Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
Summary: Translating from an ancient text can be a challenge. Today’s passage is one of the more challenging passages. How does violence overwhelm the mouth?
When you read the words, “Blessings crown the head,” what comes to mind?
In my mind, I picture “blessings” as something good. I think of it as a placeholder of sorts, a kind of “fill-in-the-blank” line for something that makes life better and more enjoyable. A crown is a circle of metal that sits on the head, so I picture blessings circling the head of the righteous.
But what about the next line? What do you make of “violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked?” Does this make any sense to you?
I struggle to understand this line. It sounds like the words of the wicked come back as physical violence hurting the speaker. Is that what it means?
The NIV reflects the Hebrew text quite accurately. But what good is that if it makes no sense to our modern ear? Let’s look at some other translations for help in understanding Solomon’s meaning.
The Contemporary English Version reads, “Everyone praises good people, but evil hides behind the words of the wicked.”
I like the way they crafted their translation. It reflects the heart of Proverbs 6: 16-19. The Lord hates those who devise wicked schemes and pour out lies.
The Easy-to-Read Version offers this translation, “People say good things about those who live right, but the words of the wicked only hide their violent plans.”
This makes a lot of sense to my modern ear. I can understand how lies hide evil and violent intent.
The translation called The Message offers this unusually concise translation: “Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.”
I like the poetic picture painted by the “dark cave of abuse” but I am not sure that this conveys the meaning any better than the original NIV text.
Finally, there is the New International Reader’s Version. This translation reads, “Blessings are like crowns on the heads of those who do right. But the trouble caused by what sinners say destroys them.”
This one makes it very clear that there are consequences for the words that come out of a “sinner’s” mouth. Does this accurately reflect the intent of the original text? I think so.
The important thing to remember when reading God’s Word is that God is Spirit (John 4: 24) and he speaks from a spiritual perspective. When we read something that says a sinner will be destroyed by what they say, we tend to look at that from a human perspective. From our perspective, we expect that to mean that destruction would come in the sinner’s lifetime. But does it?
In the story of the wicked servant (Matthew 24: 48-51), the servant is “cut to pieces” and then, after he is dead, placed where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
So does “violence overwhelm the mouth of the wicked?” If a wicked person is assigned to the “lake of fire” (Revelation 20: 14-15) and they are going down for the third time, the violence of the flames will literally “overwhelm the mouth of the wicked.”
Application: Strive for righteousness, first in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord (Romans 3:22), and then in his service (Matthew 22:37-40).
Food for Thought: What kind of blessings crown the head of the righteous?
In James 1 : 12 and 2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8, we see eternal life as a crown which adorns the righteous. That is the crown which is life that includes salvation and a relationship with the living Lord.
In Revelation 4: 9 – 11 we see the church “casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea.” So one blessing is having rewards which we can use to worship our Savior.
Based on these verses, two blessings are our eternal salvation and eternal rewards.
Brother Rich,
Thank you for pointing us to eternal life – the ultimate blessing!
I appreciated looking into the verses today and different translations.
I also liked Rich’s thoughts; ultimately God’s blessings enable us to be with Him for eternity, be closer to Him, and worship Him.
What kind of blessings crown the head of the righteous?
Confidence & Security with the Lord – Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.
Peace – Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
Hope & a future – Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Contentment – Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
(this is one of my favorite!)
A generous heart – 2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Chris,
Nicely done! You have given us an all-you-can-eat buffet of blessings to ponder!
This is a hard one… Blessing is so vague. Like you said, we have a general idea of something good. I think I’d say a blessing the righteous have is God’s favor… I know, that’s pretty vague too.
Think of all the other things attributed to the righteous in the Proverbs: justice, equity, fear of the Lord, knowledge of God, God is their shield, wisdom, discernment, understanding, delivered from evil, live in the land, days and years added, peace, favor, good repute, straight paths, healing, overflowing stores, walk securely, will not fear, confidence from the Lord, grace and beauty, light….. Yeah there’s a lot…..
A –
I would add one more blessing – the thoughts you have shared with us this morning. 🙂
As we mediate on God’s Word, the insights we share can be a blessing to others. So thank you!
All Egg-Cellent comments. I liked the cartoon Egg-Specially.
Oh oh…
Tim is resorting to puns!!
I am “shell” shocked!
We are now “yoked” together by our yoking around.
Thank you, Tim. You cracked me up! 🙂
(Note: I had to scramble to come up with these!)
04-15-2022, Proverbs 10:6, What kind of blessings crown the head of the righteous?
CHRIST IN US!
While on earth we are imperfect beings serving our perfect God. We are all in the process of sanctification as we constantly bounce between moment by moment, righteous and unrighteous acts. Our walk with God does increase as we mature but we will only become fully sanctified, holy, acceptable beings by the power of God after we shed these bodies.
Philippians 2:12-13, 3:10-12
In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8
Today we are blessed, as by the power of the Holy Spirit we have Christ in our hearts. However we are only seen as righteous in God’s eyes as we live in obedience to His will which is achieved by His Son Jesus Christ in each of us. God can only look upon us with favor through the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ who is our crown of righteousness from, and our advocate to our Father in Heaven.
Hebrews 10:26, Romans 1:21-23, 1 John 1:5-9, 1:14
Ron,
Thank you for your words today. Being fully sanctified, made acceptable to God through the love and sacrifice of Jesus is … amazing.