Proverbs 27
Proverbs 27:1-27:
1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
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Proverbs 27:17:
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. |
Proverbs is a book of the Bible that contains words of wisdom that have held up for centuries. Proverbs 27:17 always stuck with me and was an inspiration for this blog.
If we took a 10,000-foot view of society over the last few decades, it would be safe to say that we have been spiraling downward. Masculinity has been painted as toxic, chivalry is often seen as disrespectful, and the notion of “mansplaining” just further degrades the role of men in our culture. Can men do anything right? As Proverbs 27:17 implies, we need men today who will sharpen each other’s strengths and dull each other’s weaknesses rather than bring each other down. -Gary Drevitch |
The purpose, identity and vision for our lives has been illustrated and embodied by God in and through His Word. The vision for the iron comes from outside itself, most likely from a metal worker or ironsmith. Iron is a natural occurring element and left to itself will not change its shape or purpose. The ironsmith has a vision for the iron, like God has a vision for what He intends our lives to look like.
That brings us to our intentions to change. It is not enough to just have a vision, there must be an intention to change. We can have a vision to get stronger, lose weight, throw harder or hit the ball farther, but if we never intend to change, our visions are wishes and dreams. Like the ironsmith, we must fully intend to put in the necessary work. This is where thought and imagination begin to move into action. We know that God has a vision for what it means to be human and He fully intends for that vision to come to fruition. God’s intention for a restored and redeemed humanity is made evident in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. -Josh Lindblom
That brings us to our intentions to change. It is not enough to just have a vision, there must be an intention to change. We can have a vision to get stronger, lose weight, throw harder or hit the ball farther, but if we never intend to change, our visions are wishes and dreams. Like the ironsmith, we must fully intend to put in the necessary work. This is where thought and imagination begin to move into action. We know that God has a vision for what it means to be human and He fully intends for that vision to come to fruition. God’s intention for a restored and redeemed humanity is made evident in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. -Josh Lindblom
Proverbs 27:18-27:
18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
