There are three ships in a man s life: friendship, courtship and battleship!

Transcription

1 Subject: PROVERBS Title: Contrasting Truths Continued Text: Proverbs 14:1-35 Chapter 14 continues with more contrasting truths. The fool and the wise are the main subjects of the chapter Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. * Proverbs 12:4 is similar to this verse, A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. * The wise woman is the one of Proverbs 31 and the foolish woman is the house-frau of Proverbs 9:13, A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. In light of the foolish woman, for what it s worth: Two men were talking and one man asked the other, What kind of woman did you marry? He answered, Oh, she s an angel. To which the first man answered, Boy, you are so lucky, mine s still living! There are three ships in a man s life: friendship, courtship and battleship! * A woman who won t work with her hands can t build her house, Proverbs 31:19-20, She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: * Solomon does not forget the mouth by any means. Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. Proverbs 14:2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. 92

2 Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confi dent. * Two readings are possible for the last half of Proverbs 14:2, But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. One, the man who is perverse in his own ways despiseth the upright who fears the Lord. Two, the man who is perverse in the Lord s ways despises the Lord. 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. * This pictures a man beating another man with words. The rod of pride is a rod that comes from a proud attitude. * Another possible thought is that of 1 Timothy 3:6-7, Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. * God will use the rod to punish a proud man, and in Isaiah 10 the rod is the Devil in the Assyrian who judged Israel, and in Jeremiah 51 it is Israel who will judge Babylon because the Babylonians had previously been the rod against Israel. Isaiah 10:5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. Jeremiah 51:19 The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the Lord of hosts is his name. 15:20 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; * With regard to the second half of Proverbs 14:3, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them, note the following Proverbs: Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 28:14 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 93

3 Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. * You can t get food in the fodder without oxen to get it in, so if you can t afford the oxen, you can t afford the increase in the food. 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. * Philosophers are unable to find any absolute truths or arrive at a real understanding of anything (2 Timothy 3:7, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth ). A philosopher is a man who studies less and less about more and more until he knows nothing about everything, while a scientist is a man who studies more and more about less and less until he finally knows everything about nothing. Proverbs 15:12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. Proverbs 17:24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Proverbs 18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. 18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. 18:3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy (dishonour) reproach. 18:4 The words of a man s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a fl owing brook. 18:5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 18:6 A fool s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 18:7 A fool s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 18:11 The rich man s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. 94

4 * The man who understandeth is the man who takes Proverbs 2:2, 6, 11 and 3:13, 19 to heart. Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding...6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding...11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that fi ndeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding...19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. * Proverbs 14:7 identifies the scorner of verse 6 as a foolish man and advises the reader to leave him alone and get out of his way! * The verse is one of the simplest and clearest in the entire collection of Proverbs: When you hear a man shooting off his mouth who obviously has no respect for God or the Bible, excuse yourself and leave the room. 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. * The wisdom of the prudent is devoted to trying to understand what he is doing, where he is going, how he is behaving himself, and what the end results of these actions will be. Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. * Pulpit Commentary comment, Fools..commit sin lightly and cheerfully, give specious names to grievous transgressions, pass over rebuke with a joke, and encourage others in crime by their easy way of viewing it. * The meaning of among the righteous there is favour in v.9 is simple. Since a righteous man does NOT make a mock of sin, he gains favor with God and man. Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. 14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. * Many of our experiences in life are individual experiences and are incommunicable. Each soul lives a separate life; no two natures are just alike. We are usually shy and reserved when it comes to relating our deepest experiences. 95

5 No unregenerate, modern man recognizes the good in isolation, segregation and individual accountability. The Scriptures, as usual, disagree. Isaiah 5:8, Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay fi eld to fi eld, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! Acts 17:26-29, And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and fi nd him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man s device. Deuteronomy 32:7-8 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. No one can be born in your place, no one can stand in the Judgment for you unless you accept God s own substitute, and no one can take physical death for you unless God raptures you out (1 Thessalonians 4) before the Millennium. * For the Christian whose heart knoweth his own bitterness, there is a cure for the loneliness and isolation which the world knows nothing about. John 14:1-6, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. With the indwelling Comforter (John 13-16), we have a constant Companion to share with our bitterness. Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: The friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24) indwells the body of the Believer. 96

6 * For the second half of Proverbs 14:10, And a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy, the child of God is told, Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep (Romans 12;15), yet, even then it is impossible to fully participate in another s joys and sorrows. 14:11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. * Good examples of Old Testament house of the wicked...overthrown fulfillment are Kings Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:21), Baasha (1 Kings 16:12), and Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:7). * But the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish is literally true of Jesus Christ in His official position as King over Jacob, ruling on the throne of David. Acts 15:16, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. * The way which seemeth right is usually attractive in appearance: that is, it looks good on paper. It promises good: that is, the ends will justify the means. It flatters man: that is, it is always a way that runs contrary to Revelation. The way which seems right is the broad...way of Matthew 7:13, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. It s credal statements are as follows: 1. If you follow your conscience, you ll be all right. 2. Heaven and Hell are in your mind; life is what you make it. 3. God is too good to send anyone to Hell. 4. If you live up to your religion, you ll be all right. 5. If a man lives it, it doesn t make any difference what Religion he follows. Matthew 7:21 states the case exactly, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. The quickest way to Hell is Religion, and the next best is Education. 14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. * Emotional cycles of life. A broken-hearted man is forced to laugh or at least laughs to be polite. An interesting comment on the passage is found in Ecclesiastes 7:2-6. Ecclesiastes 7:2-6 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the 97

7 heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. An ancient saying is, Men do not always wear their heart on their sleeve. 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. * It applies the term backslider to an individual; whereas, in all other places in the Bible, it refers to the nation of Israel, some as: Jeremiah 3:6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot...11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justifi ed herself more than treacherous Judah. Jeremiah 5:6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased. Jeremiah 8:5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. Hosea 4:16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Hosea 11:7And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him. * The backslider in heart says, Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, which is the song of an honest confession of the godly Christian. Every Christian needs to arise and go back to Bethel (Genesis 35:1) on occasion. The signs of backsliding are apparent and just as manifest as the works of the fl esh noted in Galatians 5:18-21 ( Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like ): 1. Getting more excited about anything than being saved. 2. A slacking-off of Bible reading and prayer. 3. A lessening of desire to get home to Heaven. 4. An increase in a critical and self-righteous spirit which enjoys condemning other Christians. 98

8 5. A loss of fruit-bearing, first manifest in an indifference towards witnessing. 6. A defiant attitude toward giving and a resentment over messages on tithing. 7. Time taken up with TV, family, yard and car that formerly was given to Bible study, witnessing, Church-going and prayer. * The rest of Proverbs 14:14, and a good man shall be satisfi ed from himself, indicates that just as the backslider receives his own doings as payment, so the good man receives his as well - Life is what you make it, etc. The Bible never implies that all rewards and punishments end here. Note I Timothy 5:24, Some men s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. * An ancient Greek writer said, Belief and unbelief alike are fatal. What he meant was, the man who believes everything is a credulous fool, and the man who believes NOTHING is just as stupid and just as mistaken. The prudent man who looketh well to his going (in the Bible) is the man that takes Education, Science and Religion with a tablespoon of salt and rejects anything in them that does not match the revelation of God. 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and fi ndeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. * By contrast, the fool that rageth, and is confi dent does NOT depart from evil, but stays with it, and stays with it confidently, convinced all will work out alright in the end. Proverbs 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. 14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. Proverbs 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. Proverbs 15:18 A fool s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. Proverbs 12:16 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. 99

9 * An angry man who dealeth foolishly is bound to have wicked devices and, consequently, folks don t care for him. 14:18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. * This simple one is the same in v.15, The simple believeth every word, and in previous Proverbs. Proverbs 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Proverbs 9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, * The prudent...crowned with knowledge knows how to conduct himself so that he will not inherit folly. Be careful to observe that the word knowledge here is the same of Proverbs 1:4, 7, 22, 29 and Proverbs 2:5, 6, 10. Proverbs 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion...7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction...22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?...29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: Proverbs 2:5-6, Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and fi nd the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding...10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 14:19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. * This is an apparent result of Proverbs 12:24, The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute, and verses like it. 14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. * Proverbs 19:4, 7 help explain the proverb, Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour...all the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. * The Proverb is a salty and realistic comment on human nature. Since a poor man cannot help ME, why should I want him for a neighbor? Conversely, I might be able to get some financial assistance from him (the rich man) someday, so I d better stay on good terms with him! - the rich hath many friends. One observant rascal said, When a man s income tax payments are more than he spends to support his family, he is a success. 100

10 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. * The verse is obviously a reference to the preceding one. You are not to despise a man simply because he is poor. The poor neighbor is to receive mercy not hate (v.20); and the man who has mercy on the poor will be rewarded by God. 2 Corinthians 9:9 As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Psalms 112:9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs 29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. 14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. * The first part of this verse is speaking about what is wrong with the devising of evil, while the second part is talking about the results of devising good. The word devise indicates that a man can plot good deeds exactly as he can plot bad ones. 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury (poverty). 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. * Proverbs 14:18 is a corollary of these verses, The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. * The true witness not only delivereth souls, he wins them (Proverbs 11:30, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.), and saves them (1 Corinthians 9:22, To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some ). 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 101

11 Numerous spiritual applications can be made from companion verses. Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Psalms 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. Exodus 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 1 Kings 11:12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 13:14, The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. Proverbs 25:18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Proverbs 14:17, He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. Proverbs 13:3, He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. * For the second half of Proverbs 14:29, but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly, note the following: Psalms 116:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars. Proverbs 28:22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. 102

12 Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. * Other sayings about haste: - Haste makes waste. - The hurrier I go, the behinder I get. - Always hurry - always worry. - More haste - less speed. - Fraud and deceit are always in a hurry. - Quickly gained - quickly lost. - If it doesn t TAKE time, it isn t WORTH time. - Here today - gone tomorrow. - Look before you leap. 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. * Note the following philosophies on envy the rottenness of the bones: 1. Envy eats a man up like a moth eats a garment. 2. Envy is a cancer of Christianity. 3. A necessity is something your neighbor bought for a luxury. 4. Envy is the injured lover s Hell. 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. * The verse should be compared with Proverbs 14: See notes. * The man who oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker, but the man who honours God will have mercy on poor people. Deuteronomy 15:11 and Matthew 26:11 make it abundantly clear that Anti-poverty programs and Wars on Poverty and forced attempts by International Socialists to equalize income will all end in failure. Deuteronomy 15:11, For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. 103

13 Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. Any violation of this principle is an attempt to control the masses by making them dependent upon organizations. 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. 14:33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. * This is a repetition of other teachings of Proverbs: Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and fi nd the knowledge of God...9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. Proverbs 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding...5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth...7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. * The exact teaching here is that the man who has understanding will let wisdom remain within him until it is the proper time to produce it. Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. * You cannot have prosperity where sin is cherished, promoted, recommended, tolerated and practiced. The proof of this is that taxes always go up where righteousness ceases. 14:35 The king s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame. * This proverb ends the chapter on a negative note. The first clause is illustrated dramatically by Pharaoh s treatment of Joseph (Genesis 40). 104