Chapter 11: We Need to Save Souls
The
works of good vs the works of evil and there respective rewards are contransted
in this chapter.
“An
hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall
the just be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:9)
Those who have no knowledge or very
little knowledge will easily become a hypocrite. However, the righteous will
overcome the hypocrite with knowledge.
“He
that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor; but a man of understanding
holdeth his peace.” (Proverbs 11:12)
Someone
who is uneducated and completely lacking any class or wisdom will hate his
neighbor, but the man who is righteous, with knowledge and class will just hold
it inside.
“…he
that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30) When it really comes down
to everything in this life, the most important thing is to save your soul and
the souls of those around you. Spread good will and be GOOD to everyone around
you. Do as Jesus would.
Chapter 12: The Way of the Fool is Right… in
his OWN EYES.
This
chapter opens up with the simple “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge,
but he that hateth reproof is brutish.” (Proverbs 12:1) Essentially
this is saying that those who love knowledge and instruction love criticism,
because they know it will make them better. Those however who hate criticism
and don’t want to be corrected are like savages and beasts.
“A virtuous woman is a crown to
her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is a rottenness in his bones”
(Proverbs 12:4) I think this is a great verse, first we learn that
women and men should be “virtuous, which is defined as: 1. with
moral integrity: having or showing moral goodness or righteousness and 2. chaste: not
having sexual intercourse with anyone except a partner in marriage, especially
a husband.
So we
learn that we need to be morally clean and have sex only in the bounds of
marriage. If a woman is morally clean and generally a good person, a man should
seek her out and desire those traits. When found, that man should hold his wife
to high esteem and consider her precious and of great worth. However if a woman
(or man for the ladies) comes a long and is not one of those things, then it
really is like a rotten cancer that has no place in that persons life.
In this
chapter we also learn of the value of animal life; “A righteous man regardeth the
life of the beast…” (Proverbs 12:10) Does that mean that we can’t kill
animals? No, we most certainly can… if it is for food. In modern scriptures we
read; “For behold the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that
which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for
raiment , and that he might have in abundance.” (Doctrine and Covenants 49:19) So like this Proverb states,
we should regard the life of the animal and only kill when it is necessary.
Finally
this Proverbs ends nicely with a great reminder to those who like to hear their
own voice… “A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth
foolishness” (Proverbs 12:23) Those who claim to know it all and keep talking
like they know it all will eventually (if not immediately) spew foolishness
from their mouths.
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