King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 17 notes
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
This brings balance once again...
Yet we are encouraged to give to the poor and beggar.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
It is drawn out by asking and, indeed, provoking the right questions.
6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Okay 👌. So true... It is the simple who believes every word he/she hears.
Very few men are indeed faithful. Thus, walk with this wisdom in mind.
Very few men are indeed faithful.
7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
There is no negative impact of the father's errors on his children.
Indeed, because of his good name, his children are blessed.
8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Yes, a good king indeed 👑 scattereth evil in the seat of judgement.
9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
So watch and know people by their actions, not just their words. Or should I say, not by their words only.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
The wise eye and ears 👂 that hear wisdom are from the Lord.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Does that also mean, then, that the lips of knowledge are indeed very rare?
Is that why so many people are followers rather than leaders?
The lips of knowledge, is it that rare?
Is that why we are to search for wisdom, because it seems so alien 👾 to our nature 🏞, though abundant everywhere and calling out in the 🔓 open?
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Okay 👌. Thanks 🙏
So it is with good advice and counsel that we embark on a venture and make war.
Not with good intentions would our purposes be established, nor by rage and adrenaline would we win a war.
Not even with a justifiable reason of ill treatment will we win war.
It is with good counsel.
19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
In the law, such an one could be stoned to death ☠; either this was what King Solomon was referring to, or he was talking of the ill luck that will come to such an one for his cursing 🤬
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
How can a man then understand his own way without the Lord's counsel and instruction?
25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Proverbs 20:25 GNT
Think carefully before you promise an offering to God. You might regret it later.
Will the church ⛪ today ever preach with this verse?
The NKJV brings out the meaning better.
Proverbs 20:25 NKJV
It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.
26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
So therefore a wicked king gathers to himself wicked and vain persons, to the end that he might enrich himself and fulfill his lusts,
at the expense of his own people.
Such a king is soon hated, and his throne shall not continue.
27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
So years are not lost just because your natural strength 💪 is abated; no, it's replaced with wisdom if you are wise, which is so precious.
30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Punishment and facing the consequences of one's actions purges you and cleanses you, helping you to learn wisdom and behave uprightly.