Quiet Time : even more much needed wisdom!

Okay, so here is basically a list of other verses I found interesting (although this certainly isn't all of them, by far). Just one more chapter to go, then on to Ecclesiastes!

Proverbs 18 (KJV)

4The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Note: deep waters. i.e., obscure, hidden. Flowing brook. i.e., clear. Although some men's words are obscure. Others are sources of wisdom and convey the clear truth.

8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Note: wounds...go down. Better, morsels greedily swallowed. Hearing gossip, like eating a delicacy, gives you something others do not have, and it is remembered in the inmost parts.

14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Note: sustain his infirmity. Better, endure his sickness. wounded=broken.

20A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Note: A man's tongue can yield satisfaction, life, or death. Those who are prone to use the tongue must take the consequences of their words.

Proverbs 19 (KJV)

3The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

Note: The foolish man blames the Lord for failures he has brought upon himself.

21There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

23The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 20 (KJV)

9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Note: The implied answer is "nobody," thus teaching the impossibility of sinless perfection.

13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Me: !!!!!

24Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

Note: God's sovereignty over man's ways is beyond our full comprehension.

Me: What I assume is probably wrong; especially someone else's motives, or even my own!

27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

Note: The conscience searches the inner part of man to convict of sin.

Proverbs 21 (KJV)

2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Note: Do not fight against the Lord, and, if you want safety (victory), do not fight without Him.

Proverbs 23 (KJV)

18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Note: an end. Better, a future. Don't be unduly burdened by the problems of the present, but allow a proper prospective on the future to help you maintain a buoyant attitude in the present.

Matthew Henry commentary: Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good courage, and God shall strengthen thy heart.

Proverbs 24 (KJV)

10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Matthew Henry commentary: Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good courage, and God shall strengthen thy heart.

13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Proverbs 25 (KJV)

14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Note: The gift of the braggart does not compare with what he promised.

20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

Note: Just as it would be heartless to take away a garment on a cold day or put vinegar on soda (nitre), rendering it useless, so would it be to sing to a sad person. heavy heart. Lit., evil heart; i.e. a sad heart.

27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Note: The proverb warns against becoming too engrossed in one's share of honor. Excess, even of a good thing, is bad.

Proverbs 26 (KJV)

19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Note: in sport = joking. The person who makes a joke of his thoughtlessness is a dangerous person to be around.

Proverbs 27 (KJV)

8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

Note: Leaving the security and guidance of one's home may lead to the experience of a prodigal.

19As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. answereth. Better, reflects. to man.

Note: Better, reflects man. As water reflects the face, the heart of man reflects and reveals his inner person.

21As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

Note: A man's response to praise is a test of his character. Self-deprecation may reflect false pride. fining = refining. his praise, i.e., the praised accorded to him.

Proverbs 30 (KJV)

6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Note: Supplementing God's Word with man's speculation is foolish business.
Me: this reminds me of something in Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World - by Carolyn McCulley, about how Eve added to what God said in Genesis 3:3 (The Fall), and how we as fallen creatures are apt to do the same.

11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

Note: A picture of four kinds of evil men: the disrespectful, the hypocrite, the proud, and the greedy.

18There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

Note: These four ways are difficult to understand either because their movements leave no track to follow or because they relate to things not easy to master. The way of a man with a maid refers to courtship.

24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

Note: Four small creatures that manifest wisdom. Ants have foresight to make provision; badgers (conies) find protective shelter; locusts have an ordered (by bands) community; and the lizard (spider) is bold and fearless. taketh hold with her hands. Better, you can take hold of with the hands; i.e., you can catch in your hand.