Proverbs chapter 18

vs 1

I have seen this recently so often that it boggles the mind. The Internet is the place to be if you want to start quarrels against all sound judgment.

vs 2

Just link this straight back to verse 1. So far, this is the 'arguing on the Internet' chapter.

vs 3

Shame works in curbing bad behaviour. Whole cultures are built upon this premise. It's not that shame puts an end to wickedness - neither does fear of punishment, neither does positive reinforcement. The question is how efficient the methods are, and whether they could all be used purposefully.

vs 4

I'm not sure what this means. It could perhaps refer to the freshness of the water, or to danger, or quantity - I don't know enough about their attitude to water to make a great judgment here. I'd go for freshness, personally.

vs 5

We tend toward impartiality - this verse doesn't mention it specifically, but definitely says partiality to wickedness is wrong.

vs 6

Oooooh, they sure do. Although I'm probably owed more beatings than I am allowed to administer by this rule.

vs 7

Repeat above, although note how important again the mouth is to a fool - keep it shut, as we learned yesterday, and you might save yourself a beating.

vs 8

It's not a positive value judgment on gossiping. It's talking about how deep gossip goes, how deep into someone it strikes. It should be obvious to the reader that gossip is wrong.

vs 9

So not doing work, or even doing it half-assedly, is akin to destroying something. A curious thought, sounds very capitalist - if you aren't pushing forward, you're going backward etc.

vs 10

Hehehe, so that's where the song comes from. Relying on God for protection is probably the main thing that makes the righteous the righteous.

vs 11

Compare that to the verse before. The righteous are saved by God, but the rich merely imagine their wealth gives them strong walls.

vs 12

Anyone can honour themselves. That's haughtiness - thinking you're awesome. But who cares if you think you're awesome? Anyone can do that. It's when other people think you're awesome - that's honour. And it only comes when you're prepared to be humble, and let other people judge you soberly.