Proverbs 21

Brit-Am/Hebrew Nations Notes and Commentary

Proverbs 21:

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Proverbs 21:1-3 Recognize a Higher Authority

1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He will.

The King represents the government of nations.

2 All deeds are right in the sight of the doer,
but the Lord weighs the heart.

We tend to justify to ourselves whatever we do. God however knows why we really do and say what we do. HE will judge us.

3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Be fair. Help others when you can.
This can mean putting oneself in a situation costing a loss of time, inconvenience, and so on.
When this happens, remember that this is what is required of you.

Proverbs 21: 4-6 Positive Intention is Always Needed

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked are sin.

Evil people want to commit evil. That is what guides them.
The Hebrew word translated here as sin is "Chatat". This may also connote transgressing , missing the mark, criminal negligence.
They who have bad or even simply arrogant attitudes are liable to cause calamities even when they do not intend to.
Evil brings evil.
Negativity is negative.

It happens that one unwittingly causes an accident or unnecessary trouble for others.
In such a case self-examination is required.
Recently I attended a compulsory Driving Preventive Course that is obligatory in Israel for License Renewal. The lecturer was a former police inspector of traffic accidents. He said that in his experience nearly all accidents are caused by someone transgressing the law. He also said that the casualties of accidents seldom include the guilty party.

5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.

Keep on working, do what you can as you can. Success will come eventually. Even if one sees little reward in one field, Divine Providence often provides recompense elsewhere.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapour and snares of death.

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Proverbs 21: 10-12 Use Your Intelligence to Avoid Evildoers

10 The souls of the wicked desire evil;
their neighbours find no mercy in their eyes.

Bad people want bad things. Even the friends of an evil person become his victims. The evil man despises those closest to him.

11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser;
when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.

This is why Capital Punishment and punishment in general is efficacious. It warns others. Those who liable to go in the same way see what happens and take heed.
The hebrew word translated here as "are instructed" is "MaSKiL" from the root "SaKeL" . This connotes understanding, instruction, skill. It is probably the root of the English word "skill".

The "Online Etymological Dictionary" tells us:
skill (n.)
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=skill
late 12c., "power of discernment," from Old Norse skil "distinction, ability to make out, discernment, adjustment," related to skilja (v.) "to separate; discern, understand,"... (cognates: Swedish skal "reason," Danish skjel "a separation, boundary, limit," Middle Low German schillen "to differ," Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schele "separation, discrimination;" see shell (n.)). Sense of "ability, cleverness" first recorded early 13c.

12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he casts the wicked down to ruin.

The last part of this verse, " he casts the wicked down to ruin" could alternatively be rendered, "he [the wicked man] perverts evildoers for bad".
A bad person has an evil influence. He should be kept under observation while being kept away from.

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Proverbs 21:13-15
Justice Needs to Be Done and Seen

Proverbs 21:
13 If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,
you will cry out and not be heard.
14 A gift in secret averts anger;
and a concealed bribe in the bosom, [averts] strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,
but dismay to evildoers.
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Proverbs 21: 16-18. Everything Has a Price!

Proverbs 21:
16 Whoever wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.

This may be understand on several levels.
A person who during life suffers from mistaken belief will not be quiet about it in his innermost being.
In his death he will know the truth.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want;
whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Avoid luxury at the expense of other things.
Keep away from substance abuse.
Alcohol, pills, drugs, etc, are not friendly to you.

18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.

Metsudat Davidi Commentary:
# When death has been decreed against the righteous and the decree is annulled, the Attribute of Judgment is not pacified until an evildoer makes payment in place of the one who was delivered. #

Proverbs 21:22-24 Secrets of Existence

Proverbs 21:
22 What is desirable in a person is his kindness,
and it is better to be poor than a liar.

People like you because of what you can do for them or for others.
It radiates outward. Feel and act positively towards the outside and your inner personality changes for the better.
Sometimes in business or in daily affairs the situation arises whereby if we do not tell a mistruth we shall lose money.
Proverbs is telling us what the choice should be.

23 The fear of the Lord gives life;
filled with it one rests secure
and suffers no harm.

Fear of God will keep us from doing things that harm others and ultimately ourselves.
It also gives us vitality and an increased will to live.

24 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish,
and will not even bring it back to the mouth.

Both in other people and at times in ourselves we may come across instances where the solution to a particular problem is easily achieved but the required small effort is not being undertaken.

Proverbs 21:19-21. Options of Existence

Proverbs 21:
19 It is better to live in a land of wilderness
than with a contentious wife and anger.
20 Precious treasure and oil [richness] in the domain of the wise,
but the fool of a man will devour it.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honour.

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Proverbs 21:22-24 Secrets of Existence

Proverbs 21:
22 What is desirable in a person is his kindness,
and it is better to be poor than a liar.

People like you because of what you can do for them or for others.
It radiates outward. Feel and act positively towards the outside and your inner personality changes for the better.
Sometimes in business or in daily affairs the situation arises whereby if we do not tell a mistruth we shall lose money.
Proverbs is telling us what the choice should be.

23 The fear of the Lord gives life;
filled with it one rests secure
and suffers no harm.

Fear of God will keep us from doing things that harm others and ultimately ourselves.
It also gives us vitality and an increased will to live.

24 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish,
and will not even bring it back to the mouth.

Both in other people and at times in ourselves we may come across instances where the solution to a particular problem is easily achieved but the required small effort is not being undertaken.

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Proverbs 21:25-28 Industriousness and Righteousness Breed Success!

Proverbs 21:

25 The craving of the lazy person is fatal,
for lazy hands refuse to labour.

This is obvious but we all tend to forget it.
Do the work and see the results. There is no other way.
We may however strive and pray that the work we do do is on target, worth the while, and productive.

26 All day long the wicked covet,
but the righteous give and do not hold back.

The above translation is correct BUT the Commentators point out that the second half has several possible meanings all of which may be applicable.
Putting them all together, we get:

# All day long [the wicked] covet lustfully, but the righteous give and do not hold back; to the righteous HE [the Almighty] will give; the righteous will give to the wicked even though the wicked bring their own need upon themselves.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when brought with evil intent.

28 A false witness will perish,
but a good listener will testify successfully.

The above translation is from NRSV. Its renderings are sometimes innovative and successful and at other times less so. It is however a noble effort on the whole.