Don't Know Much About the Bible - Kenneth C. Davis [120]
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul. (13:19 KJV)
A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. (15:1 NRSV)
Those who are hot tempered stir up strife,
but those who are slow to anger calm contention. (15:18 NRSV)
The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps. (16:9 NRSV)
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (16:18 KJV)
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city. (16:32 NRSV)
He who mocks the poor affronts his Maker,
He who rejoices over another’s misfortune will not go unpunished. (17:5 JPS)
A joyful heart makes for good health
Despondency dries up the bones. (17:22 JPS)
(Reader’s Digest was right! Laughter is the best medicine.)
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of
understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise. (17:27-28 KJV)
A fool’s mouth is his destruction. (18:7 KJV)
Before honor is humility. (18:12 KJV)
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing. (18:22 KJV)
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord. (19:17 KJV)
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man;
but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. (20:17)
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. (22:1 KJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is
old, he will not depart from it. (22:6 KJV)
Put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. (23:2 KJV)
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
be wise enough to desist.
When your eyes light upon it,
it is gone;
for suddenly it takes wings to itself,
flying like an eagle toward heaven. (23:4-5 NRSV)
The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty and
drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. (23:21 KJV)
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth
his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. (23:31-32 KJV)
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. (24:10 KJV)
(“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”)
As a dog returns to his vomit,
So a dullard returns to his folly. (26:11 JPS)
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a
day may bring forth.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth. (27:1-2 KJV)
He who gives to the poor will not be in want,
But he who shuts his eyes will be roundly cursed. (28:27 JPS)
Where there is no vision, the people perish. (29:18 KJV)
Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy. (31:8-9 NRSV)
What a rare find is a capable wife!
Her worth is far beyond that of rubies. (31:10 JPS)
And by the way, to those of you who spend a lot of money on dye jobs at the salon, heed a word from Proverbs:
Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life. (16:31)
Does “sparing the rod” spoil the child?
If Proverbs offers some of the best advice on the eternal values of humility, hard work, charity, and wisdom, the book also offers two lines of the worst:
He who spares the rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him early. (13:24 JPS)
Do not withhold discipline from a child;
If you beat him with a rod he will not die.
Beat him with a rod
And you will save him from the grave. (23:13-14 NRSV)
For centuries, these verses have been used to justify the parent’s spanking, the schoolmaster’s paddling, the nun’s rap on the knuckles with a ruler, and even more severe forms of corporal punishment.
Perhaps the best modern interpretation is that what once was acceptable in a primitive culture is no longer the case. Just as we no longer stone adulterers,