Episode 175: Spare the rod

Proverbs 12-21

Lying lips

12 ¹ Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge.

⁴ A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but a shameful wife is a rottenness in his bones.

¹⁰ Righteous people are kind to animals, but wicked people are cruel.

¹⁵ Fools are right in their own eyes. The wise listen to counsel.

¹⁹ Truth lasts forever, but lies last only a moment.

²¹ Bad things only happen to bad people.

²² Lying lips are an abomination to God.

²⁵ When people are sad, a kind word can cheer them up.

²⁸ Righteous people never die.

Spare the rod

13 ¹ A wise son listens to his father.

⁴ Lazy people are skinny and poor, but God makes the diligent fat.

⁸ The ransom for a man's life are his riches.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren.

When sinners die, their money is given to just people.

²⁴ A father who spares the rod, hates his son,

but he who loves his son beats him with a rod sometimes.

²⁵ Righteous people eat as much as they want, but wicked people are always hungry.

The simple believe every word

14 ¹³ Even in laughter there is some sadness.

¹⁵ The simple believe every word. The wise require evidence.

¹⁶ Fools are overconfident.

¹⁷ Those who are easily angered often act foolishly.

²¹ It’s wrong to despise your neighbor.

Happy are those who are merciful to the poor.

A soft answer

15 ¹ A soft answer turns away wrath.

³ God's eyes are on everything.

⁶ The houses of righteous people are filled with treasure, but wicked people are poor.

²⁰ A wise son makes a glad father.

A foolish man despises his mother.

³⁰ A good report makes the bones fat.

A crown of glory

16 ⁴ God made everything for himself, even wicked people for the day of evil.

⁷ If you please God, you'll have no enemies.

¹⁰ The king speaks for God, he’s never wrong.

¹² The king's throne is established by righteousness.

¹⁴ Kings kill people when they get angry.

¹⁶ Wisdom and understanding are better than silver or gold.

¹⁸ Pride goes before a fall.

¹⁹ It's better to be humble than proud.

²⁸ Don't gossip.

³¹ Grey hair is a crown of glory.

17 ¹⁷ A friend is a friend forever.

²² Happiness is good for you.

²⁸ A wise fool keeps his mouth shut.

A fool's lips

18 ⁶ A fool's speech invites flogging.

¹³ Don't answer a question before you hear it.

²² It is good for a man to marry.

²⁴ To have a friend, you must be a friend.

There are no friends closer than family.

Corporal punishment for children and fools

19 ² Ignorance is not a good thing.

¹⁸ Beat your children while they are young, and don't stop when they cry.

²³ If you fear God, nothing bad will ever happen to you.

²⁹ Scorners should be punished, and fools should be beaten.

The inward parts of the belly

20 ¹ Don't drink alcohol.

² If you make the king angry, he'll kill you.

⁸ Kings drive away evil with their eyes.

¹⁷ The bread of deceit is sweet at the time, but afterwards it is filled with gravel.

¹⁹ Avoid flatterers and gossips.

²⁰ Children who curse their father or mother will have their lamps put out in darkness.

²³ A false balance isn't good.

²⁶ Wise kings torture wicked people by driving a wheel over them.

²⁷ The human spirit is God's candle searching the inner parts of the belly.

²⁹ Grey hair makes old men beautiful.

³⁰ The blueness of a wound removes evil.

So do stripes on the inward parts of the belly.

Brawling, angry, and contentious women

21 ¹ The king's heart is in God's hands.

⁹ It's better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a big house with a brawling woman.

¹⁸ Wicked people will be a ransom for the righteous.

¹⁹ It's better to live in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman.

²³ If you keep your mouth shut, you'll stay out of trouble.