Posted by Jeff Short on April 21, 2020 · Leave a Comment
The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
– Proverbs 29:10
The saying refers to men of blood. They hate and seek to destroy the upright. They display hostility, aggression, and anger toward righteousness. The wording of the second line is difficult and has been rendered variously by translators. If we take the upright to be the focus of each line, then the contrast is made between the bloodthirsty and the just in relation to the upright. The first seeks to destroy and the second seeks to save.
Posted by Jeff Short on December 6, 2019 · Leave a Comment
Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
– Proverbs 28:18
The way of walking is a consistent theme in Proverbs, where there are only two ways—wisdom or folly. The word for
uprightly means complete, or whole. It is often contrasted with
perverse, as it is here (Proverbs 28:6; 10). The image of falling is common to one walking perversely. The thrust of the saying is the contrast between the safety of integrity and the certain fall of those who twist and distort the way of wisdom (Proverbs 2:8, 12-15, 20; 3:6, 23; 10:9, 25; 11:3-6).
Posted by Jeff Short on October 18, 2019 · Leave a Comment
Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
– Proverbs 28:10
Corrupt dealings and leading others astray will merit divine justice. This is a wisdom theme in Proverbs (Proverbs 5:20; 20:1; 26:7), as well as throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 27:18; Job 12:16; Isaiah 28:7; Amos 2:12; Matthew 5:19; 18:6; 23:15; Luke 17:1-2; Colossians 2:18; 2 Timothy 3:6; 2 Peter 2:15, 18). The reward for the evil is to fall into his own pit and the reward for the upright is to come into a good inheritance. The saying warns against using others for your own ends and also warns against being lead astray, reminiscent of the opening wisdom addresses (Proverbs 1:8-19).
Posted by Jeff Short on August 13, 2019 · Leave a Comment
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
– Proverbs 28:6
Proverbs consistently holds that wisdom does not equal wealth and folly does not equal poverty.
Uprightness, or integrity, is contrasted with
perverse, or twisted or crooked. This proverb is a better than saying that states honest poverty is better than dishonest riches. While it is possible to be honest and rich, as well as being dishonest and poor, the choice is often between integrity/wisdom and wealth. Crooked ways lead to destruction (Proverbs 28:18). Wisdom teaches it is better to be upright than rich, if that’s the choice before you (Proverbs 16:8; 19:1, 22).
Posted by Jeff Short on April 22, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
– Proverbs 23:16
The word for
reins literally means kidneys, but references to internal organs or parts, such as bones, are intended to speak of being deeply affected within. Rejoicing of the
reins speaks of a deep joy and rejoicing of the whole man. The word for
right things means even and straight. It is used figuratively to speak of moral uprightness. The parent rejoices when the child grows to speak
right things, because this means he has learned wisdom. Speaking
right things is the essential cry of wisdom in Proverbs 8:6. Those who have been instructed in wisdom, speak wise things (Proverbs 15:2, 28). Even the Servant of Yahweh speaks wisdom with “the tongue of the learned” (Isaiah 50:4). True wisdom can only be spoken from a heart possessing true wisdom (Proverbs 12:17; 14:5).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 26, 2018 · Leave a Comment
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
– Proverbs 21:29
The word for
hardeneth means to be strong, or firm. The word appears three times in Proverbs and is translated
impudent (Proverbs 7:13),
strengthened (Proverbs 8:28), and
hardeneth (Proverbs 21:29). The word for
directeth means to separate mentally, or understand. The proverb contrasts the
wicked and the
upright. The wicked man puts up a strong front, whereas the upright considers well his way. The proverb speaks of appearance versus substance. The wicked are more concerned about the right appearance, whereas the upright is more concerned about the right way.
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 31, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Introduction
Chapter 19 continues the proverbs of Solomon. The chapter touches on friendships, wealth, laziness, the home, and more.
Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
– Proverbs 19:1
We expect the poor to be contrasted with the rich, and Proverbs 28:6 does that in a similar proverb. So the fool in the second phrase is understood to be a wealthy fool. The word for integrity means completeness, or innocence in the sense of being blameless. It is sometimes translated as upright. Walking uprightly means having wisdom and walking in wisdom (Proverbs 2:6-7; 13:6; 20:7). The word for perverse means distorted, or crooked. It is sometimes translated as froward. Cleverness is implicit in the twisting of words by the obstinate fool. Being poor and possessing wisdom is possible and better than being such a rich fool.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
– Proverbs 16:17
The word for
highway means a road or course and is used figuratively for course of life. Departing from
evil has a moral overtone and sums to more than simply avoiding pitfalls (Proverbs 16:6). The word for
upright means straight and the way is obviously a straight and righteous way (Proverbs 11:3). The word for
preserveth means to hedge about, or to guard. The second phrase is more than security in the sense of walking safely (Proverbs 10:9). By guarding his way, the upright man is guarding his soul (Proverbs 19:16).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 12, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
– Proverbs 15:21
Foolishness in Proverbs is a choice, or it is a consequence of rejecting wisdom’s instruction and correction. This proverb identifies
folly as
joy to those who are
destitute of wisdom, or without understanding. Fools delight in folly as a sport and pleasure (Proverbs 10:23; 14:9). The word for
understanding means intelligence and reason. It describes one who is skilled in discernment. The word for
upright means straight, or direct. The discerning ones deliberately choose the way that is good (Proverbs 14:16; 16:17). This is a man who has good sense and considers the end (Proverbs 22:3).
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Next Page »
Proverbs 29:10
Posted by Jeff Short on April 21, 2020 · Leave a Comment
The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
The saying refers to men of blood. They hate and seek to destroy the upright. They display hostility, aggression, and anger toward righteousness. The wording of the second line is difficult and has been rendered variously by translators. If we take the upright to be the focus of each line, then the contrast is made between the bloodthirsty and the just in relation to the upright. The first seeks to destroy and the second seeks to save.– Proverbs 29:10
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