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𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏𝟑:𝟏𝟗 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥: 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥. Man could be perpetually happy, but most men despise the way to happiness and success. The greatest source of human fulfillment and joy is found in righteousness, truth, and wisdom. When a man obtains these things, it is the sweetest accomplishment on earth. But most men despise these things so much and love sin instead that they refuse to even pursue the reward. They hate and loathe the thought of giving up their sinful lifestyle. Here is a proverb of Solomon – a dark saying of the wise – needing interpretation (Pr 1:6). The desire accomplished is not desires in general, for that teaches little wisdom of value, and it does not fit with the disjunctive conjunction, “but.” The desire accomplished is not lustful greed of fools, for that would directly violate the disjunctive. Though all men and fools have pleasure meeting goals or fulfilling lusts, such is not taught here. The interpretive key is the word “but,” which places the first clause in adversative contrast to the second clause. “But” in this usage is a disjunctive conjunction, joining two clauses set in opposition to each other. The desire accomplished must be the holy desire of the righteous by virtue of it being sweet to the soul and set in opposition to the evil of fools in the parallel clause (Pr 10:24; 11:23). Consider this carefully before proceeding. The desire of a righteous man is to increase in righteousness, truth, and wisdom (Pr 4:7; 16:6; 18:1; 23:23). These are the goals for his life, and they produce enormous pleasure and profit when they are achieved (Pr 3:13,18,35; 4:8-9; 22:4; 29:18). The pleasure of walking with God and living a holy life far exceeds the superficial joys of the fool, even when he seems to be basking in prosperity (Pr 10:22; Ps 4:6-8; 43:4; 63:3-5; I Pet 1:8). The sweetest accomplishment is to be resurrected from the dead and be in heaven enjoying your eternal inheritance with God the Father and Jesus Christ. That was truly Abraham’s only goal (Heb 11:8-16). The Psalmist thought it was better than the pleasures of this life (Ps 17:14-15; 49:6-20; 73:1-26). And so did Paul (Phil 1:23; 3:8-11; II Cor 5:6-8). Where does it rank among your goals? And what have you done to secure it? Solomon observed that fools hate the idea of leaving their sins. They cannot see the great reward they are missing, and they refuse to deny themselves any of the pleasures their lusts crave. They deceive themselves that their sins are pleasing and profitable. They pursue sin greedily to their own destruction. They cannot do right. They cannot and will not seek God any more than an Ethiopian can change his skin color or the leopard his spots (Ps 36:1-4; Is 26:10; Jer 13:23; 17:9; Rom 1:18-32; 3:10-18; 8:7-8; Eph 4:17-19). The lesson is quite simple. There is a strait gate (think straitjacket) and narrow way that leads to life, and only a few men find it. It may involve some sacrifices of self-denial now, but the sweet rewards later are much greater. There is a wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction, and most men choose it instead (Matt 7:13-14). Fools continue to return to folly like dogs to their vomit and pigs to wallowing in mud again (Pr 26:11). If you desire godliness, God has done a great work to cause you to love what you once hated and to hate what you once loved (Phil 2:12-13). He will fulfill your desire, and it will be precious sweetness to your soul. But all the wicked shall be punished and destroyed for their folly in rejecting God’s offer of righteousness, truth, and wisdom. You can prove to yourself whether this is true of you or not by eight things (II Pet 1:5-11).

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏𝟑:𝟏𝟗 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥: 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥. Man could be perpetually happy, but most men despise the way to happiness and success. The greatest source of human fulfillment and joy is found in righteousness, truth, and wisdom. When a man obtains these things, it is the sweetest accomplishment on earth. But most men despise these things so much and love sin instead that they refuse to even pursue the reward. They hate and loathe the thought of giving up their sinful lifestyle. Here is a proverb of Solomon – a dark saying of the wise – needing interpretation (Pr 1:6). The desire accomplished is not desires in general, for that teaches little wisdom of value, and it does not fit with the disjunctive conjunction, “but.” The desire accomplished is not lustful greed of fools, for that would directly violate the disjunctive. Though all men and fools have pleasure meeting goals or fulfilling lusts, such is not taught here. The interpretive key is the word “but,” which places the first clause in adversative contrast to the second clause. “But” in this usage is a disjunctive conjunction, joining two clauses set in opposition to each other. The desire accomplished must be the holy desire of the righteous by virtue of it being sweet to the soul and set in opposition to the evil of fools in the parallel clause (Pr 10:24; 11:23). Consider this carefully before proceeding. The desire of a righteous man is to increase in righteousness, truth, and wisdom (Pr 4:7; 16:6; 18:1; 23:23). These are the goals for his life, and they produce enormous pleasure and profit when they are achieved (Pr 3:13,18,35; 4:8-9; 22:4; 29:18). The pleasure of walking with God and living a holy life far exceeds the superficial joys of the fool, even when he seems to be basking in prosperity (Pr 10:22; Ps 4:6-8; 43:4; 63:3-5; I Pet 1:8). The sweetest accomplishment is to be resurrected from the dead and be in heaven enjoying your eternal inheritance with God the Father and Jesus Christ. That was truly Abraham’s only goal (Heb 11:8-16). The Psalmist thought it was better than the pleasures of this life (Ps 17:14-15; 49:6-20; 73:1-26). And so did Paul (Phil 1:23; 3:8-11; II Cor 5:6-8). Where does it rank among your goals? And what have you done to secure it? Solomon observed that fools hate the idea of leaving their sins. They cannot see the great reward they are missing, and they refuse to deny themselves any of the pleasures their lusts crave. They deceive themselves that their sins are pleasing and profitable. They pursue sin greedily to their own destruction. They cannot do right. They cannot and will not seek God any more than an Ethiopian can change his skin color or the leopard his spots (Ps 36:1-4; Is 26:10; Jer 13:23; 17:9; Rom 1:18-32; 3:10-18; 8:7-8; Eph 4:17-19). The lesson is quite simple. There is a strait gate (think straitjacket) and narrow way that leads to life, and only a few men find it. It may involve some sacrifices of self-denial now, but the sweet rewards later are much greater. There is a wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction, and most men choose it instead (Matt 7:13-14). Fools continue to return to folly like dogs to their vomit and pigs to wallowing in mud again (Pr 26:11). If you desire godliness, God has done a great work to cause you to love what you once hated and to hate what you once loved (Phil 2:12-13). He will fulfill your desire, and it will be precious sweetness to your soul. But all the wicked shall be punished and destroyed for their folly in rejecting God’s offer of righteousness, truth, and wisdom. You can prove to yourself whether this is true of you or not by eight things (II Pet 1:5-11).

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟑 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. Your lips can promote you. Your speech can win love. Even powerful men appreciate gracious and truthful words. Good speech is a large part of wisdom. A gracious man will rise high among men (Pr 22:11), and a gracious woman will be highly prized (Pr 11:16). Godly speech will quickly exalt you. Good answers will cause others to want to kiss you (Pr 24:26). The right word at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl (Pr 25:11). A wise reproof to an appreciative hearer is like jewels of fine gold (Pr 25:12). Your mouth can promote you in position and friends, or it can ruin you in every relationship of life (Eccl 10:12). No matter how good and virtuous your heart and mind, they are revealed best by gracious and truthful speech. Kings were great and powerful in Solomon’s time, but their approval and affection could be won with righteous words. Give God the glory for this wonderful proverb and its valuable lesson for godly speech. As a proverb, you are to understand the kings under consideration are noble and righteous kings. Profane and wicked kings have little regard for good things, including wise and virtuous speech. Many kings were foolish enough to appoint court jesters and evil counselors! But even pagan kings could appreciate humble and wise words, as Pharaoh listening to Joseph and Nebuchadnezzar listening to Daniel (Gen 41:38-45; Dan 1:18-21). Consider the power of this proverb. It does not use winning the favor of friends, family, neighbors, or colleagues. It teaches winning the approval and affection of glorious monarchs – a plural number of them at that! Kings had enormous glory, power, and wealth. They held the power of life and death. Their favor was a great blessing (Pr 16:14-15; 19:12; 20:2). Daniel continued through the reigns of several Babylonian kings, a Median king, and into the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Dan 1:18-21; 5:29-31; 6:1-3,28)! Consider this proverb’s details. Godly kings delight in good speech: they love right words spoken at the right time (Pr 10:20; 15:23; 16:24; 25:11). But not only do they delight in the words, they also love the man that speaks them! The good words and discreet speech please their minds; the speaker wins their hearts (Pr 12:14; 14:35; 24:26). Solomon knew his father David in his youth had won Prince Jonathan this way (Pr 22:11; I Sam 18:1-5). Reader, would kings love you? Are your words appropriate, cheerful, compassionate, discreet, edifying, encouraging, few, gentle, gracious, helpful, kind, merciful, modest, prudent, righteous, sober, thankful, true, and wise? Or do you argue, backbite, boast, complain, criticize, dominate conversations, flatter, talk foolishly, show disrespect, exaggerate, jest, lie, murmur, repeat yourself, slander, swear, tattle, or whisper? Promotion is as close as your mouth. King Solomon said death and life are in the power of your tongue (Pr 10:31; 12:18; 18:21). Which will it be for you, death or life? If you want great men to delight in your speech and love your person, then teach your mouth the wisdom of the book of Proverbs (Pr 10:19; 15:28; 16:23; 17:27-28). Joseph, David, Daniel, and Mordecai were able to win the favor and love of kings of all kinds by it. Better relationships for women are as close as your mouth. Abigail won the heart of David in just a few minutes, in spite of the fact he was filled with furious and murderous thoughts (I Sam 25:23-35). The virtuous woman, good enough to satisfy a queen mother for her son the king, has speech of wisdom and kindness (Pr 31:26). God identified Sarah as a great woman for her humility and reverence to call Abraham lord (I Pet 3:5-6). Few women today can even come close to these three women. They think they should be loved for spouting off opinions and having saucy retorts in conversation. They complain, criticize, and defend themselves until no one wants to be near them. Then they blame others for not being fair and understanding. If you cannot see the difference between Bible graciousness and modern women, read Solomon’s proverbs about speech again! God gave Jesus Christ the tongue of the learned (Is 50:4). His words were always gracious and always true (Ps 45:2; Luke 4:22). No man ever spoke like Him (John 7:46)! He won God’s fullest and eternal approval, and He is seated at the right hand of God’s throne ruling the universe at this very hour. He is the high King of heaven and prince of the kings of the earth. Will you win His approval and blessing by your speech today? https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-16/proverbs-16-13/

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟑 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. Your lips can promote you. Your speech can win love. Even powerful men appreciate gracious and truthful words. Good speech is a large part of wisdom. A gracious man will rise high among men (Pr 22:11), and a gracious woman will be highly prized (Pr 11:16). Godly speech will quickly exalt you. Good answers will cause others to want to kiss you (Pr 24:26). The right word at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl (Pr 25:11). A wise reproof to an appreciative hearer is like jewels of fine gold (Pr 25:12). Your mouth can promote you in position and friends, or it can ruin you in every relationship of life (Eccl 10:12). No matter how good and virtuous your heart and mind, they are revealed best by gracious and truthful speech. Kings were great and powerful in Solomon’s time, but their approval and affection could be won with righteous words. Give God the glory for this wonderful proverb and its valuable lesson for godly speech. As a proverb, you are to understand the kings under consideration are noble and righteous kings. Profane and wicked kings have little regard for good things, including wise and virtuous speech. Many kings were foolish enough to appoint court jesters and evil counselors! But even pagan kings could appreciate humble and wise words, as Pharaoh listening to Joseph and Nebuchadnezzar listening to Daniel (Gen 41:38-45; Dan 1:18-21). Consider the power of this proverb. It does not use winning the favor of friends, family, neighbors, or colleagues. It teaches winning the approval and affection of glorious monarchs – a plural number of them at that! Kings had enormous glory, power, and wealth. They held the power of life and death. Their favor was a great blessing (Pr 16:14-15; 19:12; 20:2). Daniel continued through the reigns of several Babylonian kings, a Median king, and into the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Dan 1:18-21; 5:29-31; 6:1-3,28)! Consider this proverb’s details. Godly kings delight in good speech: they love right words spoken at the right time (Pr 10:20; 15:23; 16:24; 25:11). But not only do they delight in the words, they also love the man that speaks them! The good words and discreet speech please their minds; the speaker wins their hearts (Pr 12:14; 14:35; 24:26). Solomon knew his father David in his youth had won Prince Jonathan this way (Pr 22:11; I Sam 18:1-5). Reader, would kings love you? Are your words appropriate, cheerful, compassionate, discreet, edifying, encouraging, few, gentle, gracious, helpful, kind, merciful, modest, prudent, righteous, sober, thankful, true, and wise? Or do you argue, backbite, boast, complain, criticize, dominate conversations, flatter, talk foolishly, show disrespect, exaggerate, jest, lie, murmur, repeat yourself, slander, swear, tattle, or whisper? Promotion is as close as your mouth. King Solomon said death and life are in the power of your tongue (Pr 10:31; 12:18; 18:21). Which will it be for you, death or life? If you want great men to delight in your speech and love your person, then teach your mouth the wisdom of the book of Proverbs (Pr 10:19; 15:28; 16:23; 17:27-28). Joseph, David, Daniel, and Mordecai were able to win the favor and love of kings of all kinds by it. Better relationships for women are as close as your mouth. Abigail won the heart of David in just a few minutes, in spite of the fact he was filled with furious and murderous thoughts (I Sam 25:23-35). The virtuous woman, good enough to satisfy a queen mother for her son the king, has speech of wisdom and kindness (Pr 31:26). God identified Sarah as a great woman for her humility and reverence to call Abraham lord (I Pet 3:5-6). Few women today can even come close to these three women. They think they should be loved for spouting off opinions and having saucy retorts in conversation. They complain, criticize, and defend themselves until no one wants to be near them. Then they blame others for not being fair and understanding. If you cannot see the difference between Bible graciousness and modern women, read Solomon’s proverbs about speech again! God gave Jesus Christ the tongue of the learned (Is 50:4). His words were always gracious and always true (Ps 45:2; Luke 4:22). No man ever spoke like Him (John 7:46)! He won God’s fullest and eternal approval, and He is seated at the right hand of God’s throne ruling the universe at this very hour. He is the high King of heaven and prince of the kings of the earth. Will you win His approval and blessing by your speech today? https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-16/proverbs-16-13/

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏𝟑:𝟏𝟓 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫: 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝. A blessed life or a hard life – the choice is yours. A good understanding, or living by the rules of wisdom, will bring natural and supernatural blessings. Guaranteed! But if you choose to do things your way and reject the rules of wisdom, your life will be hard. Guaranteed! You cannot cheat either God or wisdom. You will surely reap what you sow. In just eleven words, you have a precious offer and promise. Reader, what will you do with these words? They are more valuable than any advice you have ever been given, or ever will be given. You will leave this proverb and make a choice – either to live by wisdom or to transgress its rules. And you will face the consequences. Guaranteed! Even the world knows that sinful living, or hard living as they call it, ages a person. Rockers and rappers have terrible life expectancies. Check out the 27 Club of rockers – the 27 rockers that died at age 27. And the average age of death for rappers is similar. The general population lives to be 79! Rockers and rappers are known for their ungodly lifestyles, and their death rates confirm Solomon’s proverb written 3000 years ago. Even the world knows, and they do not know much, that moderate living adds to life expectancy. Experience and science have taught them this, but Solomon wrote it 3000 years ago, for godly wisdom includes moderate living by definition (Pr 20:1; 23:20-21; Phil 4:5; Rom 13:13-14; Eph 4:26; I Pet 4:1-5). The Christian lifestyle condemns sex outside marriage, drunkenness, gluttony, bitterness, anger, discontentment, violence, etc. But there is more! Sinful living abuses the body and relationships, reducing pleasure in life. Moderate living protects the body and relationships. There are also laws against excessive lifestyles costing violators further. But most of all, God favors godly men, so there is a powerful spiritual benefit as well. And He judges and punishes sinners, which compounds the great difference in consequences even more between good and bad men. A good understanding begins with the fear of the Lord (Pr 9:10). It then trembles before the written word of God, for in it are divine light and the godly rules of true wisdom (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20). Practical instruction for living is found right here in Solomon’s proverbs. The man humbly obeying these proverbs will obtain favor from God and man. But transgressors refuse instruction. They may listen at times, but they will not obey. They intend to do things their way. They will not submit to the authority of God or man. They believe they are above the laws of God and man. They resent being told what to do, and they haughtily despise those who try to help them. They are foolish sinners. Compare Abraham and Lot. The one feared God and had good understanding. Though having the poorer land after separating from his nephew, he became rich, spiritually and financially (Gen 15:1; 24:35). But Lot, choosing the favored land, pitched his tent toward Sodom; he ruined his life in most every way possible (Gen 19:15-18; II Pet 2:7-8). Joseph resisted a woman and ended up on Egypt’s throne. He had good understanding, and the LORD and men favored him. Samson and David did not resist strange women, and they suffered hard consequences from the LORD and men. The proverb is true! Obey the rules of wisdom, and you will be blessed; disregard them, and you will be punished. Manasseh, a very wicked king, humbled himself, so God restored him from a foreign prison to his own throne (II Chr 33:11-13). He learned good understanding late in life. Nebuchadnezzar, though worldly wise and rich, transgressed Daniel’s sober warning and spent seven years like an ox in the grass (Dan 4:27-37). He learned good understanding the hard way. Reader, how will you learn good understanding, and when will you learn it? There is no better time than today to stop violating God’s laws and follow wisdom. https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-13/proverbs-13-15/

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏𝟑:𝟏𝟓 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫: 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝. A blessed life or a hard life – the choice is yours. A good understanding, or living by the rules of wisdom, will bring natural and supernatural blessings. Guaranteed! But if you choose to do things your way and reject the rules of wisdom, your life will be hard. Guaranteed! You cannot cheat either God or wisdom. You will surely reap what you sow. In just eleven words, you have a precious offer and promise. Reader, what will you do with these words? They are more valuable than any advice you have ever been given, or ever will be given. You will leave this proverb and make a choice – either to live by wisdom or to transgress its rules. And you will face the consequences. Guaranteed! Even the world knows that sinful living, or hard living as they call it, ages a person. Rockers and rappers have terrible life expectancies. Check out the 27 Club of rockers – the 27 rockers that died at age 27. And the average age of death for rappers is similar. The general population lives to be 79! Rockers and rappers are known for their ungodly lifestyles, and their death rates confirm Solomon’s proverb written 3000 years ago. Even the world knows, and they do not know much, that moderate living adds to life expectancy. Experience and science have taught them this, but Solomon wrote it 3000 years ago, for godly wisdom includes moderate living by definition (Pr 20:1; 23:20-21; Phil 4:5; Rom 13:13-14; Eph 4:26; I Pet 4:1-5). The Christian lifestyle condemns sex outside marriage, drunkenness, gluttony, bitterness, anger, discontentment, violence, etc. But there is more! Sinful living abuses the body and relationships, reducing pleasure in life. Moderate living protects the body and relationships. There are also laws against excessive lifestyles costing violators further. But most of all, God favors godly men, so there is a powerful spiritual benefit as well. And He judges and punishes sinners, which compounds the great difference in consequences even more between good and bad men. A good understanding begins with the fear of the Lord (Pr 9:10). It then trembles before the written word of God, for in it are divine light and the godly rules of true wisdom (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20). Practical instruction for living is found right here in Solomon’s proverbs. The man humbly obeying these proverbs will obtain favor from God and man. But transgressors refuse instruction. They may listen at times, but they will not obey. They intend to do things their way. They will not submit to the authority of God or man. They believe they are above the laws of God and man. They resent being told what to do, and they haughtily despise those who try to help them. They are foolish sinners. Compare Abraham and Lot. The one feared God and had good understanding. Though having the poorer land after separating from his nephew, he became rich, spiritually and financially (Gen 15:1; 24:35). But Lot, choosing the favored land, pitched his tent toward Sodom; he ruined his life in most every way possible (Gen 19:15-18; II Pet 2:7-8). Joseph resisted a woman and ended up on Egypt’s throne. He had good understanding, and the LORD and men favored him. Samson and David did not resist strange women, and they suffered hard consequences from the LORD and men. The proverb is true! Obey the rules of wisdom, and you will be blessed; disregard them, and you will be punished. Manasseh, a very wicked king, humbled himself, so God restored him from a foreign prison to his own throne (II Chr 33:11-13). He learned good understanding late in life. Nebuchadnezzar, though worldly wise and rich, transgressed Daniel’s sober warning and spent seven years like an ox in the grass (Dan 4:27-37). He learned good understanding the hard way. Reader, how will you learn good understanding, and when will you learn it? There is no better time than today to stop violating God’s laws and follow wisdom. https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-13/proverbs-13-15/

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏𝟖:𝟏 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦. Wisdom is only acquired by dedicated effort. And few men have the desire or make the effort to pursue and acquire it. So the Preacher commended the studious man or woman. Most men will live and breathe and die in ignorant folly, even those who were offered wisdom plainly. And their lives and those of their children will bear the deserved pain. The next verse confirms this distinction among men, for fools have no delight in learning; they are totally occupied with their own thoughts and fantasies (Pr 18:2; 17:16). Dear reader, would the Author and writer of this proverb commend your desire and efforts for acquiring wisdom? Would God and Solomon praise your pursuit of learning? When a man desires wisdom, he must make sacrifices. He will avoid distractions that take time and misdirect his soul. He will separate from friends and pleasures that do not serve the great goal. He will reject the popular ambitions of riches, education, recreation, or bodily exercise. His life may be lonely. Hopefully, in a church of sincere saints, he will find a few choosing the same course (Luke 8:14; I Cor 9:24-26; I John 2:15-17). Like the man of God, he must limit obligations in this life (II Tim 2:4; I Tim 6:6-12). For this pursuit will weary his already-wearied flesh (Eccl 12:12). And the ignorant ravings of the world are an influence he must avoid (Pr 9:6; 13:20; I Cor 15:33; II Cor 6:14-18). He will learn that when alone he has the sweetest moments of fellowship and instruction of His heavenly Father (Psalm 4:4; 63:5-6; Matt 6:6; Job 33:14-18). He knows that examining his soul and pondering the path of his feet requires separation from all the noise and activity of others (Pr 4:26; Psalm 26:2; 77:6; 139:23-24). God chose the dark night for Abraham (Gen 15:5), the back of the desert for Moses (Ex 3:1), the plain for Ezekiel (Ezek 3:22), the wilderness for John (Luke 1:80), and Arabia for Paul (Gal 1:17). The blessed Lord rose exceeding early to meet alone with His Father (Mark 1:35), or He would spend the night alone with Him (Luke 6:12). With great ease of travel, telephones, email, and all sorts of communication devices in homes, offices, and cars, you are cursed with a curse. Solitude has become a much greater difficulty and not understood by any. The hours farmers had with an ox and God have been stolen away by progress. It has benefits, but it also contributes to distraction. Writing psalms while watching sheep is a luxury this perverted generation cannot afford. Men even move the clocks to force more activity into a day, when the sun is crying, “Be still!” Rebekah would still be single, if she waited for a meditating man in a field today (Gen 24:62-67). Lord, help your children flee to the hills for some quiet and solitude. Having separated from the diversions that deceive, distract, and destroy most men, the good man seeks and intermeddles – gets deeply involved, concerned, and occupied – with all facets of wisdom. He dives into the study and contemplation of all aspects of creation and revelation, with the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and the man of God as guides. This pursuit requires an intense and thorough search (Pr 2:1-9; II Tim 2:15; I Tim 4:13-16). Even the ostrich and horse deserve your careful attention and consideration (Job 39:13-25). How will you remember, meditate, and muse on all His works in a few minutes (Ps 143:5)? Can you in a few minutes comprehend the dimensions of a Saviour’s love (Eph 3:14-19)? With the fullness of God your personal reward, does it not deserve more investment? When did you last break forth in praise for a single thought (Rom 11:33)? How will you read, let alone consider and meditate upon, the 31,101 verses in your King James Bible? Yet Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, commends the careful meditation of every verse. Only a man with great desire, who separates himself from other distractions, will make any progress in this extensive and valuable project. Some with weak desire will say there is not enough time. So the apostle told men to redeem time for wisdom (Eph 5:15-17). You can buy time by giving up other activities. There are 168 hours in a week, only half of which you work and sleep. There is much time squandered and wasted in foolish pursuits and slothful management. Lord, help. Scripture tells of dedicated seekers of wisdom. David and Daniel prayed three times daily (Ps 55:17; Dan 6:10). The blessed Lord at twelve was intermeddling in all wisdom, while his peers played (Luke 2:41-52). The disciples left all to follow Wisdom in the flesh (Mark 1:16-20), and Paul counted anything else as dung (Phil 3:7-14). He chose one thing to do (Phil 3:13), as he knew a double mind was folly (Jas 1:8). The Bereans heard Paul’s preaching with ready minds and searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). Dear reader, what have you done this week to pursue wisdom? How many minutes have you read the Word of God? How many minutes have you prayed? Studied a proverb? Reviewed a sermon? Contemplated or discussed spiritual matters of significance? Dear parent, what have you done to plant this ambition in your children? Hannah trained Samuel so well he worshipped the Lord after his weaning (I Sam 1:20-28). Lois and Eunice trained Timothy thoroughly in faith and the Scriptures (II Tim 1:5; 3:15). It is the duty of fathers to train their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4). Jesus Christ taught that the kingdom of heaven is like hid treasure, for which a man would joyfully sell all he had to buy the field and dig for it (Matt 13:44). Or it was like a wonderful pearl, for which he would sell all that he had to purchase it (Matt 13:45-46). Does your life reflect this holy zeal? What sacrifice will you make today to seek wisdom? Few will understand this proverb, and fewer yet will live it. The way of ignorance and folly, which leads to hell here and hereafter, is very wide with many travelers. And the way of wisdom, which leads to life here and in glory, is very narrow with only a few that find it. Let not any of those who name the name of Christ be found in the wide way. Can you spare a few minutes of 168 hours in a week to seek wisdom? Why die foolish, with your life a great waste of time, and your children cursed to repeat your ignorance and suffer its consequences? Angels desire to look into these things that involve men (I Pet 1:12), but most men are too busy. May writer and reader search their souls. https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-18/proverbs-18-1/

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟏𝟖:𝟏 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦. Wisdom is only acquired by dedicated effort. And few men have the desire or make the effort to pursue and acquire it. So the Preacher commended the studious man or woman. Most men will live and breathe and die in ignorant folly, even those who were offered wisdom plainly. And their lives and those of their children will bear the deserved pain. The next verse confirms this distinction among men, for fools have no delight in learning; they are totally occupied with their own thoughts and fantasies (Pr 18:2; 17:16). Dear reader, would the Author and writer of this proverb commend your desire and efforts for acquiring wisdom? Would God and Solomon praise your pursuit of learning? When a man desires wisdom, he must make sacrifices. He will avoid distractions that take time and misdirect his soul. He will separate from friends and pleasures that do not serve the great goal. He will reject the popular ambitions of riches, education, recreation, or bodily exercise. His life may be lonely. Hopefully, in a church of sincere saints, he will find a few choosing the same course (Luke 8:14; I Cor 9:24-26; I John 2:15-17). Like the man of God, he must limit obligations in this life (II Tim 2:4; I Tim 6:6-12). For this pursuit will weary his already-wearied flesh (Eccl 12:12). And the ignorant ravings of the world are an influence he must avoid (Pr 9:6; 13:20; I Cor 15:33; II Cor 6:14-18). He will learn that when alone he has the sweetest moments of fellowship and instruction of His heavenly Father (Psalm 4:4; 63:5-6; Matt 6:6; Job 33:14-18). He knows that examining his soul and pondering the path of his feet requires separation from all the noise and activity of others (Pr 4:26; Psalm 26:2; 77:6; 139:23-24). God chose the dark night for Abraham (Gen 15:5), the back of the desert for Moses (Ex 3:1), the plain for Ezekiel (Ezek 3:22), the wilderness for John (Luke 1:80), and Arabia for Paul (Gal 1:17). The blessed Lord rose exceeding early to meet alone with His Father (Mark 1:35), or He would spend the night alone with Him (Luke 6:12). With great ease of travel, telephones, email, and all sorts of communication devices in homes, offices, and cars, you are cursed with a curse. Solitude has become a much greater difficulty and not understood by any. The hours farmers had with an ox and God have been stolen away by progress. It has benefits, but it also contributes to distraction. Writing psalms while watching sheep is a luxury this perverted generation cannot afford. Men even move the clocks to force more activity into a day, when the sun is crying, “Be still!” Rebekah would still be single, if she waited for a meditating man in a field today (Gen 24:62-67). Lord, help your children flee to the hills for some quiet and solitude. Having separated from the diversions that deceive, distract, and destroy most men, the good man seeks and intermeddles – gets deeply involved, concerned, and occupied – with all facets of wisdom. He dives into the study and contemplation of all aspects of creation and revelation, with the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and the man of God as guides. This pursuit requires an intense and thorough search (Pr 2:1-9; II Tim 2:15; I Tim 4:13-16). Even the ostrich and horse deserve your careful attention and consideration (Job 39:13-25). How will you remember, meditate, and muse on all His works in a few minutes (Ps 143:5)? Can you in a few minutes comprehend the dimensions of a Saviour’s love (Eph 3:14-19)? With the fullness of God your personal reward, does it not deserve more investment? When did you last break forth in praise for a single thought (Rom 11:33)? How will you read, let alone consider and meditate upon, the 31,101 verses in your King James Bible? Yet Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, commends the careful meditation of every verse. Only a man with great desire, who separates himself from other distractions, will make any progress in this extensive and valuable project. Some with weak desire will say there is not enough time. So the apostle told men to redeem time for wisdom (Eph 5:15-17). You can buy time by giving up other activities. There are 168 hours in a week, only half of which you work and sleep. There is much time squandered and wasted in foolish pursuits and slothful management. Lord, help. Scripture tells of dedicated seekers of wisdom. David and Daniel prayed three times daily (Ps 55:17; Dan 6:10). The blessed Lord at twelve was intermeddling in all wisdom, while his peers played (Luke 2:41-52). The disciples left all to follow Wisdom in the flesh (Mark 1:16-20), and Paul counted anything else as dung (Phil 3:7-14). He chose one thing to do (Phil 3:13), as he knew a double mind was folly (Jas 1:8). The Bereans heard Paul’s preaching with ready minds and searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). Dear reader, what have you done this week to pursue wisdom? How many minutes have you read the Word of God? How many minutes have you prayed? Studied a proverb? Reviewed a sermon? Contemplated or discussed spiritual matters of significance? Dear parent, what have you done to plant this ambition in your children? Hannah trained Samuel so well he worshipped the Lord after his weaning (I Sam 1:20-28). Lois and Eunice trained Timothy thoroughly in faith and the Scriptures (II Tim 1:5; 3:15). It is the duty of fathers to train their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4). Jesus Christ taught that the kingdom of heaven is like hid treasure, for which a man would joyfully sell all he had to buy the field and dig for it (Matt 13:44). Or it was like a wonderful pearl, for which he would sell all that he had to purchase it (Matt 13:45-46). Does your life reflect this holy zeal? What sacrifice will you make today to seek wisdom? Few will understand this proverb, and fewer yet will live it. The way of ignorance and folly, which leads to hell here and hereafter, is very wide with many travelers. And the way of wisdom, which leads to life here and in glory, is very narrow with only a few that find it. Let not any of those who name the name of Christ be found in the wide way. Can you spare a few minutes of 168 hours in a week to seek wisdom? Why die foolish, with your life a great waste of time, and your children cursed to repeat your ignorance and suffer its consequences? Angels desire to look into these things that involve men (I Pet 1:12), but most men are too busy. May writer and reader search their souls. https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-18/proverbs-18-1/

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟐𝟓:𝟏𝟎 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲. Gossip can ruin your reputation. Yet gossip is incredibly easy. Wise men will know you are wicked and will rebuke you, and you will be disgraced and shamed. The lesson is simple: do not talk critically or negatively about others; do not spread news or rumors; do not slander anyone. Gossip is a heinous sin, and it can permanently stain your reputation. This is half of a proverb. The first half says, “Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another” (Pr 25:9). Good men only discuss differences or offences with the person involved, not with others. If you tell others about a conflict with someone, those others will know you are hateful, malicious, and wicked. Jesus Christ taught the same rule of godliness and wisdom. He said, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone” (Matt 18:15). If you cannot ignore the offence of another, go tell him his fault. Instead of telling others about the problem, tell him alone. The rule is clear and definite. When you have a problem with someone, it is cruel and malicious to tell others about it. You do so in order to defame and injure the other party and obtain sympathy for your cause. You seek to hurt another person’s reputation and exalt your own. The holy God of heaven considers such intentions and actions to be murder (Matt 5:21-26). Beware! You should keep controversies and offences between you and your adversary. If you tell others about them, it is called gossip. In the Bible, it was called backbiting, talebearing, tattling, and whispering, if you told the truth. These are terrible sins that God hates. If you lied about the matter, then it was also called slander. It does not matter that these sins are popular today and no longer preached against: they are heinous in God’s sight. Godly men despise this evil treatment of others, and they will despise the person doing it. They will angrily rebuke those who gossip about others. It is a duty to do so. Solomon wrote, “The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue” (Pr 25:23). It is terrible that more wise men do not put backbiters, talebearers, whisperers, slanderers, and gossips to shame by angry rebukes (Lev 19:17; I Thess 5:14). If you have a problem with someone, and you cannot gloriously overlook it, go to him alone and settle it through Christian charity. Put a guard on your heart, and do not even think about telling others. Only say complimentary and kind things about other people. Let your reputation be glorious and gracious, always edifying others (Eph 4:29; Col 4:6). https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-25/proverbs-25-10/