The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 25th on Proverbs 25:9-12

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So here I offer my amateur comments on verses 9-12.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:


2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.


4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
and his throne will be established through righteousness.


6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.


What you have seen with your eyes
8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?


9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,


9) Interesting; not even to pin your rotten neighbor to the wall, can you use something someone else told you in confidence as evidence!  God has great ethics, methinks!  The terribly much, as far as standards go, are so worth it because each of us becomes an eventual recipient of the good standards.



10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.


10) This seems to be a charge unrelated to your 'neighborly' claim.  This charge, the one that would stand, is probably worse than your complaint: the charge that you are a GOSSIP!

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
is a ruling rightly given.


11) So picturesque!  This image is used elsewhere, as in ....is a word fitly spoken.  I suppose it's the same idea, but one is more official than personal.

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.


12) Oh that the dumb kid who just made a stupid, rash decision, would stand and listen to the stern rebuke  of the good judge.  No matter if the judge is his dad, or a municipal official.  It's time to grow up; plus you still get to wear the earring!


13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.


15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.


16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.


18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.


21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.


23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.


24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.


25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.


27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.


28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.




By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?