Provérbios 2
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Provérbios 2
MacArthur - Appropriating wisdom begins when one values it above all else.(BORROW The MacArthur Study Bible) Bridges says the father's words "should be received by a good and honest heart (Lk 8:15), a heart that is prepared by God. Read God’s Book like the person who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to him speaking (Luke 10:39). Be like the Bereans who were so keen to examine the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). Receive (03947)(laqach) means to take, grasp, acquire something worth having, take hold of, as Noah reached out and "took hold of," the dove (Ge 8:9). This implies we must be ready, willing and able (enabled by the Spirit), to grasp God's Word. Does this describe you (me)? It is interesting that the Septuagint translators choose the verb dechomai (in middle voice = reflexive = we initiate and participate in effects of our reception) to translate laqach, because dechomai conveys the sense of receiving God's instruction with a favorable attitude. Dechomai means that we accept with deliberate and ready reception God's offer of divine instruction, etc. We welcome His Word (and Him) as our Teacher and Friend as one would warmly welcome a guest into one's home, readily receiving His Truths with open arms, minds, and hearts, even going beyond normally expected gracious hospitality. May God grant us grace to welcome His Word as an honored guest, giving it the special attention it deserves. Amen. James says, “Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive (Ed: This is the same verb dechomai described above) the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21-note). Laqach is used 908 times in the OT and 19 times in Proverbs… Pr 1:3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; Pr 1:19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Pr 2:1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Pr 4:10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. Pr 6:25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture (Lxx = sunarpazo = to seize suddenly and violently! Take hold of forcibly! To seize and carry clean away! It was used to mean seize with the mind -- that is where her beauty makes its first assault -- on our mind = a desire, an epithumia, a strong lust is created! All you men reading, don't miss how powerful is the lure of sexual immorality be it pornography or open fornication. Beware! And this applies to young and old men!!!) you with her eyelids. Pr 7:20 He has taken a bag of money with him, At the full moon he will come home.” Pr 8:10 “Take (not a suggestion but a command!) my instruction and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold. Pr 9:7 He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Pr 10:8 The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined. Pr 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls. Pr 17:23 A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice. Pr 20:16 Take (command) his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him in pledge. Pr 21:11 When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. Pr 22:25 Or you will learn his ways And find a snare (Lxx = brochos = a noose, with epiballo = to throw a noose on someone to catch him and restrain him!) for yourself. Pr 22:27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you? Pr 24:11 Deliver those who are being taken (Lxx = ago = in present passive = continually being led) away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. Pr 24:32 When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. Pr 27:13 Take (command) his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge. Pr 31:16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. Treasure my commandments within you - In a word, the father encourages the son to memorize the Scriptures. Are you actively memorizing the Word of God, the Word which endures forever, even after heaven and earth pass away? If you are a parent, I strongly encourage you to join your children in the great adventure of memorizing Scripture together. Be inventive -- have them depict the passage in pictures; put some passages into the form of a song (See Scripture memory songs by topic from Integrity music - why not play this in your car on trips or when taking the children to school in the morning?); etc. Related Resources: Memorizing His Word Topical Memory Verses Fighter Verse Program MemLok - Bible Memory System John Piper on "Why Memorize Scripture?" Treasure (06845)(tsapan/sapan) means means primarily to hide, to keep secret, to conceal something often of great value with a definite purpose. Tsaphan is used in reference to things of value which are secreted away for future use, e.g., wealth, dowry for a bride, wise words of a father (Pr 2:2). Since a father's wise words will be useful throughout one's life and will not always be immediately applicable, the idea of storing up his sayings within (as in Pr 7:1, compare in one's heart in Ps 119:11 - Spurgeon on Ps 119:11 - see commentaries on Ps 119:11, see sermons on Ps 119:11) is fitting. These sayings influence the way one thinks which in turn influences one's attitudes and ultimately their actions. Tsapan means primarily to hide, to keep secret, to conceal something often of great value with a definite purpose (for protection or for sinister purposes). The wicked hide themselves in order to ambush the innocent (Pr 1:11), but in the end it is their own lives for which the ambush is set (Pr 1:18). The translates tsapan in Pr 2:1 with the verb krupto - which means to hide, to conceal, with the idea that which is hidden is kept safe (as believers are safe in Christ in Col 3:3-note where "hidden" = krupto). Treasure (Webster) = Jealously safeguard something considered precious. Collect and store up something of value for future use (Ed: I like that definition - Unless we memorize the Word, how can the Spirit enable us to utilize it in the future in our time of need?). Esteem - set a high value on, regard highly and prize accordingly. Keep carefully. Cherish (hold dear, feel or show affection for, entertain something in one's mind deeply and resolutely - eg, he still cherishes that memory; Keep or cultivate with care and affection). Prize highly as valuable, rare or costly! I am convinced that the "secret" to Job's "success" in suffering the incredible trials that befell him lay in the fact that he had held on to God's Word, so that when the winds of adversity began to blow in his life, the Word held him fast! Job 23:12-see in depth commentary of this verse-“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured (tsapan) the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Comment: Observe the context - In Job 23:8-9 note Job's frustration. Then in Job 23:10 note his firm declaration. He did not see Him, but He knew about Him, about His ways, His character, His heart and thus he was enabled to make one of the greatest affirmations of faith in all of Scripture - "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Why did He know God knew? He had obeyed what he knew (see Job 23:11-12a). Hearing must be coupled with heeding of the Word for it to hold us fast when trials come (which they always will!). Tsapan is used 8x in Proverbs… Pr 1:11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush (Lxx = krupto) the innocent without cause; Pr 1:18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. Pr 2:1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure (Lxx = krupto) my commandments within you, Pr 2:7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Pr 7:1 My son, keep my words and treasure (Lxx = krupto) my commandments within you. Pr 10:14 Wise men store up (Lxx = krupto) knowledge, But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand. Pr 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Pr 27:16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. Not only must we study God’s Word, we must also hide it in our hearts. The psalmist wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps 119:11-note). The word hidden conveys the thought of storing something up against a time of future need. We do this by meditating continually on God’s Word, by constantly thinking about it, and by applying its truths to the everyday situations of life. I personally have found a systematic Scripture memorization program (see suggestions above) to be absolutely necessary to facilitate continual meditation on God’s Word. We cannot think throughout the day about what we do not have in our memory. THOUGHT - Are you hiding this "hidden treasure" in your heart daily? Not as a "work" of the flesh to impress all the saints how much Scripture you have memorized, but as a labor of love. What you spend time doing usually is a reflection of what you really love. H A Ironside on Proverbs 2:1-5 - In the opening verses of Proverbs 2 the secret that so many have sought in vain is revealed: how to find the knowledge of God. After all, there is very little mystery about it. The Christian need not be scholarly and profound to understand the Scripture. It is a certain condition of soul, rather than a well-equipped mind, that is required. God has given His Word. He exhorts us to search it in dependence on His Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth. These verses do not suggest a careless reading or cursory examination of the Scriptures. The soul is exhorted to “receive” these words. The sayings of God must be received into the heart where they are to be stored. The ear must be inclined to wisdom; the heart applied to understanding; the mouth crying after knowledge; and the voice lifted up for spiritual intelligence. The whole being is thus devoted to the search for the truth. The earnest seeker must dig into the Word of God as a man searching for silver or hidden treasure. He will not be content with surface findings. When God’s words are valued more than our necessary food, the result is certain: “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (5). Diligent Bible study is on the decline even among those who value precious truth. Reading books about the Bible is very different from searching the Word for oneself. Notes and expositions may be helpful. But these works of uninspired men must not be permitted to take the place of the sure Word of God. Such one-sided study will cause men to draw their thoughts from one another instead of from God. This will result in dry intellectuality rather than fresh, vigorous spirituality. (Proverbs 2 Commentary - Ironside's Notes) The following are notes from William Arnot's "Laws from Heaven for Life on Earth" (1858) of whom C H
Provérbios 2
MacArthur - The “heart” commonly refers to the mind as the center of thinking and reason (Pr 3:3; 6:21; 7:3), but also includes the emotions (Pr 15:15, 30), the will (Pr 11:20; 14:14), and thus, the whole inner being (Pr 3:5). The heart is the depository of all wisdom and the source of whatever affects speech (Pr 4:24), sight (Pr 4:25), and conduct (Pr 4:26, 27). (BORROW The MacArthur Study Bible) John
Provérbios 2
MacArthur - Truth is the protector from all evil (see Ps 119:11, 97–104). (Comment - And remember while our Adversary is powerful, his most dangerous weapon is lies and "half-truths" and therefore the battlefield is our mind, which is all the more reason we need to daily renew our mind with the sound ["healthy"] doctrine of God's Word). (BORROW The MacArthur Study Bible) Discretion ("Wise planning" = NLT) (04209) (mezimmah from zamam = to plan, consider, purpose) describes the ability to form plans based on knowledge. It is the ability to make proper decisions. The quality of showing discernment or good judgment in conduct. Most of the OT uses are in a negative sense = evil plans or thoughts (Pr 12:2, 14:17, 24:8), but clearly in this context the sense is positive and is what God desires for men for He knows this quality of thinking will serve to "guard" us from our enemies (world, flesh, devil). In this passage the Septuagint (Lxx) translates mezimmah with the noun boule which describes an inward thought process leading toward a decision (deliberation, plan, purpose, decision). Boule is that which has been purposed and planned. Boule has in it the ideas of intelligence and deliberation. In other words boule describes the result of deliberate determination Discretion in English refers to the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. ("she knew she could rely on his discretion"). Synonyms: circumspection, carefulness, caution, wariness, chariness, guardedness; tact, tactfulness, diplomacy, delicacy, sensitivity, prudence, judiciousness ("you can rely on his discretion"). Discretion also refers to the the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation. ("it is up to local authorities to use their discretion in setting the charges") Here the synonyms = choice, option, preference, disposition, volition; pleasure, liking, wish, will, inclination, desire ("his sentence would be determined at the discretion of the court") Discretion is that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution. Mezimmah - 19v - Job21:27; Job 42:2; Ps 10:2, 4; 21:11; 37:7; 139:20; Pr. 1:4; 2:11; 3:21; 5:2; 8:12; Pr 12:2; Pr 14:17; 24:8; Jer. 11:15; 23:20; 30:24; 51:11 NAS Usage: devises evil(1), discretion(5), evil devices(1), intent(1), plans(1), plot(1), plots(1), purpose(2), purposes(1), schemer*(1), thoughts(1), vile deeds(1), wicked schemes(1), wickedly(1). Pr 1:4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, Pr 2:11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, Pr 3:21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, Pr 5:2 That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge. Pr 8:12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion. Pr 12:2 A good man will obtain favor from the LORD, But He will condemn a man who devises evil. Pr 14:17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated. Pr 24:8 One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer. Guard (08104)(shamar) is a verb meaning to watch, to keep, to preserve, to guard, to be careful, to watch over, to watch carefully over, to be on one's guard. Adam was to watch over (shamar; Lxx - phulasso) and care for the Garden of Eden where the Lord had placed him (Ge 2:15) The sense is to exercise great care over something. Shamar can suggest the idea of protecting: David gave orders to keep Absalom safe (1Sa 26:15; 2Sa 18:12); the Lord keeps those who look to Him (Ps 121:7). The Septuagint (Lxx) translates shamar with the Greek verb phulasso which means to watch, to keep from escaping, be on guard from being lost or perishing (e.g., 2Ti1:14). Phulasso is a picturesque word meaning to carry out the function as a military guard or sentinel (cp Acts 23:35, 28:16). Phulasso means to guard a person that he might remain safe (from violence, from another person or thing, from being snatched away, from being lost). The NT also uses phulasso of guarding truth (eg, 1Ti 5:21, 6:20, 2Ti 1:14-note) Understanding (08394)(tebunah) is a noun describing the ability to discern a right course of action (Dt 32:28, Ps 136:5, 145:5, Pr 3:19). The Septuagint (Lxx) translates tebunah in Pr 2:11 with ennoia literally describes what takes place in the mind (nous). Ennoia describes a mental conception that follows consideration or deliberation. Ennoia relates especially to the development of a perspective that will provide insight and so shape our attitude and guide one's actions. Proverbs 2:12 To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things; deliver - Pr 1:10-19; 4:14-17; 9:6; 13:20; Ps 17:4,5; 26:4,5; 141:4; 2Cor 6:17 from the man - Pr 3:32; 8:13; 16:28-30; Ps 101:4; Isa 59:3-5; Acts 20:30; 1Cor 15:33) THE FIRST TEMPTER THE EVIL MAN Duane Garrett describes Pr 2:12-19 as "The Two Tempters," that can influence the decisions and course of one's life, the first being the evil man (Pr 2:12-15, cp Pr 1:10-19) and the second being the evil woman (Pr 2:16-19). ESV Study Bible - Following the description of the wisdom that the Lord grants (Pr 2:9–11), this section gives three statements of its purpose: it delivers from the deception of those on the evil path (Pr 2:12–15), it delivers from being flattered into unfaithfulness (Pr 2:16–19), and it directs one instead to walk in the way that is both true and good (Pr 2:20). Our "deliverers" are discretion and understanding in Pr 2:11 (ultimately our strong Deliverer is God Himself) and the verb in both Hebrew and Greek depicts a "rescue operation" if you will! It would seem that the implication is that we are in fact in need of rescue (from those who speak "perverse things.") Charles Bridges agrees with this thought commenting that "Some of the various snares for the young, are about to be detailed; a fearful picture of the temptations, to which our beloved children (Ed: And US!) are exposed! Will it not awaken our earnest cries for their immediate and solid conversion to God; that wisdom may indeed enter into their hearts, and its pleasures be really enjoyed; that they may have a religious taste as well as a religious education; that they may know the Gospel—not only in the conviction of their conscience, or the excitement of their feelings (Ed: Mere "Professors") —but in the entire renewal of their hearts before God (Ed: Genuine "Possessors!")? This—and nothing else—will preserve them from the snare of their cruel foe. Every town and village swarms with his emissaries: first, initiated themselves into the mysteries of his art; then going forth, laborious and practised teachers, well trained by their Master for his murderous work. Against one of these enticements we have been before warned. (Pr 1:10-16). Another such warning is given here. The character of the tempter is seen from what the writer says. His words are perverse. They are like a polluted spring that sends out contaminated streams. How quickly the disease spreads. (An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) Deliver (05337 - נָצַל) (natsal) means to snatch away or rescue. To extricate (to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty-see "Are you entangled?"). In many contexts natsal describes the drawing out or pulling out and was used of literal deliverance as in Ps 34:4 and Judges 6:9. Natsal is a common verb in the OT (>190 uses) with several uses in Proverbs (several referring to deliverance the seductive snare of sexual temptation - Pr 2:16, 6:3, 5)… Pr 2:12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; Pr 2:16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; Pr 6:3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. Pr 6:5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Pr 10:2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death. Pr 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Pr 11:6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver (rescue Lxx = rhuomai = see below) them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. Pr 12:6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, But the mouth of the upright will deliver (rescue Lxx = rhuomai = see below) them. Pr 14:25 A truthful witness saves (Lxx = rhuomai = see below) lives, But he who speaks lies is treacherous. Pr 19:19 A man of great anger shall bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again. Pr 23:14 You shall beat him with the rod, And deliver (rescue Lxx = rhuomai = see below) his soul from Sheol. Pr 24:11 Deliver (rescue Lxx = rhuomai = see below) those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back. The Septuagint (Lxx) translates natsal with the great Greek verb rhuomai which is derived from rhúo = to draw, drag along the ground) means to draw or snatch to oneself and invariably refers to a snatching from danger, evil or an enemy. This basic idea is that of bringing someone out of severe and acute danger, and so to save, rescue, deliver, preserve. Rhuomai emphasizes greatness of peril from which deliverance is given by a mighty act of power. In the NT rhuomai is always associated with God as the Deliverer and with a person as the object of His deliverance. Rhuomai was used in a secular writing to describe a soldier going to a wounded comrade on the battlefield and carrying him to safety (he runs to the cry of his comrade to rescue him from the hands of the enemy) (Godet) The way (01870 - דֶּרֶךְ) (derek = road, journey, direction, conduct) is frequently used in Proverbs to describe the two ways of life - the stairway to heaven or the highway to hell! The phrase "the way" is found 32 times in Proverbs = Pr 1:15; 2:8, 12, 20; 4:11, 14, 19; 6:23; 7:8, 27; 8:2, 20; 9:6; 10:29; 12:15, 26, 28; 13:15; 14:12; 15:9-10, 19; 16:25, 31; 21:8, 16; 22:5-6; 23:19; 29:27; 30:19-20. The way of evil - Pr 2:12, 4:14, evil way - Pr 8:13, 28:10. The way of evil - contrast the way of His godly ones (Pr 2:8) Evil (07451 - רַע) (ra') describes the inability to come up to good standards and is the opposite of good, beautiful, beneficial, best, better (tov/tob - 02896). It speaks of inferior quality and "can range in meaning from moral wickedness to physical injury. Poor moral choices lead us down the path to pain and destruction." (Kitchen) Robert Frost alludes to the two ways in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes… I shall be telling this with a sigh| Somewhere ages and ages hence:" two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. In an even more famous discourse on roads taken and not taken, Jesus admonishes those who have an ear to hear to Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. (Mt 7:13, 14-notes) On which road will you travel? It will make all the difference in eternity! Garrett on speaks perverse things - he justifies his way of life with a distorted set of values in order to persuade others to join him. (New American Commentary) Be very careful about what (who) you listen to, because Solomon makes it clear that the modus operandi of evil men is perverse speech and of evil women is flattering words. The upshot is that the evil way gets its expression from the words of evil men. MacArthur - Twisted speech is typical of those who reject wisdom (cf. Pr 8:13; 10:31, 32).(BORROW The MacArthur Study Bible) Perverse things (08419 - תַּהְפֻּכוֹת) (tahpukah from hapak = to turn, overturn) is a feminine noun which means to turn away from what is normal and right. The first OT use describes the perverse generation of Israelites who deviated and distorted the Lord’s ways, turning from Him (Dt 32:20), for their true life is found in Him. Tahpukah describes deceptive and corrupt speech, things that are distorted (Pr. 2:12). "Perversity of evil" signifies that evil itself features perversity, a distortion of what is straight and right (Pr. 2:14). Perversity issues from one's heart (Pr 6:14). Notice that many of the OT uses refer in some way to one's speech (Pr 2:12, 8:13, 10:31, 32, 23:33) and Pr 6:14 links perversion with the heart which makes sense since as Jesus taught out of the mouth comes that which fills the heart (Mt 12:34, Lk 6:45). God hates a perverted mouth which of course speaks of perverted speech (Pr. 8:13). A perverse person spreads strife (Pr 16:28). A perverse person is one showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of the consequences. It is one who is willfully determined or disposed to go counter to what is expected or desired in this case by God. Perverse describes that which is obstinate in opposing what is right. In English perversity describes a deliberate desire to behave in an unreasonable or unacceptable way; contrariness. Perversity is the quality of being contrary to accepted standards or practice. Kitchen - Often this turning away is expressed through the mouth (Pr 2:12; 10:31, 32; 16:30), but only because it is already a condition of the heart (Pr 6:14) and mind (Pr 23:33), fed by what the eyes take in (Pr 16:30). (Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary) The Septuagint (Lxx) translates tahpukah with a phrase (meden piston) = "speaks nothing faithfully." Tahpukah - 10v - a "key word" in Proverbs (9/10 OT uses)! - NAS Usage: perverse(2), perverse things(3), perversity(2), perverted(2), what is perverted(1). Note that except for the first use, this word is found only in Proverbs. Deuteronomy 32:20 "Then He said, 'I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; For they are a perverse (Lxx = ekstrepho = to turn aside from correct behavior or what is considered morally proper, "to change for the worse" - the verb is in the perfect tense which suggests this is their fixed attitude!) generation, Sons in whom is no faithfulness. Proverbs 2:12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; (Lxx = diastrophe = a distortion or perversion) Proverbs 2:14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity (Lxx = diastrophe = distortion, perversion - see cognate diastrepho) of evil; Proverbs 6:14 Who with perversity (Lxx = diastrepho in perfect tense speaks of a permanent state or condition = literally to that which has become misshapen, figuratively that which is distorted, deformed; caused to depart from an acceptable standard of oral or spiritual values) in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife. Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate. Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. (Lxx translated - "but the tongue of the unjust shall perish.") 32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked (Lxx = asebes = ungodly) what is perverted . (Lxx = apostrepho in present tense = continually turned away from correct behavior and/or belief) Proverbs 16:28 A perverse (Lxx = skolios = that which is bent, crooked, deviating from a standard and often describes that which is morally corrupt) man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends. Proverbs 16:30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse (Lxx = diastrepho in perfect tense speaks of a permanent state or condition = literally to that which has become misshapen, figuratively that which is distorted, deformed; caused to depart from an acceptable standard of oral or spiritual values) things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass. Proverbs 23:33 Your eyes will see strange things and your mind will utter perverse (As above Lxx = diastrepho in perfect tense) things. Disciple's Study Bible on perverse things - The world offers alternatives to draw us away from God's wisdom. We face the choice of walking wisdom's way or the world's. If we choose the world's, we deserve the destruction we ultimately will experience. See Pr 1:20-33. Wisdom comes from God and has the ability to rescue people from evil choices and poor decisions. God can speak through the awakened mind and imagination of a believer. God not only uses the mind in dreams and visions at night or in an event that communicates His will, but He also gives insight to the average individual in reading and reflecting on His truth (Ps 145:5). See Pr 1:20. George Lawson comments on Proverbs 2:12-15 - That we may enjoy the advantages of wisdom, it must enter into our heart, which is naturally disposed to entertain sin and folly; for man, however fond he may be of the reputation of wisdom, is born like the wild ass’s colt. Some receive the words of wisdom into their ears, but understand not what they hear; others hear, and form clear apprehensions of what they hear, so as to be able to talk of them, like Balaam or Judas, and instruct others. But the children of wisdom not only hear and understand, but love the truth. The Spirit of God writes it in the inward part; then it comes to them in power and in the Holy Ghost, and the testimonies of God are received by their spirits with pleasure and joy. Knowledge becomes sweeter than honey dropping from the comb, and is esteemed more than necessary food. Paul counted every thing but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. When Jeremiah found the word of God, he did eat it, and it was to him the joy and rejoicing of his heart. The pleasure that saints take in knowledge, is very different from the transient affection experienced in the word by those hearers whom our Lord compares to stony ground. These false believers were moved and transported by the novelty of the truth, by the prospect of deliverance from hell and possession of heaven which it presented to them, but they had no spiritual apprehensions of its divine glory, nor any deep-rooted affection to it. They still loved the world more than the testimonies of God, and this reigning earthliness of spirit in time choked the beautiful springing of this seed in their souls. But those into whose hearts wisdom enters, have their eyes opened to see its glory, and their affections sanctified to relish its genuine sweetness. They rejoice in the truths that oppose their most darling corruptions. They take pleasure in the way of God’s testimonies, as well as in the glorious prospects which they present. They heartily esteem all God’s precepts concerning all things to be right, and delight in the law of God after the inward man, because it is pure and spiritual. They delight in it, though it forces them to confess that they are carnal, sold under sin. This wisdom entering into their souls, furnishes them with understanding to see their way, and discretion to manage their affairs with prudence and judgment to the end*. This understanding and prudence is an antidote against the poisonous infection of evil men and strange women.—It is, first, a means of preserving us from the snares of bad men. (George Lawson - Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) The following are notes from one of Spurgeon's favorite commentator's William Arnot in his book "Laws from Heaven for Life on Earth" (1858) on Proverbs 2:12-19 entitled "Perils in the Deep" The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest.” Here an arm of that sea is spread out before us, and we are led to an eminence whence we may behold its raging. We must one by one go down into these great waters. We see many of our comrades sinking beneath the surge. It is good to count the number and measure the height of these ranks of raging waves, that we may be induced to hold faster by the anchor of the soul, which is sure and steadfast. The dangers are delineated here in exact order, continuous succession, and increasing power. They come as the waves come when the tide is flowing; they gradually gain in strength until they reach their height; then, when Satan has done his worst, he retires sullenly, leaving all who have not been overwhelmed, high, and safe, and triumphing. 1. “The way of the evil.” (Proverbs 2:12) Whether they be persons or principles, whether they be men or devils, the word does not expressly say (Ed: Note that "man" is added to the translation but is not in the original Hebrew text).. The announcement, in the first place, is couched in terms the most general; the particulars are enumerated in the verses following. The way of the evil is the way which Satan trod, and by which all his servants follow. It is the way whereon all the wicked travel to their doom. 2. But more specifically, the first item of the evil is “the man that speaketh froward things.” (Proverbs 2:12b) “The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” This little fire kindles a flame which spreads and licks up all that is lovely and of good report in a wide circle of companionship. The man who speaks froward things is one of the foremost dangers to which the young are exposed at their first start in life. In a workshop, or warehouse, or circle of private friendship, there is one who has a foul tongue. It is difficult to conceive how quickly and how deeply it contaminates all around. There may be much specific variety in the forms of frowardness. In one case, the pollution assumes the shape of profane swearing: in another, it is the frequent injection of obscenities amidst the conversation of the day, feathered with wit to make them fly: in a third, it is infidel insinuation: in a fourth, it is one huge mass of silliness, a shapeless conglomerate of idle words, injuring not so much by the infliction of positive evil, as by occupying a man’s heart and his day with vanity, to the exclusion of all that is substantial either for this world or the next. It is hardly possible that one who is much in contact with these froward words should come off unscathed. Even when a person does not sympathize with the evil, and imitate it, his conscience gets a wound. Only One has ever appeared on earth who was entirely safe under the fiery darts of the wicked: “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30). If there were perfect purity within, these onsets from without would leave no stain; but upon our impure hearts, even when the temptation in the main is resisted, and the tempter put to flight, the marks are left behind: some of the filth sticks, and will not off, to the dying day. For us, even in our best estate, it is not good, in that experimental way, to know evil. The foul tongue of the froward is one grand cause of dread to godly parents in sending their youths to a business, and even in sending their children to school. How good are pure words! Set a watch upon your mouth. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.” Bad as it is to hear froward words, it is inconceivably worse to speak them. It is more cursed to give temptation than to receive it. 3. “Who leave the paths of righteousness.” (Proverbs 2:13) When the imagination is polluted, and the tongue let loose, the feet cannot keep on the path of righteousness. Thinking, and hearing, and speaking evil, will soon be followed by doing it. The world is startled from time to time by the report of some daring crime; but if the history of the criminal were known, however much grief there might be, there would be no surprise at the culmination of his wickedness. When you see a mighty tree in the forest, you assume that it did not leap into maturity in a day, although you saw not its gradual growth: you may as confidently count that full-sized crime did not attain its stature in a day. In all of us are the seeds of it, and in many the seedlings are growing apace. The ways follow the thoughts and words, as trees spring from seeds. He who would be kept from the path of the destroyer must crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, and soon after murders and adulteries follow. In the matter of watching for one’s soul, as in all other matters, the true wisdom is to take care of the beginnings. 4. “To walk in the ways of darkness.” (Proverbs 2:13b) There is a strictly causal and reciprocal relation between unrighteous deeds and moral darkness. The doing of evil produces darkness, and darkness produces the evil-doing. Indulged lusts put out the eye-sight of the conscience; and under the darkened conscience the lusts revel unchecked. “From him that hath not, shall be taken away.” 5. “Who rejoice to do evil.” (Proverbs 2:14) This is a more advanced step in guilt. At first the backslider is ashamed of his fall. He palliates, alleges the strength of the temptation, and promises amendment. As the hardening process goes on, however, he begins to feel more easy: he ceases to make excuses, and at last he glories in his shame. “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush” (Jer. 6:15). This is a measure of evil which should make even the wicked tremble. A man has become the very essence of antichrist, when it is his meat and his drink to oppose the will of our Father who is in heaven. 6. Profligacy can yet one step further go. They who “delight in the frowardness (froward = difficult to deal with; contrary) of the wicked” (Proverbs 2:14b) are more abandoned than the wicked themselves. To take pleasure in sin is a characteristic of fallen humanity; to delight in seeing others sinning is altogether devilish. Some monsters in human form have presided over the process of torture, and drunk in delight from a brother’s pain; but it is a still clearer evidence that a man is of his father the Devil, when he lays snares for a brother’s soul, and laughs at his own success. There are not a few amongst us who have reached this stage of depravity, and yet have no suspicion that they are in any way more guilty than others. They have so drunk into the spirit, and been changed into the image of the first tempter, that they relish as dainty food the pollution of a neighbor, and yet never perceive that there is anything out of the way. “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled:” cursed are they that hunger and thirst after wickedness, for they shall be filled too; they shall be filled with food convenient for them. It is the Lord’s way both in mercy and judgment to provide for every creature in abundance that which it loves and longs for. This principle is announced with terrific distinctness in the prophet Habakkuk (Hab 2:15, 16-note). Those who have a relish for the sin of others, will be filled with the food they have chosen; and although the horrid sweet pall upon the taste by reason of its abundance, there is no variety, and no diluting of sin by fragments of good in the place of the lost. The same—the same that they loved on earth, the lost must abide for ever; sin—nothing but sin, within and around them. To complete the picture of the danger, one other peril of the world’s deep is marked on the chart which is mercifully placed in the voyager’s hands—it is “the strange woman.” (Proverbs 2:16) Thanks be to God for his tender care in kindling these beacon-lights on the rock to scare the coming passenger away from the quicksands of doom. The deceiver is called a “strange” woman. Whoredom is distinguished from marriage, which God appointed and approves. When man and woman are given to each other, as helps meet from the Lord, they become “one flesh:” they are not only known to each other, but, in an important sense, they lose their individual personality, and are merged into one. “A man shall leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife.” (Ge 2:24) To follow the “strange woman” is the Satanic reversal of this divine ordinance. There is no love, no holy union, no mutual helpfulness; but wild, selfish passions, followed by visible marks of God’s vengeance. For it is not his word only; with equal clearness his providence frowns on licentiousness. That vice eats like a festering sore into the body of society. If all should act as libertines do, the race would dwindle away. We are fearfully and wonderfully made; we are fearfully and wonderfully governed. It is in vain that the potsherds of the earth strive with their Maker: his anger will track lust through all its secret doublings: he makes sin generate its own punishment. Vengeance against that evil thing circulates through the veins, and dries up the marrow in the heart of the bones. Verily, there is a God that judges in the earth. Of the strange woman it is said, “Her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead.” Mark well this description, ye simple ones who are enticed to follow her. There is an “incline on the path;” it goes down. She leads the way, you follow. It is easy to go down—down a slippery, slimy path; but its issue is death. What death? The death of the soul, and the body too. It leads to “the dead.” It brings you to the society of libertines; and they are dead while they live. This lust is a cankerworm that quickly withers the greenness of spring in the soul of youth. We have no trust in the patriotism, the truth, the honesty, the friendship of licentious men. When you get down into their company, you are among the dead: they move about like men in outward appearance; but the best attributes of humanity have disappeared—the best affections of nature have been drained away from their hearts. (Proverbs 2:12-19 Perils in the Deep) George Lawson comments on on Proverbs 2:12-15 - Such is the portrait drawn by Solomon of those bad men by whom his pupils are in danger of being seduced, unless furnished with wisdom to avoid the snare. They speak froward (contrary) things; they pay no regard to truth, but bend their tongue like their bow for lies. Among these pests of men, none are such virulent pests of every thing that is good, as those that once made a profession of religion, but have left the way of uprightness to walk in those miserable and gloomy paths (Pr 2:13), which begin in the darkness of the mind, and end in the darkness of hell. The stings of conscience which such persons experience, instead of reclaiming them, tend only to irritate their spirits, and inflame them into fierce enmity against religion. If, instead of being pierced with such stings, they are cursed with the conquest of their own consciences, they are hardened enough for the blackest sin, and prepared not only to do evil, but to work it with both hands greedily. They rejoice in the service of Satan,’ (Pr 2:14) and no greater pleasure do they know than that which arises from seeing that his interests flourish, that his kingdom prospers. Such persons are crooked in their ways. (Pr 2:15) The only straight way is the way of uprightness, but that sinners leave, and wander into paths where they are bewildered and lost. They know not whither they go, because darkness hath blinded their eyes. One sin leads them on to another, and that to a third, till at length they run into wickednesses, of which they could not have thought without horror when first they set foot in these deceitful paths. These miscreants (those who behave badly or in a way that breaks the law) are froward (contrary) and stubborn in their ways; (Pr 2:15KJV) and why? Custom has become a second nature to them, their hearts are become impenetrably hard, and proof against admonition. Yet look back to their early days, and you shall find them to have evinced tempers and dispositions very different. They would then have abhorred gross impieties, and were not without impressions of the necessity of virtue and holiness. But the unwearied adversary of mankind spread his toils around them, and employed such men as they are now become, to efface every good impression, and to lead them on, by slow and imperceptible degrees, to those lengths in wickedness at which they have now arrived. Had they been armed with the instructions of wisdom, and employed these in their own defence, what different persons might they now have been! Whilst they would mislead us by their persuasions, let us learn instruction from their miserable situation, and thankfully improve those means which God has afforded, to keep us out of the paths of destruction. God is our preserver, but He has been pleased to appoint the instructions of wisdom as our great defence against these instruments of mischief. The knowledge of the truth, and the cordial love of it, will open our eyes to our danger, and possess our hearts with a settled aversion to the practices of the ungodly. As our Lord repelled every temptation of the devil by the word of God, so when it abides in us, it will enable us to meet every temptation of the old serpent, and of his instruments, with safety and stedfast resolution (Ps 112:5). Grace in the soul is weak of itself, but the seed of God shall remain for ever. The powers of hell shall never be able to extinguish it utterly, for it receives new supplies from the fountain of grace (Jer. 32:40. Rev. 3:10). (George Lawson - Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) Proverbs 2:13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; leave - Pr 21:16; Ps 14:3; 36:3; Ezekiel 18:26; 33:12,13; Zephaniah 1:6; Matthew 12:43-45; 2 Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 6:4-6; 2Peter 2:20-22; 1John 2:19 walk - Pr 4:19; Job 24:13-16; John 3:19-20; 12:35; Romans 1:21; 1Thes 5:5-7; 1John 1:6; 2:9-11) TWO PATHS CONTRASTED: UPRIGHTNESS vs DARKNESS See William Arnot's and George Lawson's notes on this passage at the end of note on Proverbs 2:12. Solomon continues to describe the evil man's conduct. Kitchen observes that in Pr 2:13 "we find his design, in Pr 2:14 we find his delight, and in Pr 2:15 his demeanor. His design is to depart from the light and walk in the darkness, to throw off the restraints of wisdom. This departure appears to be premeditated. This one’s brief walk in the light was not motivated by a true conversion, or else they would not have left the ‘paths of uprightness’ (1Jn 2:19-note). (Ibid) Cross references on walking in darkness… Pr 4:19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. Job 24:13 “Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways, Nor abide in its paths. 14 “The murderer arises at dawn; He kills the poor and the needy, And at night he is as a thief. 15 “And the eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, ‘No eye will see me.’ And he disguises his face. 16 “In the dark they dig into houses, They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light. John 3:19 “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 12:35 Jesus therefore said to them, “For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 1John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1John 2:9-11 The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. Notice that the writer switches from "you" (Pr 2:11) to "those" regarding which Bridges says "The change to the plural number implies confederacy (an alliance of people or groups formed for an illicit purpose.)." Leave the paths of uprightness - It is a conscious, willful, volitional choice. To walk on the paths of uprightness is to walk in the light (1Jn 1:7-note) Leave (05800)('azab) means to forsake or to loose. To forsake means to abandon (someone or something) or to renounce or give up (something valued or pleasant). Synonyms: renounce, abandon, relinquish, dispense with, disclaim, disown, disavow, discard, wash one's hands of; give up, drop, jettison, do away with, ax; informal = ditch, scrap, scrub, junk; formal = forswear. The Septuagint (Lxx) translates 'azab with the Greek verb egkataleipo which means literally to leave down in. It conveys the sense of deserting someone in a set of circumstances that are against them. The idea is to let down, to desert, abandon, leave in the lurch, leave helpless. In this context the irony is when they leave God's path they are helpless! Azab - 11/204 uses in Proverbs… Proverbs 2:13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Proverbs 2:17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; Proverbs 3:3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 4:2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. Proverbs 4:6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. Proverbs 9:6 "Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding." Proverbs 10:17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray. Proverbs 15:10 Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die. Proverbs 27:10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. Proverbs 28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them. Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. Uprightness (03476 - יֹשֶׁר) (yosher from yashar = literally straight, ethically a moral life) is a noun speaks of straightness, uprightness (quality of conforming to a standard) and can connote sincerity (Ps 119:7), honesty (Pr 17:26), accuracy (Eccl 12:10) and straightness (Pr 4:11) It refers to honesty and integrity (1Ch 29:17; Job 6:25; Pr 11:24; 17:26). An uncommon meaning is to give to another what is due and thus describes equity (Prov. 11:24). It is not surprising that this noun with the ethical sense of straightness is often associated with the heart (Deut 9:5, 1Chr 29:7, Job 33:3, Ps 119:7), the ethical/moral "control center" of man's being. The Lxx translates yosher here in Proverbs 2:13 with the adjective euthus which is used idiomatically with hodos = way (as in this passage - hodous eutheias) and literally means straight road, and ethically correct behavior or the right way (cp evil men in 2Pe 2:15-note) In English upright literally means vertical (as supporting beams of a structure should be perfectly "upright") and ethically of a person or their behavior that is strictly honorable or honest. Kitchen - The straightness of God’s way is contrasted in the next verse (Pr 2:14) by the ‘perversity’ (i.e. crookedness) of the way of the evil. God promises He will straighten the paths of those who look to Him (Pr. 3:6). Brown-Driver-Briggs - 1 straightness, evenness, of paths (with moral implication) Proverbs 2:13; Proverbs 4:11. 2 rightness, uprightness Proverbs 17:26; תֹּם וָישֶׁר Psalm 25:21; of words, spoken Job 6:25, written Ecclesiastes 12:10; of the moral walk בישׁר(וׅ 1 Kings 9:4; Proverbs 14:2; ישֶׁרלִֿבִּי Job 33:3; ישׁר לבב Deuteronomy 9:5; Psalm 119:7; 1 Chronicles 29:17: — on Psalm 111:8 see יָשָׁר 3. what is due, right Job 33:23; Proverbs 11:24. Yosher - 14 verses - NAS Usage: correctly(1), honest(1), integrity(1), justly due(1), right(1), upright(1), uprightness(8), what is justly due(1). Deuteronomy 9:5 "It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness (Lxx = hosiotes [cognate = hosios] - state of proper attitude toward God as shown by one's actions = devoutness, dedication, holiness) of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 1 Kings 9:4 "As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness (Lxx = euthutes = literally straightness, figuratively a life of honesty, integrity), doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, 1 Chronicles 29:17 "Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness (Lxx = dikaiosune = righteousness), I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. Job 6:25 "How painful are honest (Lxx = alethinos = words that conform to facts - true, correct, dependable) words! But what does your argument prove? Job 33:3 "My words are from the uprightness (Lxx = katharos = literally free from dirt, ethically a "clean" life, free from wrong) of my heart, And my lips speak knowledge sincerely. Job 33:23 "If there is an angel as mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To remind a man what is right for him, Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness (Lxx = euthus) preserve me, For I wait for You. Psalm 119:7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness (Lxx = euthutes = literally straightness, figuratively a life of honesty, integrity) of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. Proverbs 2:13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Proverbs 4:11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright (Lxx = orthos = pertains to that which is in a straight line in contrast to crooked, figuratively persevering on a correct course of life toward a goal - Heb 12:13) paths. Proverbs 11:24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. Proverbs 14:2 He who walks in his uprightness (Lxx = orthos = pertains to that which is in a straight line in contrast to crooked, figuratively persevering on a correct course of life toward a goal - Heb 12:13) fears the LORD, But he who is devious in his ways despises (treats with contempt, disdains) Him. Proverbs 17:26 It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness (Lxx = dikaios). Ecclesiastes 12:10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly (Lxx = euthutes = literally straightness, figuratively honesty, integrity). Charles Bridges - He does not sin in ignorance. He and his companions (The change to the plural number = the man—who leave = implies confederacy) have probably been trained in the paths of uprightness. But they were ready for the first opportunity to leave the paths which they never loved, to walk in the ways of darkness—more suitable to their taste, and which their hearts do love. (Pr 4:16, 17. Job 14:13-16. John 3:19, 20) And now, having left the hated paths, they become foremost in iniquity. (Poisoned themselves, they now poison everyone around them) (Bridges- An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) Jesus speaks to those who walk in the ways of darkness - "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for (explains what it means to love darkness = do evil) their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (Isn't this the main problem with many of those with whom you try to share Jesus - they enjoy their evil and do not like it exposed to make them feel even more guilty and ashamed!)." (Jn 3:19-20) Isaiah writes "Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, and they say, “Who sees us?” (cf Pr 15:3-) or “Who knows us?” (Isa. 29:15) Paul reminds all believers "The night (cp "the ways of darkness") is almost gone, and the day (of Christ's return to bring justice and righteous to light forever! Hallelujah! Maranatha!) is at hand (It is " imminent"! Are you eagerly looking for His return?). Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 (In light of the soon return of the "Light of the world"!) Let us behave properly as in the day, not in (implication is the following evil are more prevalent in the darkness - isn't that often when we are most tempted?) carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy." (Ro 13:12–13-note). To walk in the ways of darkness - Disobedience is a way of darkness. Remember that Satan is over the darkness (Acts 26:18), so we need to be careful how we walk, not as unwise but as wise (Eph 5:15). Solomon repeats the contrast between light and dark ways in Proverbs 4:18-19 - "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble." And in presumably his last writing Solomon says "I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness." (Eccl 2:13) Sadly he spoke from personal experience! (Wise = 1Ki 3:12, folly = 1Ki 11:1-12 - light and dark ways separated by only 8 chapters in Solomon's life - What's the moral of the story? 1Cor 10:6, 11, 12!) Proverbs 2:14 Who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil; delight - Pr 10:23; Jeremiah 11:15; Habakkuk 1:15; Zephaniah 3:11; 1 Corinthians 13:6 and - Hosea 7:3; Luke 22:4,5; Romans 1:32) A DEVILISH DELIGHT See William Arnot's notes on this passage at the end of note on Proverbs 2:12. This passage is a continuation of the description of from those who speak perverse things (Pr 2:12), who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in ways of darkness (Pr 2:13). Now they even delight in doing evil! This reminds me of Paul's opening salvo in the book of Romans where he explains the "spiritual pathology" of the ungodly and sums it up explaining that "although they know (don't let anyone tell you they don't know about God because they do!) the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval (cf "delight in doing evil") to those who practice them." (Ro 1:32-note) Kitchen - God has created us with the capacity for ‘delight,’ but this one has distorted God’s intention by finding it in the wrong people, places and things. (Ibid) \ Delight (08056)(sameach from root s-m-h which denotes being glad or joyful with one's whole disposition as indicated by its association with the heart - Ps 104:15) is an adjective which usually refers to spontaneous emotion or extreme happiness expressed in some visible and/or external manner. It is a joy filled emotion which comes from one's entire being. Sameach is not normally an abiding state of wellbeing or feeling, but was an emotion at festivals, circumcision feasts, wedding feasts, harvest feasts, the overthrow of one's enemies, and other such events. As one might surmise, The Lord and His salvation He are most frequently related with this sense of joy (e.g. Ps. 5:11; 9:2; 63:11). See the antithesis of the delight of evil men as in this proverb - Delight Yourself in the Lord The Septuagint (Lxx) translates sameach in this verse with the verb euphraino which means to be glad, to be joyful, to celebrate or be jubilant (used 4 times with this sense in story of Prodigal son = to feast in token of joy), to enjoy oneself, to be delighted, to keep a day of rejoicing. NAS Usage: glad(2), joyful(5), joyfully(1), merry-hearted*(1), pleased(1), rejoice(3), rejoiced(2), rejoices(1), rejoicing(4), who delight(1) Sameach - 4/21 uses are in Proverbs Proverbs 2:14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; Proverbs 15:13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. Proverbs 17:5 He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished. Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. Charles Bridges - They rejoice, like Satan himself, to do evil (Cp Isa. 3:9 ; Jer 11:15. God's heavy judgment. 2Th 2:12.)—to draw their fellow sinners into the net; (Bridges- An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) Rejoice in the perversity of evil - Is this not another clear marker of the utter, total depravity of fallen men, that they would actually experience the emotion of joy over evil (cp similar sick sentiment in Pr 17:5)! (See Total Depravity by John Piper) MacArthur - Fools love most what is worst. (BORROW The MacArthur Study Bible) Kitchen observes that "the one who has corrupted his conscience with sin finds his deepest being resonating with the call of evil and he finds his feet ready to dance down the path of wickedness. Indeed, his delight is not simply in evil as a concept or philosophy, but in ‘doing’ it; he strives to become a connoisseur of corruption." Rejoice (01523 - גּוּל)(giyl, gul) has the root mean ""to circle around" (to spin round under influence of any violent emotion) from which such ideas as "to circle in joy" are readily derived. It speaks of vigorous, enthusiastic expressions of joy (cp Ps 2:11). In sum it usually means to rejoice, be glad, be joyful, i.e., be in a state of an attitude or feeling of favorable circumstance. The Septuagint (Lxx) translates giyl, gul in this verse with the verb chairo which means to be "cheer" full, calmly happy or well-off. Chairo implies and imparts joy. Chairo is used in a whole range of situations in which the emotion of joy is evoked. To be in a state of happiness and well being (often independent of what is happening when the Source is the Spirit!). Chairo means to enjoy a state of gladness, to be delighted. Giyl, gul - 44v - NAS Usage: cry(1), exult(1), glad(3), rejoice(38), rejoiced(1), rejoices(1). Here are the other uses in Proverbs… Proverbs 2:14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; Proverbs 23:24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him. Proverbs 23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her rejoice who gave birth to you. Proverbs 24:17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Perversity (08419 - תַּהְפֻּכוֹת) (tahpukah from hapak = to turn, overturn) is a feminine noun which describes that which is turned away from what is right or good. "Perversity of evil" signifies that evil itself features perversity, a distortion of what is straight and right. Proverbs 2:15 Whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways; Deuteronomy 32:5; Ps 125:5; Isaiah 30:8-13; 59:8; Philippians 2:15 Paths (04570 - מַעְגָּלָה) (See discussion of magal, magalah) is a masculine noun which refers to a track, course or path. Kitchen - ‘Paths’ and ‘ways,’ denoting the course of one’s life determined by one’s choices, show up often in this chapter (Pr 2:8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18–20) and the rest of the book (e.g. Pr 3:6, 17; 4:11, 26; 7:25; 8:32). The evil man’s ways are ‘crooked’ (found again in Pr 8:8; 11:20; 17:20; 19:1; 22:5; 28:6, 18). The picture is of that which has been twisted and distorted from its original design. The evil way may have a vestige of morality remaining, but it has been deformed. What is evil may be what was pure, but now slightly twisted—just enough of the original remains to appear moral, but it is now distorted to serve the enemy’s purposes. ‘The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord’ (Pr 11:20a). (Ibid) Crooked (06141)('iqqesh from aqash = to twist, make crooked, pervert) means twisted, perverted. The passages iqqesh is found in give a sense of the meaning - the moral, religious, and social perversion and crookedness of Israel (Dt. 32:5), the perverse in general (2Sa 22:27; Ps. 18:26; Pr 2:15; 17:20), a deceitful, perverse heart, the source of evil (Ps 101:4), as a character trait that destroys the rich (Pr 28:6), as that which is not found in wisdom (Pr 8:8), as that which God hates (Pr 11:20), as speech from a fool (Pr. 19:1). The Septuagint translates iqqesh in this passage with skolios describing literally that which is not straight and figuratively anything that is spiritually corrupt and those who do not walk in "straightness" Iqqesh - 11v - NAS Usage: crooked(2), crooked*(1), perverse(4), perverted(2), who is perverse(1), who has(1), who has a crooked(1). Deuteronomy 32:5 "They have acted corruptly toward Him, They are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse (Lxx = skolios = literally that which is not straight and figuratively anything that is spiritually corrupt and those who do not walk in "straightness") and crooked generation. 2 Samuel 22:27 With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the perverted (Lxx = streblos = twisted, crooked, of a wrinkled brow, twisting in wrestling competition) You show Yourself astute. Psalm 18:26 With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the crooked (Lxx = streblos = twisted, crooked, of a wrinkled brow, twisting in wrestling competition) You show Yourself astute. Psalm 101:4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil. Proverbs 2:15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; Proverbs 8:8 "All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverted (Lxx = skolios) in them. Proverbs 11:20 The perverse (Lxx = diastrepho) in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their walk are His delight. Proverbs 17:20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil. Proverbs 19:1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool. Proverbs 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse (Lxx = skolios); He who guards himself will be far from them. Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich. Devious (03868)(luz) means to turn aside, to depart, to be crooked, to be perverse, to be devious. To go the wrong way. Baker says "It indicates what a person or nation trusts in. In context it indicates guile, deviousness, etc. found in political alliances with Egypt rather than trust in God’s word (Isa. 30:12). The wicked and perverse follow a path of perversity, crookedness, deviousness (Pr. 2:15; 3:32), and the Lord abhors them. Their way of crookedness shows that they despise and reject the Lord (Pr. 14:2). In two passages, it has the sense of losing sight of something or of something being lost sight of (Pr. 3:21; 4:21)." Devious - deviating from a right, accepted, or common course, not straightforward, cunning. Showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals. Synonyms - underhanded, deceitful, dishonest, dishonorable, unethical, unprincipled, immoral, unscrupulous, fraudulent Luz - 6v - NAS Usage: depart(1), devious(3), guile(1), vanish(1). Proverbs 2:15 Whose paths are crooked, and who are devious (Lxx = kampulos = bent, crooked, curved, of a bow, of a wheel) in their ways; Proverbs 3:21 My son, let them not vanish (Lxx = pararrhueo = literally to slip off as in Heb 2:1) from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, Comment on pararrhueo - pararrhueo means to slip or drift away from belief. It is a picture of a gradual, almost unnoticed movement past a certain point. It describes that carelessness of mind which, perhaps occupied by other things, is not aware it is losing ground. It is like a ship drifting without anchorage and so drifting away from its moorings and from a place of safety to one of danger. Proverbs 3:32 For the devious (Lxx = akathartos = ritually unclean, impure, moral impurity; in a moral sense refers to that which is unclean in thought, word, and deed) are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright. Proverbs 4:21 Do not let them depart (Lxx = ekleipo = to depart or go away from a place) from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. Proverbs 14:2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is devious (Lxx = skoliazo = to be crooked, perverse, to turn aside from) in his ways despises Him. Isaiah 30:12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, "Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them Comment - Isaiah explains the root problem for the evil man in Pr 2:15 - They have rejected the Word of Life and chose the evil way because they have trusted in their evil heart (Jer 17:9)! Charles Bridges - They delight in those, who are most froward (difficult to deal with)in their wickedness (The sin of the heathen, Ro 1:32.). Thus they plunge deeper and deeper into sin, till all traces of the straight way are lost to their eyes, and all their ways become crooked, leading, with sure steps, to eternal ruin. Is not this the picture, drawn to the very life, of many a Sunday-scholar, or a child of godly parents, the subject of deep and tender care, “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13)—the neglect of faithful warning—the stifling of solemn conviction? How do they deserve to be left of God, who have first left him with such fearful aggravation! (They now deserve to be abandoned by God, whom they have abandoned so callously.) Young man! especially shun companions, who are sinning against better knowledge and instruction. They are hardened in devotedness to their master’s work. Oh! If misguided sinners could but see sin in its horrid deformity, and certain, eternal ruin, would not “their hearts meditate terror?” (Ed: And for us who are saved eternally, would it be true of us that we could see sin in all its horrid deformity! And that true perception would serve to motivate us to kill sin by the enabling power of the Spirit - Ro 8:13, Col 3:5) But, the crookedness of their ways hides the end from view. Satan presents the bait, palliates the sin, covers the enormity, closes the eyes, and conceals the certain end of all—Hell (Ps 125:5, Ro 6:21 with 2Cor 4:3-4). The froward (difficult to deal with) in their paths cannot—will not—turn back (Wicked men cannot, will not, turn back from their crooked paths). (Bridges- An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) Proverbs 2:16 To deliver you from the strange woman, from the adulteress who flatters with her words; deliver - Pr 5:3-20; Pr 6:24; Pr 7:5-23; 22:14; 23:27; Genesis 39:3-12; Nehemiah 13:26,27; Ecclesiastes 7:26)(flatters - Pr 7:21; 29:5 THE SECOND TEMPTER THE EVIL WOMAN See related discussions… Proverbs 5:3 - Commentary Proverbs 6:24 - Commentary Proverbs 7:5 - Commentary NIV - It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, See William Arnot's notes on this passage at the end of note on Proverbs 2:12. Kitchen observes that "The fear of the Lord (Pr 2:5) delivers us not only from the evil man (Pr 2:12–15), but also from the evil woman (Pr 2:16–19). (Ibid) ESV Study Bible - Following the description of the wisdom that the Lord grants (Pr 2:9–11), this section gives three statements of its purpose: it delivers from the deception of those on the evil path (Pr 2:12–15), it delivers from being flattered into unfaithfulness (Pr 2:16–19), and it directs one instead to walk in the way that is both true and good (Pr 2:20). What is "it" that saves or delivers? In context we go back to Pr 2: where we see the "deliverers" (strictly speaking it is primarily the latter = understanding) named Discretion ("Wise planning" = NLT) (04209) (mezimmah and Understanding (08394)(tebunah). As Bridges sees it "Wisdom hidden in the heart is, as before, the most effectual deliverance; restraining even the eye from the hurtful object." Deliver (05337 - נָצַל) (natsal) means to snatch away or rescue. In many contexts natsal describes the drawing out or pulling out and was used of literal deliverance as in Ps 34:4 and Judges 6:9. Natsal is a common verb in the OT (>190 uses) with several uses in Proverbs (several referring to deliverance the seductive snare of sexual temptation - Pr 2:16, 6:3, 5). Strange woman is actually two words strange (zur) and woman ('ishshah) and is translated in NAS with a single word adulteress but with two words "strange woman" in the KJV. Strange (02114 - זוּר) (zur) is a verb which means to be a stranger. Things described as strange (in this sense the verb seems to be used as an adjective) - fire, gods (Dt 32:16, Ps 44:20), waters (2Ki 19:24 = water in foreign lands), children ("illegitimate" - NAS, "alien" - ESV) Zur frequently refers to a layman (anyone not a priest. Lxx == allogenes = another race, alien, foreign, stranger) could not eat the meat apportioned to the priests (Ex 29:33, KJV = "stranger", cp Ex 30:33 , Lev 22:10, 12, 13, Nu 1:51, 3:10, 3:38, 16:40 all translated by Lxx with allogenes). NAS translates zur as outsider (Lxx = allogenes) in Nu 18:4,7. Zur conveys the idea of estranged (Lxx = allotrios) (Job 19:13, cp Ps 69:8 where Lxx = apallotrioo = alienated). In Ps 58:3 David writes "the wicked are estranged (Lxx = apallotrioo = alienated, in Eph 4:18 = "excluded from the life of God") from the womb," a description of everyone born! In (Ex 30:9) the priests were not to offer incense that was "strange" (zur; Lxx = heteros = another of a different kind) incense. In (Lev 10:1, cf Nu 3:4, 26:61) Nadab and Abihu offered fire that was "strange (zur; Lxx = allotrios = belonging to another, not one's own, of lands - strange - Acts 7:6, of strangers - Jn 10:5)" for which God took their life In Dt 25:5 zur refers to a "strange (zur; Lxx - exo = outside) man" in the description of "the so-called "levirate" custom (from the Latin term levir, "brother-in-law"), an ancient provision whereby a man who died without male descendants to carry on his name could have a son by proxy, that is, through a surviving brother who would marry his widow and whose first son would then be attributed to the brother who had died. This is the only reference to this practice in an OT legal text but it is illustrated in the story of Judah and his sons (Gen 38) and possibly in the account of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 2:8; 3:12; 4:6)." (NET Note) (See also lengthy article on Levirate law - Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament) Dt 32:16 says the Israelites made Jehovah "jealous with strange (Lxx = allotrios = not one's own) gods" (word gods added for clarification, but not in Hebrew) (cp Ps 44:20, 81:9, Isa 43:12). In Jer 5:19 God passes judgment - "It shall come about when they say, 'Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?' then you shall say to them, 'As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers (zur) in a land that is not yours." a prophecy that was fulfilled when Judah was taken into captivity in the strange/foreign land of Babylon! In Jer 2:25 Judah says "I have loved strangers" but the NET interprets it as "I love those foreign gods." Again in Jer 3:13 NAS translates zur as strangers (ESV as "foreigners") but again NET sees this as a reference to "foreign gods." This show how every Bible translation is in essence an "interpretation" (a veritable "mini-commentary" if you will) of the original language, another reason I strongly encourage the diligent student to become facile with the original Greek and Hebrew (at least able to use a Bible program to determine the original words) (cp similar prophecy in Ezek 11:9). In Ezek 14:5 God says Judah is "estranged (zur; Lxx = apallotrioo = alienated) from me through their idols." Speaking to faithless Judah God says "You adulteress wife, who takes strangers (zur) instead of her husband! (Ezekiel 16:32) NET Note on adulteress (in Pr 2:16) - Heb "strange woman" (so KJV, NASB); NRSV "the loose woman." The root zur ("to be a stranger") sometimes refers to people who are ethnically foreign to Israel (Isa 1:7; Hos 7:9; 8:7) but it often refers to what is morally estranged from God or his covenant people (Ps 58:4; 78:30). Referring to a woman, it means adulteress or prostitute (Pr 2:16; 5:3, 20; 7:5; 22:14; 23:33). It does not mean that she is a foreigner but that she is estranged from the community with its social and religious values. It describes her as outside the framework of the covenant community. Here an Israelite woman is in view because her marriage is called a "covenant with God." She is an adulteress, acting outside the legal bounds of the marriage contract. In Isaiah 1:4 zur describes the sinful nation as "turned away" (zur; Lxx = parorgizo = provoke to anger) from God (ESV has "they are utterly estranged"). In Isaiah 28:21 the LORD will rise up and "do His unusual (zur; Lxx = pikria = state of being bitter!) task. Swanson summarizes zur - (1) (qal) be a stranger, i.e., not be in the main cultural group in an area, and so be estranged from society (Job 19:13); (hof) alienated, be a stranger (Ps 69:8); 2. (nif) deserted, astray, turned aside, i.e., pertaining to abandoning an association or relationship (Isa 1:4; Eze 14:5); 3. (qal) go astray, i.e., be in a state of apostasy and rebellion, as an extension of the non-linear motion of turning or pivoting away from an object (Ps 58:3); 4. 3 unit: (qal) לֹא זוּר (lō = negates + zûr) = fulfill, complete, finish to the full, formally, not be estranged, i.e., to finish or complete an event to its conclusion (Ps 78:30) Zur - 75v - NAS Usage: adulteress(3), adulteress*(1), alien(2), aliens(2), another(2), enemies(1), estranged(4), foreign(2), foreigners(2), illegitimate(1), layman(9), outsider(2), satisfied(1), strange(11), strange thing(1), strange things(1), stranger(7), strangers(22), turned away(1), unusual(1). Zur - 75v - Ex 29:33; 30:9, 33; Lev 10:1; 22:10, 12f; Nu 1:51; 3:4, 10, 38; 16:40; 18:4, 7; 26:61; Deut 25:5; 32:16; 1Kgs 3:18; 2Kgs 19:24; Job 15:19; 19:13, 15, 27; Ps 44:20; 54:3; 58:3; 69:8; 78:30; 81:9; 109:11; Pr 2:16; 5:3, 10, 17, 20; 6:1; 7:5; 11:15; 14:10; 20:16; 22:14; 23:33; 27:2, 13; Isa 1:4, 7; 17:10; 25:2, 5; 28:21; 29:5; 43:12; 61:5; Jer 2:25; 3:13; 5:19; 18:14; 30:8; 51:2, 51; Lam 5:2; Ezek 7:21; 11:9; 14:5; 16:32; 28:7, 10; 30:12; 31:12; Hos 5:7; 7:9; 8:7, 12; Joel 3:17; Obad 1:11 Proverbs 7:5 links adulteress with foreigner (strange woman) - "That they may keep you from an adulteress, From the foreigner (KJV = "strange woman") who flatters with her words." Henry Morris on the adulteress (KJV = strange woman) - The "strange woman" ("alien woman") is named as such no less than ten times in Proverbs, with both literal and figurative applications. Foreign women, with different gods and moral standards than those of Israel, often led God's people into sin, including Solomon himself (1Ki 11:1-8). This situation also represents spiritual adultery, with the Israelites not only consorting with strange women but also worshipping strange gods. This is suggested in the next verse, "forgets the covenant of her god" (Pr 2:17). W A Criswell on why she is called "strange"- The "immoral woman" is the adulteress or harlot, one who is outside of divinely assigned proper relationships. Ryrie - What kind of woman is the adulteress? She is a flatterer (Pr 2:16), unfaithful to her husband (Pr 2:17), may have a religious background but is backslidden (Pr 2:17), and offers a taste of life but delivers death (Pr 2:18-19). Adulteress (is) literally, foreign woman; i.e., a woman outside the circle of a man's proper relationships, hence a harlot or adulteress. Adulteress (foreigner, alien) (05237)(nokriy) comes from a word that means "to recognize" or be conspicuous. The most common usage is in describing that which is foreign, especially "foreign" people. One of the most tragic uses of nokriy is to describe King Solomon's incredible disobedience in that he "loved many foreign women" (1Ki 11:1) and he even backslid (some actually wonder if he was even genuinely saved -- I think he was) to the point of building idolatrous high places "for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods." (1Ki 11:8, Context = 1Ki 11:7, cp allusion to this sin in Neh 13:26)! All seven uses of nokriy in Ezra 10 refer to the Israelites taking foreign wives (Ezra 10:2, 10-11, 14, 17-18, 44). We see a confrontation of the men of Israel in Neh 13:27 - "Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?" Notice how God felt about this sin (it was a great evil)! The adulteress is called “foreign” or “strange” because originally these women were from nations other than Israel. She is also foreign in the sense that she is "foreign" to the accepted marital arrangement. Nokriy is used to describe an adulteress in Pr 2:16, 5:10, 6:24, 23:27, 27:2, 27:13 and Pr 7:5 (where adulteress is equated with foreigner - nokriy). Most of the uses of nokriy meaning adulteress are translated in the Lxx with the adjective allotrios which means "belonging to another, not one's own." (Lk 16:12) or "stranger, foreigner" (Jn 10:5) It is notable (and incredible) that all of these uses of nokriy are in sections of Proverbs penned by King Solomon and then he proceeds in his later years to seek out these very women! Amazing! Frightening! Deception is a powerful "aphrodisiac" (or perhaps better understood - the temptation that precedes the deception!) which reminds me of Paul's warnings in 1Cor 10:6, 11, 12. We ALL need to run the race with endurance -- ALL THE WAY to the finish line! And ALL by reliance on God's grace and God's Spirit! Amen (or "O my")! Nokriy in Proverbs… Proverbs 2:16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; Proverbs 5:10 And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien; Proverbs 5:20 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? Proverbs 6:24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress. Proverbs 7:5 That they may keep you from an adulteress, From the foreigner who flatters with her words. Proverbs 20:16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him in pledge. Proverbs 23:27 For a harlot (zanah) is a deep pit And an adulterous woman is a narrow well. Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge. Webster says that to flatter is to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest. Flattery is praise insincerely given for an interested purpose. The 1828 Noah Webster's dictionary has a great definition of flattery as "to please a person by applause or favorable notice, by respectful attention, or by any thing that exalts him in his own estimation, or confirms his good opinion of himself." Flattery is like chewing gum—enjoy it briefly, but don’t swallow it! Flattery is the art of telling a person exactly what he thinks of himself. The one who flatters is like a bee which has honey in his mouth and a sting in his tail. Thomas Brooks rightly said that "Flattery is the devil's invisible net." George Chapman described flatterers this way - Flatterers look like friends as wolves look like dogs. Warren
Provérbios 2
MacArthur - In a wide sense this could be the covenant of Sinai (Ex 20:14), but specifically looks to the marriage covenant of Ge 2:24, with its commitment to fidelity.(BORROW The MacArthur Study Bible) Related Resource - Covenant: As It Relates to Marriage Covenant (01285)(berit/berith/beriyth) means covenant, treaty, compact, agreement between two parties (first use in God's covenant with Noah - Ge 6:18, 9:9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17). Beriyth in the OT often referred to a compact made by passing between pieces of flesh. The essence of covenant is a solemn, binding arrangement between two parties and entails a variety of responsibilities, benefits and penalties depending on the specific covenant which is being studied. OT covenants were made between God and man (eg, God with Noah - Ge 6:18, with Abram - Ge 15:18) or between men (Abraham and Abimelech - Ge 21:27, Isaac and Abimelech - Ge 26:28, Jacob and Laban - Ge 31:44) (For summary of covenants see - Covenant in the Bible). This is the only use of covenant in Proverbs. Webster says Covenant is an agreement that brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. The Jewish faith is based on the biblical covenants made with Abraham, Moses, and David. God (0430)(Elohim) The plural ending (-im) is usually described as a plural of majesty and not intended as a true plural when used of God. This is seen in the fact that the noun elohim is consistently used with singular verb forms and with adjectives and pronouns in the singular. Charles Bridges - One who had forsaken the guide of her youth (Though an harlot, she might be - Pr 7:5, 10, 19 or might have been a married woman -John 4:17, 18), and forgotten the solemn bond of the covenant of her God—what else could she be to the unwary but a vile flatterer with her lips? (Pr 5:3; 7:5, 21) (Bridges- An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) Cross References on forgets the covenant… Ezekiel 16:8-note “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord GOD… Ezek 16:59; 60-note For thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also do with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by breaking the covenant. 60 “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant (Referring to the Abrahamic and the New Covenants) with you. Malachi 2:14-16-note “Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 “But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then, to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong,” says the LORD of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” Proverbs 2:18 For her house sinks down to death and her tracks lead to the dead; Pr 5:4-14; 6:26-35; 7:22-27; 9:18; 1Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:5; Rev 21:8; 22:15) WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW? Notice the "for" - For (gar in the Septuagint) is a strategic term of explanation which should always prompt a pause to prayerfully ponder what the author is saying in a given section. This pause that refreshes will give your Teacher, the Spirit, an opportunity to speak to your heart (so that what you read is more than just head knowledge), not only illuminating the text (see The Bible and Illumination) but applying the text practically to your personal life (Application). Therefore, energized by the Spirit, let us discipline ourselves for godliness and frequently "P & P" (pause and ponder) the Word -- we are sure to be richly rewarded by our Father in Heaven, for "godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come!" (1Ti 4:7-8-note, 1Ti 4:9-10-note) . For George Lawson's comments related to this verse see his comments at the end of the note on Proverbs 2:16. See related commentaries on… Proverbs 5:4-17 - Commentary Proverbs 6:26-35 - Commentary Proverbs 7:22-27 - Commentary Sinks down (07743 - שׁוּחַ)(shuwach) means flows or melts away, vanishes and always in used in the context of humiliation and/or moral danger. In parallel passages describing the adulteress Solomon says Proverbs 5:5 Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol. Proverbs 7:27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death. Sinks down presents a sad picture of the house of an adulteress! This rare Hebrew verb is used only 2 other times in the OT and both refer to one's soul - Ps 44:25 (describes soul of one from whom God hides face) and Lam 3:20 = referring to Jeremiah's soul. MacArthur - Death in Proverbs is presented as both a gradual descent (Pr 5:23) and a sudden end (Pr 29:1).(BORROW The MacArthur Study Bible) Kitchen comments on her house sinks down to death - The general meaning, however, is still clear—adultery brings a slow death. ‘Her house is a highway to the grave’ (Pr 7:27NIV). The path of adultery leads to death (Pr 5:5; 9:18). The death may be a literal and sudden physical death (Prov. 29:1), or it will likely be a slow unfolding of the consequences of sin which end in death (5:23). It could describe the end brought on by sexually transmitted diseases, or it could describe the opposite of the prosperity, life and joy that comes from walking within wisdom (Pr 4:8, 9; 8:18–21). Death (04194 - מָוֶת) (maveth from muth = to die) describes death by natural or violent means and in some contexts such as this passage it designates the place where the dead are destined to go, the place known in the OT as Sheol (Job 28:22, Ps 9:13, Pr 7:27). Here are all the passages in Proverbs that use maveth… Proverbs 2:18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; Proverbs 5:5 Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol. Proverbs 7:27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death. Proverbs 8:36 "But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death." Proverbs 10:2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. 7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong men perishes. 19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death. Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death. 32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing, But the righteous has a refuge when he dies. Proverbs 16:14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it. 25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 21:6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death. Proverbs 24:11 Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. Proverbs 26:18 Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows and death, Charles Bridges - The slave of unlawful desire; having no guide but her own will; no pleasure but sensual gratification; quickly she becomes her own and her victim's murderer. Her house is the land of death. (Pr 5:5.) Eternal death is her doom. Her paths incline to the dead, with the awful monuments of Divine vengeance in olden time. (Cp. Pr 9:18) (Bridges- An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) Tracks (04570 - מַעְגָּלָה) (See discussion of magal, magalah) is a masculine noun which refers to a track, course or path. "The idea of ‘tracks’ comes from the well-worn trenches left by the regular movement of carts pulled by oxen." (Kitchen) Her tracks lead to the dead - This reminds of the story told of the "Temple prostitutes" in Corinth whose shoes left an imprint in the dirt pointing to their house of harlotry! Here is the note from Wikipedia - "Independent prostitutes who worked the street were on the next higher level. Besides directly displaying their charms to potential clients they had recourse to publicity; sandals with marked soles have been found which left an imprint that stated ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΕΙ = AKOLOUTHEI ("Follow me" - The very command Jesus issued to His disciples!!! cf Mt 9:9, Mk 2:14, Mt 10:38, 16:24, Mk 8:34, Mt 19:21) on the ground." (Prostitution in ancient Greece) Comment: It seems to me that simply by looking at the preceding uses of the verb akoloutheo, we see the "secret" for snapping the cords of bondage to internet pornography (see below). There is a fork in the road of our mind (especially when we see certain images in commercials, on billboards, on the side lines of football games, etc) at which we have an instant to choose - Whom will I follow? If you follow Jesus, you can't follow the pornographic prostitute! The famous sermon by Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) taught this principle of the "Expulsive Power of a New Affection." (Read the original long version or the Shorter paraphrased version) It follows the first thing we MUST do (under grace) each morning (BEFORE anything else) is fix our eyes on Jesus, and in light of the certainty of His love for us (Jn 3:16, Ro 5:8), abandon ourselves to Him, that act even energized out of the love poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Ro 5:5). Then we are prepared for to walk out into the crooked and perverse world and fight the good fight of faith enabled by the power of the indwelling Spirit of Jesus! There is no surer path to victory! Indeed, beloved, there is no other path to victory other than to follow Jesus! FOLLOW ME TO DEATH… Death TO self or Death OF self Given the incredible proliferation of polluting pornography (especially on the internet) and the snare it has produced for so many Christian men, the words of Solomon in Proverbs 2:18 are frightening and need to be carefully pondered by all of God's men! If you don't believe this is a problem, then take a look at this article - Shocker- Study Shows MOST Christian Men Are Into Porn! (or here) Here is an open letter from highly respected Pastor Charles Swindoll… The most recent studies available suggest that one out of every two people-that's 50 percent of the people sitting in our pews, are looking at and/or could be addicted to Internet pornography… Truth be told, that statistic could be even higher… Stop and imagine the ugly but very real possibility of some of your own elders and deacons leaving your meetings and going home to surf porn. Think about youth leaders viewing it one minute, and leading a small group with your kids thirty minutes later. It's ruining marriages, destroying relationships, harming youth, and hurting the body of Christ. You hardly need to be reminded that fallen pastors and priests did not "suddenly" fall. More often than not, pornography played a role in their downward spiral. My friend, it's time to do something about it. In fact, we need to start today. Making a difference requires action… Our churches are in trouble. This is no time to simply wait and pray. See Related Discussion in commentary on Job 31:1 Proverbs 2:19 None who go to her return again, nor do they reach the paths of life. None - Ps 81:12; Ecclesiastes 7:26; Jeremiah 13:23; Hosea 4:14; Matthew 19:24-26 reach - Pr 4:18; Hebrews 6:18) For George Lawson's comments related to this verse see his comments at the end of the note on Proverbs 2:16. This verse completes the description of the evil woman, adding that what was true for the adulteres is true for those who take part in her illicit activity - Pr 2:16-19. Solomon wrote "I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her." (Eccl 7:26) James has a good "commentary" on this verse in the description of how our fallen flesh takes us down "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." (James 1:14-15-note) None is actually two words in Hebrew - (1) (03605)(kol) means "all" and has an inclusive meaning of all or every one of something and (2) (03808) (lo) means no or not. In Ecclesiastes, which was probably Solomon's last written work (probably written after he had fallen into the trap of idolatry and adultery - 1Ki 11:1-12), he penned these Spirit inspired words - "I discovered (Lxx - heurisko - means to find with or without searching) more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her (We should all shout a "Hallelujah" for this statement! There is a way of escape - 1Cor 10:13-note! This reminds me of Joseph - Ge 39:12 and also calls to mind Pr 24:15 "For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity."), but the sinner will be captured by her." (Eccl 7:26) Notice the multiple metaphors - snares, nets, chains! If Solomon who wrote these words could fall into snares, nets and chains, dear brethren in Christ, may none of us think that we are immune! Paul's warning is apropos = "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed (present imperative = command to make this our lifestyle, only possible as we yield to the Spirit Who enables us) lest he fall." (1Cor 10:12) Go (0935)(bo) means to come in, to come, to go, to go in. I know a man I am 99.99% sure is a believer and yet who went into a prostitute (which he subsequently confessed to his wife). So Solomon is not saying one sin damns a person ("none who go to her return"). The Septuagint helps us out as it translates "go" (bo) with the verb poreuo which means to go from one place to another (in this case to the house of the strange woman). The verb poreuo is in the present tense which describes this "going" not as an occasional lapse but as a lifestyle, as one's habitual practice. We see this same thought in Paul's list of sins in Gal 5:19-21 in which he emphasizes " those who practice (prasso in the present tense = as a lifestyle) such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Have you ever envied anyone (as in Gal 5:21-note)? Doubtless, your answer is of course, but not as your "lifestyle." So envying others, while an occasional lapse (sin), is not your habitual practice and does not result in you being cut off from the kingdom of God. (cp similar use of "shall inherit the kingdom of God" in 1Cor 6:9-10) THE PATHS OF LIFE Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever. Proverbs 5:6 She (adulteress) does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it. Proverbs 10:17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who forsakes reproof goes astray. Proverbs 15:24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, That he may keep away from Sheol below. Contrast the path of the righteous - "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. (Prov. 4:18) Kitchen - The pull of immorality’s vortex is nearly inescapable. When you walk through the door of sexual sin, it slams behind you and you soon discover that it is a door with a knob on only one side. While the possibility of repentance is always held out to the penitent, the nature of sexual sin is such that it blinds to that possibility. The one who pursues this wanton lifestyle does not ‘reach the paths of life.’ What is rationalized as a youthful side trip on sin’s path is soon discovered to be an addicting course of life that is more than difficult to leave. The addictive power of illicit sex, pornography, and voyeurism is nothing to be experimented with. (Ibid) Charles Bridges - Some instances indeed of deliverance are given; not so much examples, as special miracles, of grace, to show how far the "arm of the Lord" can reach. (Solomon's own case. Cp. Lk, 7:37-50; 1Co 6:9-11) But so rare are they, that it is as if scarcely none (None in comparison, very few. Cp. Isa 59:4; 64:7) that go unto her return again. And what madness is it to rush into the snare upon so faint and glimmering hope of escape! (Eccl 7:26.) The spell of lust palsies the grasp, by which its victim might have taken hold of the paths of life for deliverance. He that is "saved, is so as by fire" (1Cor 3:15, Jude 1:23), the wonder of heaven and earth. "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Zech 3:2).(Bridges- An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs) Proverbs 2:20 So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. Pr 13:20; Ps 119:63,115; Song 1:7,8; Jeremiah 6:16; Hebrews 6:12; 3John 1:11 IMITATE WHAT IS GOOD So - Picks up the theme of wisdom and explains the purpose of seeking wisdom. Wisdom directs one to walk in the way of good men which would be the good way! Warren