A Little Chauvinism

(Pro 31:11 KJV) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Today I notice two differences in translation between the KJV and NASB.  One goes in favor of each.  The first is the word “need” (2637) of the KJV which is “lack” in the NASB.  The NASB comes closer.  It would not be much of an issue if the KJV were not closer with its use of “spoil” (7998).  The word has the idea of going out and plundering.  It is a warrior word for a barbaric time.  Maybe that is why the NASB translates it here and “spoil” at 57 other places.

I think the idea here is that the way a wife handles the material goods of a family has something to say about how the husband goes about finding the money needed to support them.  We don’t literally go raiding with swords and torches any more.  We do have what we call “corporate raiders” who do the same type of thing.  We have people in business who use shady tactics to get rich.  More common we have men going out and working longer hours than they need in order to pay for all the unnecessary goods that the woman desires.  Of course the man might desire them also.

So?  This is a call to stewardship and priorities.  It is a call to budget and stay within your budget.  As is often the case the women are called on to civilize the men in their lives.  If the women give up then the men are lost.

Curse Awareness

(Pro 30:10 KJV) Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

In modern times our intellectual side does not believe a “curse” (7043) has any power.  The problem is that we have a non-intellectual side that is open to superstition.  How often have you had someone say, “Knock on wood”?  How many people do you know that are a bit wary on Friday the 13th.  The Bible admits that curses exist but seems to tell us not to worry about it.  Even here we don’t see what we think of as a curse.

The Hebrew word is fairly common but has many different translations.  The root meaning of the word has to do with making things slight, quick or of no account.  Here we could get the idea of someone trash-talking about you.  Aside from the general sense of showing courtesy to people and avoiding gossip is the warning that even people with no obvious power over you have the ability to caste doubt on your character.

So?  If you can’t be kind and courteous because it is the right thing to do then maybe you should consider it as a means of self-preservation. 

Know Their Place

(Pro 29:21 KJV) He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

Is it “slave” (5650) (NASB) or “servant” (KJV)?  Although it can mean either the most common translation in both is a variation of servant.  In fact the KJV does not use it for slave.  In modern culture there is a world of difference between the two, in the ancient world, not so much.  The peasant farmer of ancient history had some rights but they were usually trumped by the nobility.  Slaves had rights in theory also.  Serfs in medieval Europe could not travel without permission of their lord. 

Move down a little further in history and think of the place of the servant class in Victorian England.  Picture the movie Mary Poppins is you can.  The well to do banker had a house full of servants.  He had lowly clerks at work.  Everywhere he went his class made people pay homage to him.  Of course he did the same for his betters.

This turned the tables in a way.  It did not do away with the class structure but it said we have a responsibility to those “below” us.

So?  Treat people well.  You may not respect them but you are required to be courteous and kind. 

Where the Buck Starts

(Pro 28:28 KJV) When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

I think that this verse is often slanted.  Most people would think of the nation’s leadership when they see a reference to the “wicked” (7563).  To me this is more a look at Joe Citizen.  I will concede that the record of our leaders has not been good.  With all the deceit going on in political circles and the media I think we are seeing a good example of what is happening on the street.

Significant change starts among the people.  Look at things like the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote.  Women had been allowed to vote for years in the less sophisticated states.  Gradually states were giving them the franchise.  The amendment was the result of grassroots support.  The same is true of people in power endorsing and enforcing evil.

So?  When we say there is nothing we can do about it we are missing the point.  We are to be the source of righteousness in our neighborhood.  When enough people turn to the Lord we will see the kind of revival that we talk about but are afraid of. 

What Kind of Chips Fall from Your Block

(Pro 27:11 KJV) My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

Do you have children?  If not then they have never embarrassed you.  Children have a way of saying less than wise things at less than right times.  It happens.  It is life.  Usually it becomes something the family can joke about for years to come.  That does not naturalize the possibility that your son doesn’t stand the test of time.

The test comes when they grow up.  In today’s world that means that they will be out of step with the common culture.  People may think you have reason to be embarrassed.  People may think you are disappointed.  If your son is walking the high road then it is the reproach that will not hold water.

So?  If they are your children, raise them right.  If they are not, be the best influence you can be.  After that it is up to them. 

A Fool in the Hand

(Pro 26:9 KJV)  As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

I have never been drunk so I am not sure how to take this.  Does it mean that the drunkard is so far out of contact with reality that they don’t feel the pain?  Does it mean that they feel it but it doesn’t bother them?  Does it mean that they overreact?  I would imagine that different drunks would react differently.  In any case it would seem that wisdom is of little use to people with their minds messed up.

This would also imply that fools are dead to wisdom.  How do you know who is a fool.  That will take a bit more reading but Proverbs does not stint on the aspects of fools. 

So?  Accept the fact that many of the people you deal with would fall into this category.  Fools exist.  I hope to avoid being one. 

Public Domain

(Pro 25:9 KJV) Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

One of the repeated lessons of Proverbs is to slow down, think and not rush into anything.  That is the issue again here.  How often do we get into a discussion and have it degenerate into a heated argument and then we end up sharing something that was not meant to be shared?  It could be a struggle someone else is having.  They may have even had victory and you are just sharing the results, but it was not your place to share. 

This is not a command to refrain from heated discussions.  It is not an expectation that we just agree with everything we hear.  It is an instruction to be careful of what we share about others.

So?  Have some great discussions this year.  People need to hear truth.  Make sure the truth you share is in the public domain.