If you have to choose between wealth and integrity, choose integrity. If you have to choose between poverty and perverseness, choose poverty.

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Rhoda Smith
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1 Subject: PROVERBS Title: Contrasting Truths Continued Text: Proverbs 19:1-29 Chapter 19 continues with more contrasting truths - the differences between the fool and the wise. Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. * This is one of the better verses of Proverbs (see 15:16-17; 16:8,19; 17:1; 21:9, 19; 28:6, etc.). The subject of riches and poverty as they are related to wisdom and integrity are found in the first seven verses. This proverb has to do with speech. Walking in integrity is contrasted with perverse lips. The fool can be presumed to be rich. Proverbs 18:23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. If you have to choose between wealth and integrity, choose integrity. If you have to choose between poverty and perverseness, choose poverty. 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. *...hasteth with his feet... - Haste makes waste. Quickly gained, quickly lost. Slow down! In your haste, you ll be negligent, careless, insensitive, etc. Addicted to activity! Where is everybody going? TV s, radios, stereo, computer, AC, heat, etc. We are too busy to focus on the essentials of personhood, spirituality, etc. 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. * A man left to himself without the counsel of the Lord in his life will take a perverse track in life - his heart fretteth against the Lord, i.e., he whines and gripes against God s commandments and will. 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: The root of all complaining is self-love. Complaining excites more contempt than pity. 19:4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. * The proverb is simply - money buys friends. 143

2 Proverbs 10:15 The rich man s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. Proverbs 14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. * Proverbs 19:5 is repeated in v.9. Sin will be judged and ultimately punished. 19:6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 19:7 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. * Again, money and power have great influence. People have a nasty habit of befriending those who can do something for them! Human nature. 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. * A man s soul is enriched through the procurement of wisdom. In so doing, he shows genuine, rightful concern for himself - wisdom and understanding lead a person to the genuinely good life. 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. * A repeat of v.5 19:10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. * True delight (the genuinely good life in the Lord) doesn t fit the fools lifestyle. He cannot and does not appreciate what he has. He takes for granted those benefits. * The second half of the verse simply states another situation that just doesn t fit - servants ruling over princes. As a servant - take your place, know your place in the chain of command (family, church, employee) and live accordingly. 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. * The word discretion means the quality of character in a man that helps him to choose the sensible course. David does this with Saul and with Shimei. 144

3 The verse encourages us to know when it is right to be angry and when it is not. You always have the option not to get upset. A wise man allows few things to infuriate him. He keeps control of himself. Actions, words done or said in anger usually require extensive cleanup later on. * It is to a man s glory (credit) to pass over a transgression, i.e., to forgive without even mentioning it. 19:12 The king s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. * Make sure that you are on the right side of the king. He can destroy you or refresh you. 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. Proverbs 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. * The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. - Women have a way of bringing up the same arguments and complaints on a regular basis. They work on a man like the Chinese water torture. It is commonly called nagging. It will cause a man to ultimately withdraw. He ll stay at the office longer and find other more meaningful things to do with his life apart from her company. The continual dropping is irritating at first until it becomes torturous! 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. * An inheritance is a gift from your physical father, and a prudent wife is a gift from the Lord. 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. * You can t make a living sleeping - you ll suffer hunger. If you don t work, you don t eat! Proverbs 15:19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise...9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 19:16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. 145

4 * Keeping or obeying the commandments tends toward life. Disobedience brings death.the singular commandment = any particular command. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. * When you help the poor, you are giving to the Lord. Proverbs 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. 1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the fi rst day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Romans 15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. * When you help the poor, the Lord will pay you back - The law of sowing and reaping. Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Proverbs 14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. 146

5 Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. Two great quotes: - The greatest measure of a man is not what he does, but what he gives. - The quality of the giver is more important than the quantity of the gift. 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. * Many famous quotes come from this verse: - Spare the rod, spoil the child. - The board of education should be applied to the seat of knowledge. - A switch in time, saves nine. - The tree grows as the twig is bent. * Discipline your children...while there is hope... - when he or she is young. Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 19:19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. * The angry man is always in hot water. You ll have to bail him out time and time again. He will have to pay for his anger. 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. * Having counsel and instruction are cumulative effects. Start early so you can become wise early enough in life before you make some very bad decisions. 19:21 There are many devices in a man s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. * The many devices are the thoughts, ideas, philosophies and opinions of men or women like Dr. Laura, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Dr. Dean Adell, Oprah Winfrey, Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Phil, Hannity and Combs, Bill O Reilly, Alan Dershowitz, etc. Also, Plato, Aristotle, Aristophones, Bertrand Russell, John Dewey, etc. Nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord through the Bible will be the final standard for judgment. 147

6 19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. * What a man intends when he does an act of kindness is the real kindness. In other words, what is in his heart - and what his motive is. Luke 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. * The man who considers and obeys the Word of God has a much better chance at living a good life, a long life and enjoy eternal life. 19:24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. * See v hideth his hand in his bosom... - i.e., he will not work with his hands. If you don t work, you don t eat! - i.e., will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 19:25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. * Smite a scorner - the death penalty will be observed by the simple and serve as a deterrent. * Reprove a person who hath understanding on the importance of knowledge, reproof, etc., and he will gain from the experience. 19:26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. * The application is - the young man wastes his father s resources, his investment in his son, and then has little or nothing to do with his mother in latter life. He wastes his father s college tuition payments and sends his mother to a nursing home. 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. * The proverb commands us to be discerning in our formal and informal education. Books, tapes, seminars, classes, TV, etc., are all in question. In question - Science (1 Timothy 6:20), Philosophy (Colossians 2:8), Tradition (Mark 7:7, 9), etc. 19:28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. 148

7 * When anyone is educated in the instruction that causes us to err from the words of knowledge, he scorns biblical judgment, The Last Judgment, The Judgment Seat of Christ, The Judgment of Nations, and The Great White Throne Judgment * The mouth of the wicked cannot get enough wickedness. It becomes his daily diet. 19:29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools. * God will bring judgment and stripes upon all who reject and disobey His counsel. 149

Proverbs 19:1. Proverbs 19:1. Proverbs 19:2 8/8/2013. The Priorities of Life Contrasted

Proverbs 19:1. Proverbs 19:1. Proverbs 19:2 8/8/2013. The Priorities of Life Contrasted TheBook of Proverbs Chapter 19 The Priorities of Life Contrasted 1 Proverbs 19:1 (Pro 19:1 NASB) Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool. Better