Chapter 17: Friends Forever
“Whoso
mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall
not be unpunished.” (Proverbs 17:5)
I really love this verse, but when
I read verses I often look at other translations of the same verse to see what
kind of differences or possibly new interpretations of the verse exist. This
particular verse had a different translation that I think really captured the
message. The translation is from the Douy-Rheims Bible and is basically the
same except; “…he that rejoices at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.”
Essentially we learn that we should never make fun of someone because of their
social status and if we rejoice in seeing someone else suffer or be ruined
(example: tricking them into paying you more money, taking advantage of someone)
then those people will be punished for that.
“He that
covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter
separateth very friends.” (Proverbs 17:9)
This is another verse where I hate
to say it, but I like the entire translation better than the King James
Version, and I REALLY like the King James Version… “Love prospers when a fault is
forgiven, but dwelling on it seperates close friends.” (New Living Translation
of Proverbs 17:9) When we are forgiven by others or forgiven of sin,
LOVE can prosper. If we dwell on things and never let them go it will ruin
relationships.
“A
friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs
17:17)
Friends and Family are important. True
friends and “brothers” (which can be both friends and family) are there for
each other… ALWAYS!
“Even a
fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips
is esteemed a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 17:28)
Sometimes it is just better for us
to keep our mouth shut and move on. We will probably look a lot more
intelligent if we do so.
Chapter 18: Find a Wife
“The
words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts
of the belly.” (Proverbs 18:8)
In other words… we can say that the
words of the gossiper or liar will come back to hurt the one telling the
stories.
“Whoso
findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.” (Proverbs
18:22)
Marriage is important in the eyes
of the Lord. We must get married, instead of “living” with someone.
“A man
that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)
If you want friends, you too must
be friendly and keep the friendship going. Friendships that are not taken care
of will eventually die off.
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