Chapter 27
2021 - Occurs to me that all these seemingly unrelated, one-off, verses are the ones that were found and copied from Solomon in Hezekiah's day. They began in chapter 25, and MSB says there are 137 of them. Up until 25, there seemed to always be some kind of organization to the verses. They seemed to either be topical, or at least their construction was variable enough to keep it interesting to read them. But not these that Hezekiah's men found. They seem to have just slapped them all in here with no regard at all for the readers sensibilities. Looks like that is going to continue at least through 29.
Continues as 26. Single verses mostly. First stanza goes 22 verses.
1st Stanza, All these verses stand alone. No common subjects in successive verses that I can see.
This verse:
3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both. [Pro 27:3 ESV] There are several verses like this that I want to "collect". I think this says that one of the most challenging situations that a "non-fool" can ever face is dealing with a fool who is in full "foolishness". This is a very nearly "unquenchable" kind of fire, and should be undertaken with extreme care...even though it probably won't help.
I like this verse:
7 One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet. [Pro 27:7 ESV]
How many people are walking around in this world willing to digest bitterness because they are starving for something, anything. How many have no good reason to get up in the morning except they're hungry. I pray they find peace in God, who is overflowing with the very food that they seek, but they are blind to the offer.
2021 - This one:
[Pro 27:13 ESV] Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.
The word translated adulteress in this verse is transliterated "nah-cree". Looking at the Interlinear outline of Biblical usage, this is almost always about foreigners. Not once does the KJV ever translate this word as harlot or adulteress. NASB also uses adulteress. One of them goes so far as to use seductress. Here is the one that seems closest to me: [Pro 27:13 NIV] Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider. BUT, it is very obvious that this is both translation and interpretation. And the fact that it is the one that I think comes closest to what is meant by the words used means I am interpreting also. Even so, we are talking about loan collateral, and why sex in any form has to enter into that I do not understand. The verses before and after don't infer it either. All these are pretty "one off" verses.
15 and 16 seem to be the same proverb. Quarrelsome wives and restraining the wind. Then it goes back to single standalones.
This verse:
22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him. [Pro 27:22 ESV]
Doesn't this say that a true fool is incurable?
2nd stanza, 23-27 all seem to be about diligence in your work. Diligence pays off in security and sufficiency.
(5/27/20. Prov 27:23-27 finally make sense. The warning is that you can't eat gold or drink silver. Being rich is one thing, but being able to feed and clothe yourself and your family if those riches disappear is more important. That first verse - know well the condition of your flocks - is about being prepared for hard times, rather than settling comfortably into the cushions of wealth. Simple things will keep you alive, and take care of your family. Make sure you keep that "core" of self-sufficiency intact. I think that's what this section is about. Good FB post here.)