Author: Jeff Englund

A gossip betrays a confidence,
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Summary: Do we take gossips seriously? Paul suggests that we should take it at least as seriously as murder. How we do that depends on a proper understanding of the Greek word, krino, meaning “to judge.”

Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,

Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

Summary: Today’s passage provides an opportunity for a real-world application of what Solomon has been teaching us. 

When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

Summary: The Bible offers examples of many types of righteousness. Understanding the differences between the various types helps us better understand the Bible. 

The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.

Summary: Once again we are confronted with the concept of righteousness. Here we compare our own human efforts at righteousness with Jesus’ perfect righteousness. 

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

Summary: Righteousness is a challenging topic. On one hand, is the view that because no one is righteous then that means people are incapable of any righteousness. But is that what the Bible says or is that what we want it to say? 

The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

Summary: Repetition is something that we find in Proverbs repeatedly. One reason is that repetition is a teaching tool. Another reason is that there are subtle differences in each iteration that illuminate another aspect of truth.