Proverbs chapter 30

vs 12

It's easier to be this way than it sounds. Sometimes you can just be steeped in sin, and yet not even notice, because you've talked it away, or you've made reasons, or you look at all the good things you do, or just turn your back on it.

vs 13

I don't think this is about what you look at, but how you look, the expressions held in your eyes. These people think themselves better than others.

vs 14

So obviously not literally. We're not talking about cannibals. We're talking about those who exploit the poor and needy for their own gain - who may as well eat them.

Wait, do we not learn something about these people? Is it just a matter of us knowing they exist? As if we didn't know!

vs 15

Right, because this verse is super easy, I looked some stuff up. The two daughters is the two suckers on a leech. Yes, I know leeches don't have two mouths (do they?) but the idea is that when you look at a leech, you don't know which end is which, so it's as if it has two mouths. And they cry, "Give, give" of course, because they're always hungry. And this apparently leads into the next section about constancy of demands and such.

Of course, I didn't come up with any of that myself.

vs 16

Is true, those things always seem to consume. The barren womb is a bit harsh.

vs 17

Ouch. God is really big on the whole respecting parents thing.

vs 18

Ooh, this sounds like an interesting subject. Things that amaze Agur. Was that his name?

vs 19

This is just a fantastic verse. They really are just wonderful and amazing things, all of them. I think the point, in fact, is to make it clear that the relationship between young men and women is rather mysterious and amazing and special.

vs 20

This doesn't necessarily mean that some who thinks they're doing wrong isn't committing adultery. I mean, there are probably some who do think it's wrong, but feel trapped, or just do it anyway.

vs 21

He loves this turn of phrase.

vs 22

Why does a servant becoming king shake the earth? Is shaking the earth bad? Godless fools having plenty to eat seems bad... but again, is it? I guess so in terms of the wisdom of the rest of the book. Interesting to see how this develops.