Chapter 21
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. ...
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. ...
09/21: 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. [Pro 21:6 ESV]. Footnote says that last part, in most Hebrew manuscripts, reads "vapor for those who seek death". I think the verse applies all the way down to not speaking up when the cashier gives you too much change. And I think it is suicide. And I think Jordan Peterson is onto it when he says "Tell the truth, or at least don't lie" and goes into the how being untruthful spirals you into becoming a person that you have no respect for. Solomon was way ahead of Jordan Peterson, but Peterson gets it too.
2021 - Here it is again, same thought as in Chapter 19 mentioned above:
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. [Pro 21:11 ESV]
24 "Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.
Scoffers are spoken against many times in Proverbs. Here is the definition of a scoffer. In today's culture it might be a doubter, a cynic. But that isn't what the Bible means. These are people who "professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." People who need look no further than their own brilliance for the answers to life's questions, and who look down on those of inferior intellect (which means all but themselves!).
[Pro 21:2, 5, 24 ESV]
Second time:
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. [Pro 21:22 ESV]
This gets my attention. Is this promoting a strategy for war? For taking a city? Is it about Kings? Or is it more general, as a tactic for the weak to gain advantage over their oppressors? Is occupying the police station bringing down the stronghold? Well...it might be for the wise, but not for the foolish. MSB says it means that wisdom is better than strength. So better to outsmart than to assault? The attack - whether physical or not - is still against the stronghold of the enemy. What would that be in our government? What is Pelosi's stronghold? What is Trump's? Are their strongholds attacked? There is so much here that could be considered. So many events/movements/assaults that could be analyzed in light of this proverb.