man’s sensible words. The evil man hates the wise man. And the wise man’s calm words may upset the evil man. So the evil man’s reaction is foolish. Perhaps he insults the wise man. Or perhaps the evil man is angry. But the ev... [ Continue Reading ]
Cruel people oppose honest people. Cruel people do not want anyone to be honest. The honest person could ruin their evil schemes. So cruel people think that honest people are their enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
A fool is an evil person. And he has many evil schemes. If you upset this man, he will be very angry. But a wise person should not be very angry. The evil person may try to upset him. But the wise man keeps calm. V12 When a ruler listens to lies, his officials become wicked. V13 There are poor pe... [ Continue Reading ]
A ruler needs good advisers who speak the truth. The ruler should not prefer officials who lie. If he does, then the whole government will be evil.... [ Continue Reading ]
These people are poor because their rulers are evil. God allows the people to know this. And God also allows the rulers to realise this.... [ Continue Reading ]
A king should care about his poor people. He should defend them. The king should not allow cruel people to cheat the poor people. Good laws oppose cruel people. Good laws defend poor people. V15 A smack teaches wisdom. A mother must teach discipline to her child. Otherwise, the child’s behaviour... [ Continue Reading ]
See Proverbs 22:15. This mother is upset because her child is evil. She should punish her child. Then her child will learn good behaviour. Otherwise, the child will continue to do evil things, even when the child becomes old.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wicked people will not always succeed. In time, God will punish them. Then good people will rule the country. We see that some people are very evil. Perhaps there always seems to be some evil rulers. But, in the end, God will punish evil people. Even the countries that we know in this world last on... [ Continue Reading ]
See verse 15. When your child learns to do the right things, you will be glad.... [ Continue Reading ]
If someone does evil things, then tell God’s message to that person. Tell that person about Jesus. Tell that person about God’s love. And tell that person that he must invite God into his life. Some people will obey your advice. They will invite God into their lives. They will learn to do the right... [ Continue Reading ]
Sometimes people cannot understand our words. They need to see our actions. This servant might be a child. So the master must punish his servant as a child. The servant’s punishment should be fair. Then he will learn right behaviour.... [ Continue Reading ]
Think before you speak! Perhaps you need to obtain advice from wise people. Make a good decision! Then, when you speak, your words will be wise.... [ Continue Reading ]
This servant might be a child. Be sensible when you give gifts to your children. Give gifts that will help them. This verse is difficult to translate. Other possible meanings are: • If you give your child only luxuries, he will become a servant. And he will suffer in the end. • If you give honour... [ Continue Reading ]
Anger is dangerous. A bad temper causes many troubles. We should learn to stay calm.... [ Continue Reading ]
The proud man wants to be a great man. But God will not allow such a man to become great. See Proverbs 16:18. But God loves humble people. And God will give honour to them. See Luke 1:51-53. Jesus was humble. Although Jesus is God, Jesus became a man. And he lived like a servant. He even died like... [ Continue Reading ]
The thief’s friend does not help the thief. When the thief is in court, the thief wants his friend to lie. In court, the friend promises to God to tell the truth. The friend is not afraid of the court. But he is afraid of God. And this friend remembers that God will punish people who lie. So, when... [ Continue Reading ]
People will cause many troubles. There are many cruel people. But do not be a coward! God will protect you. Trust in him. See Psalms 91.... [ Continue Reading ]
Perhaps you trust judges. Perhaps you think that the court will help you. But there are some evil judges. And even good judges sometimes make wrong decisions. So trust God. He is fair with everyone.... [ Continue Reading ]
Good people and evil people have nothing in common. Do not suppose that evil people will support you. If you do the right things, then evil people will still hate you. And do not support an evil man’s scheme. His scheme will be cruel. Or his scheme will be evil. Or his scheme might even be terribl... [ Continue Reading ]