PROVERBS Chapters 16-31 A study using 18 questions per chapter The purpose of this study is to find out What the Bible says. THE WORD FOR THE WORLD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Bill DeLaughter
Bill DeLaughter P.O. Box 193 Crown Point, In. 46308-0193 U.S.A. Phone - (219) 661-0998 web site www.word4world.com E-mail wjdzim@word4world.com Bill desires that this study be made available to everyone to be used for their further understanding of What The Bible Says. This study may be photo copied for single church use and/or translated into any language where it can be used with permission from the author. INSTRUCTIONS or suggestions as to how to conduct this study. I can only suggest how this study was originally conducted and it was very successful. First of all, we tried to arrange a very informal atmosphere with the folks sitting in a loose circle. We would begin the session by having tea, or cokes and an informal time of fellowship. Then we would have a prayer time with everyone suggesting names of those for whom we should pray. It was also mentioned each session that we expected that each individual have at least one person for whom they would agree to pray for in regards to that person s salvation. To actually begin the study the entire chapter would be read aloud with each one willing to read, taking the number of verses and dividing it by the number of people present and each one reading a portion. Then the first one on the left (a habit of mine) would begin by reading the first question and giving their answer. The verse where their answer was found must also be given. Then the leader asks if everybody agrees. Let discussion carry on as necessary but not too long. Then go to the next question and the next person until all of the fifteen questions are answered. For the discussion questions (numbers 16-17-18) each person present should give their answer once again going from the first one on the left and so on. Answer one question at a time, with each person present giving their reasons for their answer to each question. Discussion can be long or short depending on how the group feels. Do not carry the class session on too long. Encourage each one to prepare his answers BEFORE the session begins if at all possible only because they will get more out of the discussion if they have thought about it. INTRODUCTION This book is a collection of wise sayings and good advice designed for good daily living. It begins by saying that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The first four chapters go on to remind us of the importance of wisdom. After this the author comes up with two line sayings that are powerful on the subject of: marriage, social behavior, friendship, justice, folly, poverty, wealth, family, love, laziness and warnings against drinking and adultery. Many of the Proverbs were written by King Solomon while others were copies by the men of Hezekiah and the last two chapters were written by Agur and Lemuel.
PROVERBS - Chapter 16 1. A man s ways might seem innocent to him, but who weighs his motives?. Verse 2. Who works out everything for his own ends?. Verse 3. What goes before destruction? before a fall?. Verse 4. What does gossip accomplish?. Verse 5. The lot may be cast but from whom is every decision?. Verse 6. If you commit your plans to the Lord they will succeed. 7. Sin is atoned for by faithfulness and good works. 8. Honest scales and balances come from the Lord. 9. Gold and silver are more important than either Wisdom or understanding. 10. Grey hair is good to have. 11. Can the fear of the Lord help you avoid evil? 12. Is it the Lord who determines a man s steps? 13. Is the incurring of a king s wrath to incur death? 14. Is it good to have a violent man as a neighbor? 15. Is the man who takes a city better than the man who controls his temper? 16
PROVERBS - Chapter 17 1. Silver and gold are tested by man, but who tests the heart?. Verse 2. What are a crown to the aged?. Verse 3. What is better to meet than a fool in his folly?. Verse 4. What will a wicked man accept in secret to pervert the course of justice?. Verse 5. What does a foolish son bring to his father? 6. Someone who gloats over disaster will be punished. 7. Love is promoted by one who covers over an offense. 8. Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. 9. It is not good to punish an innocent man. 10. If a man keeps silent he is thought to be wise. 11. Does a wise man listen to evil talk? 12. Can children be proud of their parents? 13. Does dropping a matter make things worse? 14. Does a friend love at all times? 15. Is a cheerful heart considered a good thing? 17
PROVERBS - Chapter 18 1. What does the fool delight in?. Verse 2. What are the words of a gossip like?. Verse 3. What is a man s folly and his shame?. Verse 4. What does a gift accomplish? 5. What is the response to the one who presents his case first? 6. Wickedness and contempt, shame and disgrace all go together. 7. There is a place where the righteous can run to be safe. 8. Dignity comes before honor. 9. The tongue has power. 10. At times a friend is closer than a family member. 11. Should partiality be shown to the wicked? 12. Can a man be undone by his mouth? 13. Do the wealthy actually live in a fortified city with an unscalable wall? 14. Can disputes be settled by casting lots? 15. Do the poor plead for mercy while the rich man speaks harshly? 18
PROVERBS - Chapter 19 1. What happens when you act in haste?. Verse 2. How many references are there in this chapter to false witnesses?. Verse 3. What should a wise man do when he is offended?. Verse 4. Where does a prudent wife come from?. Verse 5. How does a son bring shame and disgrace to himself? 6. The wealthy have many friends but not the poor. 7. If you give gifts, many people will be your friend. 8. A leaking dirt roof get wet and drips for a long time, that is what a quarrelsome wife is like. 9. It is a good thing for a slave to rule over princes. 10. It is better for a hot tempered man to pay for what he has done. 11. Can a poor man count on his friends for help? 12. Do the members of his own family go away from a poor man? 13. Should a man put his son to death? 14. Is it profitable to rebuke a discerning man? 15. What is prepared for the backs of fools? 19
PROVERBS - Chapter 20 1. What can you drink that might lead you astray?. Verse 2. What is the result if a man does not plow in season?. Verse 3. How does the food gained by fraud end up?. Verse 4. What should you do about a man who talks too much?. Verse 5. What searches out the spirit of a man?. Verse 6. It is not a good thing to incur a king s wrath. 7. Is it questionable that any man is actually faithful. 8. Even a child is known by what he does. 9. God made both your eyes and your ears. 10. The glory of old men is their strength and grey hair is the splendor of young men. 11. Are the children of a righteous man blessed? 12. Can anyone claim to be without sin? 13. Is a person who speaks knowledge commonplace? 14. Is love important to a king? 15. Do beatings have a benefit? 20
PROVERBS - Chapter 21 1. What is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice?. Verse 2. Why would a man want to live in a corner of a roof? 3. What happens if a man shuts his ears to the poor?. Verse 4. What will happen to a man who loves wine?. Verse 5. What is it that succeed against the Lord?. Verse 6. The Lord directs the heart of kings. 7. Plans lead to profit, but haste leads to poverty 8. Justice done brings joy to both the righteous and the evildoer. 9. A quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife can cause a man to want to live in a desert. 10. Horses were raised to go to war. 11. Does everything that a man does seem right to him? 12. Does a gift given in secret have good results? 13. Is it a wise thing to devour all you possess? 14. Do those who listen to a false witness have a problem? 15. In any conflict is it the Lord who gives the victory? 21
PROVERBS - Chapter 22 1. What is greater than great riches? Greater than silver and gold?. Verse 2. What happens when you train a child in the way he should go?. Is that still true today?. Verse 3. What will drive folly out of a child?. Verse 4. What should a person do with ancient boundary stones?. Verse 5. What will a man obtain if he does good work?. Verse 6. If a man sees danger ahead he should avoid it. 7. The rich rule over the poor but the lender is servant to the borrower. 8. Oppressing the poor is a good way to get wealthy. 9. It is wise to avoid friendship with a hot tempered man. 10. A man should not borrow money. 11. Does God favor the rich over the poor? 12. Can anything good come from sowing wickedness? 13. Is it possible to have the king as a friend? 14. Is paying attention to your teacher a good thing? 15. If you cannot pay could you lose everything you have? 22
PROVERBS - Chapter 23 1. In the end, what will happen to riches? 2. What happens to a son whom you punish with a rod?. Verse 3. What happens to drunkards and gluttons?. Verse 4. What is a wayward wife likened to?. Verse 5. What happens to your eyes and mind when you gaze on wine when it is red?. Verse 6. The delicacies of a ruler you can count on. 7. It is a good thing to speak to a fool. 8. A father s heart is glad when his son s heart is wise. 9. Your mother should be treated with disrespect when she is old. 10. When a drunkard wakes up he craves MORE wine. 11. Will riches last for a long time? 12. Should boundary stones ever be moved? 13. When you fear the Lord will your hope ever be cut off? 14. Does a righteous man please both his father and his mother? 15. Is drinking wine wrong? 23
PROVERBS - Chapter 24 1. What do the wicked talk about?. Verse 2. What do you need to be victorious in waging war and winning? 3. If a righteous man falls, how many times will he rise up again?. Verse 4. What happens when the guilty are not punished? 5. Where had the thorns come up everywhere?. Verse 6. By wisdom a house is built, it is established by money, and knowledge fills its rooms with treasures. 7. Any fool can understand wisdom. 8. Honey is something that is good for someone to eat. 9. Top gloat over the fall of an enemy is perfectly all right. 10. Poverty comes to the man who sleeps too much. 11. Is a wise man a powerful man? 12. Will a person be rewarded for what he has done? 13. Are there three who should be feared? 14. Is it good to do to others what they have done to you? 15. Were the fences of old, just stone walls? 24
PROVERBS - Chapter 25 1. When you remove the dross from silver what happens to it? 2. If you betray another man s confidence what will happen to you? 3. What are clouds and wind without rain compared to? 4. What should you do if your enemy is hungry and what result will it have? 5. What is a city with broken down walls like?. Verse 6. It is a glory to the king to search out a matter. 7. Evil men in the king s presence make it impossible for his kingdom to be established. 8. When you see something wrong you should hurry to the court. 9. To eat too much honey is not a good thing. 10. Good news from a far off land is like a hot breath of air. 11. Is it easy to understand a king s heart? 12. Is it good to tell the king how great you are? 13. Can you visit a neighbor so much that he will hate you? 14. Can doing good to your enemy bring coals of fire upon his head? 15. Is it wise to seek honor for yourself? 25
PROVERBS - Chapter 26 1. What happens when you answer a fool according to his folly and what happens when you don t? 2. What is a proverb in the mouth of a fool likened to? 3. What is a fool who repeats his folly like?. Verse 4. What is a sluggard who is wiser in his own eyes like? 5. What happens to the man who rolls a stone?. Verse 6. A whip, a halter, and a rod are used for the backs of a fool. 7. If you are sending a message you should pick your messenger with care. 8. There is little hope for the man who is wise in his own eyes. 9. To rely on someone who is unfaithful is like having a bad tooth 10. If a man digs a pit he will fall into it himself. 11. Does an undeserved curse ever settle down? 12. When using a sling do you ever tie a stone into it? 13. Are 12 proverbs found in this chapter found elsewhere in Proverbs? 14. Does a malicious man have a charming way of speaking? 15. Does a lying tongue hate? 26
PROVERBS - Chapter 27 1. What is heavier than a stone or sand?. Verse 2. What verse is repeated here from Psalm 22:3?. Verse 3. Who can restrain a quarrelsome wife?. Verse 4. What is the phrase iron sharpens iron similar to?. Verse 5. How long do riches endure?. Verse 6. It is better to let someone else praise you and not your own mouth. 7. Honey still tastes good even if a man is full. 8. In a time of disaster it is better to go to a close friend than a far away relative. 9. A crown will last forever. 10. It is possible to buy a field with the price received from your goats. 11. Should a man boast about tomorrow? 12. Is someone who is jealous worse than someone who is cruel and full of fury? 13. Does perfume and incense make a person happy? 14. Are the eyes of a man ever satisfied? 15. Do the servant girls drink of the goat s milk? 27
PROVERBS - Chapter 28 1. What is a ruler who oppresses the poor compared to?. Verse 2. What are the prayers like of someone who turns his back on the law? 3. What is the outcome of a man who confesses his sins and one who conceals them? 4. What happens to a stingy man who is eager to get rich?. Verse 5. What happens to the people when the wicked rise to power, and then when he perishes? _ 6. There are many rulers when a country is rebellious. 7. The man who charges too much interest collects it for someone else. 8. When the wicked rise to power, righteous men come out and fight him. 9. The man who robs his father and mother will get very rich. 10. It is not wise for a fool to trust in himself. 11. Do those who keep the law resist the wicked? 12. Is the son who eats too much a disgrace to his father? 13. Is the man who fears the Lord called blessed? 14. If a man works in his field will he have plenty to eat? 15. If a man gives to the poor, does that mean his family goes hungry? 28
PROVERBS - Chapter 29 1. What does a companion of prostitutes receive?. Verse 2. What is the difference between anger in a fool and a wise man? 3. What happens when there is no revelation? 4. What does a man s pride get him?. Verse 5. What kind of testimony is the accomplice of a thief able to give? 6. People are never happy when the wicked rule. 7. A child left to himself will grow up and be an honor to his mother. 8. It is not wise to pamper a servant. 9. It is better to trust the Lord than to fear a man. 10. The righteous do not like the dishonest. 11. Can a stiff necked man reject rebukes so many times that it destroys him? 12. Is a righteous man able to sing? 13. Do the poor man and the oppressor have something in common? 14. Does an angry man cause trouble? 15. Does justice come from the Lord and not from any ruler? 29
PROVERBS - Chapter 30 1. What is said about the word of God?. Verse 2. Agur did not ask for riches nor poverty, so what does he ask for?. Verse 3. What do the leeches say?. Verse 4. What will happen to someone who mocks a father and scorns being obedient to his mother? 5. What are the four thing on the earth that are small? 6. Agur asks questions that cannot be answered. 7. There are four things that are too amazing to the author. 8. There are three things only that are stately in their stride. 9. A lion does not retreat before anything. 10. Churning milk produces butter but a twisted nose produces blood. 11. Does Agur claim to be a wise man? 12. Does Agur want to know the name of God and his son? 13. Should anyone add to the words of God? 14. Is the eye that mocks a father in any danger? 15. Do locusts act together yet have no leader? 30
PROVERBS - Chapter 31 1. Why should a king not drink wine nor a ruler beer? 2. If kings and rulers should not drink wine or beer to whom should it be given? 3. What is the worth of a wife of noble character?. Verse 4. What does such a wife do with a field?. Verse 5. How do her husband and children treat the wife of noble character? 6. King Solomon wrote this last chapter of Proverbs. 7. We should speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. 8. The wife of noble character gets up early. 9. In winter time her family shivers in the cold. 10. Her husband is an elder in the city and sits at the city gates. 11. Are these sayings actually the sayings of King Lempel s mother? 12. Is King Lempel warned against spending his strength on women? 13. Does this woman have the confidence of her husband? 14. Is she a business woman? 15. Is this woman a person of dignity? 31