Proverbs About Everyday Affairs

Proverbs 13:1-12

“A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.  A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.  He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” (Proverbs 13:1-3)

A wise child listens to their parent’s advice, but one who lacks respect will not listen even when he is in trouble.  A respectful attitude and response will make friends.  A bad attitude and response will make enemies and lead to violent confrontations and  physical injury or death.   It is crucial that children be taught to have respect if they are to have a good life.

“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” (Proverbs 13:4)

The lazy man wants everything and resents the fact that he has nothing, but he will not put out the effort to get it.  The person who is willing to work for what he wants will be satisfied because he has a goal to work toward and a sense of accomplishment.

“A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.  Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.” (Proverbs 13:5-6)

A righteous or good man hates falsehood but a wicked person is disgusting and dishonest.  Eventually, the truth will come out and he will be shamed.  The righteous attitude will guide and keep the good man doing what is right, but his attitude will defeat a wicked man’s good intentions and end up in him doing wrong.

“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” (Proverbs 13:7)

There are greedy people who will do anything to get rich, who end up with nothing but some belongings nobody would want, and sometimes they lose even those.  There are people who give away everything they have and they have friends and family, and often have more belongings than the greedy person.   

“The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.” (Proverbs 13:8)

In times of trouble, what a person has saved up may save his life.  Unfortunately many poor people ignore the warnings to save.  As a result they have no protection when trouble comes.

“The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.” (Proverbs 13:9)

It is a joy to know a righteous person and be around them.  Wicked people drive people away and they don’t want to even think about them.  A person’s moral attitude determines how well he is accepted by other people. 

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10)

Every argument or fight is the result of pride.  People who have been properly instructed don’t let their pride cause them to get into a fight.  By doing so they avoid the risk of physical injury or punishment for fighting.

“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” (Proverbs 13:11)

Things which were received without being legitimately earned quickly lose their value.  As the old saying goes, “Easy come, easy go.”  They do not encourage a person to do more.  Things that were the result of legitimate work retain their value and tend to result in more accomplishments.  Studies have shown that most people who win a lottery or get an unearned award are worse off a year later than they were when they received it. 

 

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)

Delay in attainment of a goal is really discouraging, but when it is finally attained, it means even more, overriding all the depression and discouragement.