The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting March 19th on Proverbs 19:6-9

                       March 19th?     Read Proverbs 19!

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers. My amateur comments are offered below each of today's verses from Proverbs.]

Have you ever noticed that, like most months have 31 days, the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters? Fascinating right? Well, it is at least interesting, and coincidentally beneficial to those who would like to read a portion of thought provoking scripture every day of the month. You might like to read the calendar coordinated chapter from Proverbs every day this month (I've included the whole chapter below!) and then see if my comments on a few of those verses line up with your own observations. My plan is to go through the year, writing my response to about one seventh of each chapter's verses every day, during each of the 7 months that have 31 days.  Clear as mud? That's what I thought.

I hope you check in, and leave a comment. Especially if I say something really off base and need to be corrected, because, as we will learn this month on the 27th, Proverbs 27:5 says

                                "Better is open rebuke than hidden love." 

                                       Today's inspired verses, 6-9, are highlighted in red

                                          (and my questionable comments are in blue).

Proverbs 19

1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,
yet their heart rages against the LORD.

4 Wealth attracts many friends,
but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

6 Many curry favor with a ruler,
and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.


6) What's this about a curry flavored ruler?  The temptation to warm up to people because they can do something for us is repugnant.  Very real, but repugnant.  

7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
how much more do their friends avoid them!
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
they are nowhere to be found.[a]


7) The way we judge each other is so sad.    Every person has something to share even the poorest of the poor.  Do we shun and avoid the poor just because we are afraid we will have to help them?  I guess the second half of the proverb suggests that they are pleading for help.  How dare they! 
 
8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.


8) There is nothing like being familiar with a machine or a subject or a book or a person!  Being involved long enough to be comfortable does indeed make life lovable.  Then one understanding simply leads to another and another, and pretty quick; you've prospered!


And developing an aptitude or a vocabulary or an achievement in any subject fosters advancement in any other field. I've noticed that many successful actors or athletes also have abilities with music.  Those piano lessons they hated back in the day, developed their discipline, memory, organization and study skills. 


9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will perish.


9) Good.  "Thank you Lord."  'Pouring out lies' suggests an unrepentant lifetime liar.  He will perish.  A repentant liar does no longer do any lie pouring.  But if one spills out here and there, and...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1John 1:9

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—
how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like
the constant dripping of a leaky roof.

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless go hungry.

16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward them for what they have done.

18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to their death.

19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

22 What a person desires is unfailing love[b];
better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother
is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
Proverbs 19:22 Or Greed is a person’s shame