Proverbs drops into a rhythm that is reminiscent of what bothered me about Psalms. Namely lots of statements about how the good guys will win and the bad guys will lose. However, the difference between promoting wisdom and promoting faithfulness as the deciding factor makes a difference to me. Proverbs feels like a statement of “natural consequences” whereas Psalms feels like prosperity gospel.
Here’s my favorites from this reading:
- Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
- The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
- For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
- One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
- The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
- Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
- Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind
I like the better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt type proverbs. I also like the very specific one about unfair scales.
The second to last one is interesting because it really sounds like an everlasting afterlife type promise to me. There are other verses suggesting the righteous path leads to life or even evading death. The final verse of the selection is: In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.
Interesting. The final proverb is only tagged because it was the title of an old-timey movie and cultural cross references are fun.