Proverbs chapter 27

vs 10

The first part at least makes sense - friends should be treated as friends, even friends of the family who aren't personally your friends. You should seek to look after them and make them welcome.

It's the second part that is more complex. To me, it reads like we should accept help from friends, as well as give it. We might prefer to get help from our relatives, since we know they'll help us, and they sort of have to. But neighbours and friends can also help, and should be willing (given the first half of the verse) and so we should accept their help. Done properly, even asking for help builds closer relationships - like us housesitting Cheryl's place.

vs 11

Interesting theory. Someone talks crap at you, and you can say, "Yeah, well my son is wise! Suck on that!" Not sure if it grabs me, but hey. The idea that a wise child brings joy is oft repeated.

vs 12

The penalty usually being they end up being affected by whatever the dangerous thing was. Like being chewed on by a bear.

vs 13

But wait... isn't there an earlier proverb that says don't give your garment as a pledge? Well, in Proverbs 6 it basically says don't pledge for a stranger. But the idea of taking someone else's garment if they are dumb enough to make such a pledge seems to be repeated in Proverbs. So it's fine to be a lender to fools, just not a borrowing fool.

vs 14

HA! Especially if they have a hangover, or they're still in bed. The idea being that even when you're trying to do something nice, make sure it's appropriate.

vs 15

In other words, annoying and constantly so.

vs 16

I shouldn't laugh, but I will. Ha! Slippery women. The point being that once they start, you pretty much can't stop them either, unlike a leak. So watch out before you go and marry them! Sounds like good advice, doesn't it? But what if you're arranged to them, eh? You may have never met her before, especially in a society that keeps men and women separate for a lot of the time. So perhaps the lesson here is not about how to pick a wife, but instead that you should do whatever you can to ensure that your wife doesn't quarrel. Interesting if true.

vs 17

I know how we often use this verse, but what does it actually mean? That people are social animals, and we need others to be at our best? I suppose so. The importance of interdependence is actually something our culture is only beginning to relearn, after decades, perhaps even a couple of centuries, of independence ruining our societies.

vs 18

I don't know that we have to protect each other in quite the same way as is meant here, but if you think about what you might do to protect someone from things that others might seek to do - trick them, decieve them, rip them off - this is a valuable service, especially in a situation where it is common practice and not always easy to spot.