Reading Plan · Day 191
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Proverbs 19-21
Day 191
Previously · Day 190 · Proverbs 16-18
The previous day's reading covered three chapters that continued the theme of contrasting the ability to handle emotions with physical effects. Next were specific examples that continued to further this theme...
Day 191 Read
Where You Stopped
Proverbs 19
1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Commentary · verse 1
2Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
2Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
Commentary · verse 2
A soul without knowledge was not good (right and just). Also, those who made progress without thinking would sin.
3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
4Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.
3The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
4Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
Commentary · verses 3-4
If what you HAVE is the cause of you having friends would you want them to be your friends?
5A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
6Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words, but they are gone.
8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7All 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.
8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
Commentary · verses 5-9
False witnesses and liars were not getting away with anything, they would be held accountable for every word and deed.
Doctrines on this passage
10Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
10Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Commentary · verses 10-11
The "discretion" of a man caused him to be slow to anger. "Discretion" meant "insight, understanding." If you know WHY something bad is happening, you can be slow to anger.
12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
13A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
Commentary · verses 12-13
A son without understanding was calamity (destruction) to his father. The contentions (strife) of a wife were a continual "dropping."
14House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
14House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Commentary · verse 14
An understanding wife was from God.
15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Commentary · verse 15
Sloth and idleness were resting without working: no progress.
16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die.
17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.
16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.
18Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Commentary · verse 18
Disciplining your children should be for their long term benefit, not their destruction.
19A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again.
20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
19A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Hearing counsel and receiving instruction would bring wisdom in the long term.
21There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
21There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Commentary · verse 21
God's counsel would endure.
22That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.
23The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
24The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
22The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
23The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Commentary · verses 22-25
Showing those with understanding where they were wrong would give them more understanding.
Doctrines on this passage
26He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
27Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.
26He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
27Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
Commentary · verses 26-27
If you are not going to use the understanding you have to affect your actions and continue to go against these words, why are you hearing understanding in the first place?
28A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.
28An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
Doctrines on this passage
Where You Stopped
Proverbs 20
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Commentary · verse 1
Whoever "erreth" because of alcohol was not wise, they did not make profitable decisions. "Erreth" meant to "go astray."
2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Commentary · verses 2-3
Arguments happened when two or more people do not understand each other. If you do not have understanding (a fool) you will often quarrel.
4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Commentary · verse 4
A "sluggard" was one who was lazy. They did not work during times when they had plenty. However, this caused them to beg when they had nothing.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Commentary · verse 5
Those who had understanding would seek more understanding.
6Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Commentary · verse 6
It was easy to find a man who bragged of himself but hard to find a man who was faithful.
7A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Commentary · verse 7
The cause of walking in integrity was righteousness.
8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Commentary · verses 8-9
A rhetorical question. No one could say they had no sin.
10Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Commentary · verse 10
Injustice was an abomination to God because God was Just.
11Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Commentary · verse 11
Even children were known by their actions.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Commentary · verse 12
God had created both our hearing and seeing: our ability to understand and be aware.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Commentary · verse 13
Be aware of your needs and go towards fulfilling them or you will be in poverty. You cannot be satisfied if you do not know what your needs are.
14It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.
17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Commentary · verses 14-17
A man who gained "bread" wrongly would soon be filled with "gravel": dry, hard, in-nutritious rock.
18Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Commentary · verse 18
"Counsel," or leaders would establish a purpose and facilitate its progress.
19He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Commentary · verses 19-21
An inheritance should be seen as a blessing from the beginning and treated as such. It should be seen as an opportunity to invest in the future.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Commentary · verses 22-23
Injustice was an abomination to God.
Doctrines on this passage
24A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
24Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Commentary · verses 24-25
You ought to know WHY something was holy before you stated it was holy.
26A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing -wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
28Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.
29The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts.
26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Where You Stopped
Proverbs 21
1The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Commentary · verse 1
God could turn a king's heart because God knew the causes of a king's heart. Kings would do whatever it took to remain in "power," and their actions would be planted in their heart. God knew what the kings would do (effect) and how to "turneth" their heart because He knew their thought process (cause).
The belief that kings were more difficult for God to control than people who were not kings was proof of valuing the physical (including physical power) instead of the spiritual causes presented in the first twenty chapters of this book.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Commentary · verse 2
Man (in the flesh) saw his actions as right but God saw the effects of these actions (causes) in the heart. God could also direct the actions of a person in pride because they were completely predictable and on the wrong side of Justice, which allowed God to respond to them through Justice.
3To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Commentary · verse 3
Doing Right and Just actions was better than giving up something to God. God wanted all of us to be like Him: Right and Just.
Doctrines on this passage
4A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
4An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
Commentary · verses 4-5
The thoughts of the diligent were focused on profitability. Those who acted quickly and without thought were focused on what they could have now.
6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.
7The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
Commentary · verses 6-7
The wicked refused to act justly.
8The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right.
8The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
Commentary · verse 8
The "pure" was used as the contrast of those with "guilt." Guilt was removed by confession and repentance, something the "pure" would have done.
9It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
10The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
11When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin.
9It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
Commentary · verses 9-12
The righteous were willing to consider anything, even the house of the wicked.
13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
14A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
15It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Commentary · verses 13-15
The righteous saw just actions as a joy while the workers of iniquity saw them as destruction.
Doctrines on this passage
16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Commentary · verse 16
Without understanding (the why) we remained in death.
17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Commentary · verse 17
Loving things that were short term would only last short term.
18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.
19It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Commentary · verses 18-20
A fool did not recognize the treasure of wisdom, because a fool was a man without understanding.
21He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.
21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Commentary · verse 21
Being led by righteousness and kindness brought life, righteousness, and honor.
22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.
22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Commentary · verses 22-23
Those who kept (guard) their mouth and tongue (words) did so by guarding the place where their words come from, their soul.
24The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride.
25The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor.
26There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Commentary · verses 24-26
Some made gaining now a cause, some made giving now a cause.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!
28A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.
29A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
Commentary · verses 27-29
The upright were bold in their path. They knew where they were going because they knew WHY and HOW they were getting there.
30There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah.
30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Commentary · verse 30
There was no wisdom, understanding, or counsel against God…these three all came from God.
31The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.
31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
Commentary · verse 31
This day's reading covered three chapters that progressed the theme by showing the benefits of managing the causes (actions and words) that resulted in what was planted in your heart, not only for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others.
It was better to HAVE little and walk righteously than to speak evil and be foolish.