Proverbs 11: 19 Life or Death…

Today’s verse summarizes and reiterates the theme of this Book of Proverbs and simply restates it.



Proverbs 11: 19 (NKJV)



19 As righteousness leads to life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.




We’ve seen that “righteousness” means someone who is living morally, virtuously, and without guilt or sin, and today’s verse says that this type of living leads to life. I believe that, in the context given, this is talking about eternal life.



The second half of the verse shows the negative of the picture given in the first part. IT restates the theme that “pursuing evil” will lead to the pursuer’s eternal death.

Proverbs 11: 18 Deceit vs. Rightousness

Proverbs 11: 18 (NKJV)

18 The wicked man does deceptive work,

But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

As we have seen before, a “wicked” man is characterized by traits such as evilness and maliciousness. They are highly offensive and obnoxious, while a “righteous” man’s traits are morality, being virtuous, and being without guilt, or sinless.

The online dictionary defines “deceptive” as: causing one to believe what is NOT true or, to fail to believe what IS true. To purposely deceive someone.

The definition that is given for the word, “sow” is: 1. To scatter over the ground for growing. 2. To spread with seed. 3. To strew something around or over an area 4. To propagate or disseminate (as information)

The word “sure” is defined as: 1. Impossible to doubt or dispute; certain. 2. Confident, as of something awaited or expected 3. Bound to come about or happen; inevitable

Putting these definitions together lets us understand that today’s verse means that malicious, obnoxious people go around purposely deceiving others. We have seen, in past verses, what happens to “wicked” men like this, while people who spread, or disseminate, information that leads to morality, virtue, and a way to be saved from sin can be certain that they WILL receive a reward.

Proverbs 11: 9 Hypocrisy

Today’s verse covers the problems that neighbors can have when one or more of them have a problem with hypocrisy.

Proverbs 11: 9 (NKJV)

9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,

But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

The Thesaurus on the Free Online Dictionary gives these definitions of a hypocrite – 1. A person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives 2. A person who is inwardly evil but outwardly professes to be virtuous 3. Someone who leads you to believe something that is not true.

These types of people live on lying and gossip, and the words that come from their mouths, can cause great harm and even destruction to those around them. In contrast, those that are lead by the Spirit of God through knowledge of His Word and His Ways can find ways to extricate themselves from the webs of lies the hypocrite has woven for them. Their character and the ways that they have lived will show others which one is telling the truth and which is lying.

Proverbs 11:2 Pride vs Humility

Today’s verse is about being prideful and, in contrast, about being humble.

Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV)

2 When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.


The Book of Proverbs has a lot to say about “pride,” or a “haughty spirit.” Proverbs 6:17 lists this as another of the Seven Deadly Sins. Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) states: “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate. Proverbs 13:10a says, “By pride comes nothing but strife...”

The Online Dictionary defines the type of “pride” spoken of here as: 1. Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness 2. An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceited.

Proverbs 16:18, a VERY well known verse, warns us that, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Today’s verse tells us tells us approximately the same thing! “When pride comes, then comes shame…” If we put ourselves up on a pedestal, sooner or later, God will have to knock us off, for He is to be our God and we are to have NO OTHER god’s above HIM!

Pride was Satan's sin. Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV) tells us about this:

The Fall of Lucifer

12 “ How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,[literally, Day Star] son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘ I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

This certainly makes it clear that it is best to not allow this type of “pride” into our lives, but to recognize that our God is sovereign and HE is the one that has brought us everything that we might allow ourselves to be prideful over!

The word “humble” is defined as: 1. Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful. 2. Showing deferential or submissive respect. When we KNOW and acknowledge, that everything good that we have has come from God and His work in our lives, then we are wise, and can easily be humble, showing “deferential or submissive respect” toward God and others.

Proverbs 10:28 & 29 Blessings follow the Righteous

Today’s verses bring us more contrasts between the blessings of those that follow God’s ways and the problems for those that don’t.

Proverbs 10:28 & 29 (NKJV)
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

The first part of both our verses speaks of the blessings of those that are made righteous by following the “way of the Lord.” These people have “the hope of gladness,” and they are also given strength. “Hope” is basically defined as: A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.

Life in this world is often hard, but when we know the Lord, and the love of our God for us, then we have a deep down hope in our heart that everything will turn out fine. This “hope” brings gladness into our lives and helps us to continue onward to the “prize” that God has for us. Those of us with loved ones that have gone on ahead, have gladness in our hearts for we have the “hope” of seeing them again, whereas others that don’t follow God, have lost all hope of ever seeing their loved ones again.

God promises to give us strength to continue our journey through this world when we are righteous from following His ways. That “hope” that brings gladness, often is exactly what gives us the strength to keep on going in the times of trials and tribulations that everyone goes through while living in this world.

By contrast, those that are wicked and are workers of iniquity, have no hope or “expectations” of good things to bring gladness into their hearts. Instead, their ultimate end is destruction.

Proverbs 10:23 A Fool vs. The Wise

Proverbs 10:23 (NKJV)

23 To do evil is like sport to a fool,

But a man of understanding has wisdom.

When God talks about “fools,” He is speaking about those that “…say in their heart, there is NO God.” Psalm 14:1 (NIV) “The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” These people love to do “evil” just as so many love to play sports. It is an adventure to them… a source of getting an adrenaline (hormonal) high, just as exercise raises endorphins in those that play hard in their sports. From the evil companions that they keep company with, they will receive glory and honor, but their ways will still end up bringing them death.

As we saw numerous times throughout the first several chapters of Proverbs, those that study God’s ways and His word will gain understanding of God, and since He is the creator of everything, The more we understand about Him and His world, the more likely we are to make wise choices.

Proverbs 10:19 & 20 Watch Your Mouth! Continued…

Today’s verses, like our last study, also speak of the importance of the words that come out of our mouths.


Proverbs 10:19 & 20 (NKJV)

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.


I love the way that the New Living Translation, which is a paraphrase Bible, renders this verse! “ Don’t talk to much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!” I think that says it pretty well. It is when we get carried away while speaking, that we (or maybe I should say, “I”) have a tendency to add things that “exaggerate” a bit. If you look at it, “exaggeration” is, in essence, lying. Often, if I keep it simple and “just the facts…” then things will come out the way they need to for me to stay on track with what the Lord would want.


As we have seen in past verses that we have studied, God wants the words that we speak to be a source of “riches” to others. This verse says, like “choice silver.”


As we saw in our last study, the words we speak spring from our “hearts,” and Biblically speaking, that means from our inner-most beings… our true selves. Those words from Jesus are just so important that I am going to repeat them here again, for they are something that needs to take root in our “hearts” so that we will be deterred from getting carried away in our speaking.


Matthew 12:34b-37 (NKJV)

34b For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 10: 16 Use Money Wisely

Today’s verse is about the way we use our money.

Proverbs 10:16 (NKJV)

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life,
The wages of the wicked to sin.

We have seen in past studies that being “righteous” means to be morally upright, or without guilt or sin, and that by living a “righteous” life, we are blessed by God in many ways. The first part of today’s verse speaks of another way that God will bless us. It says that the ‘labor” or work, of the righteous will lead to life. God gives us each different types of work to do, and we are admonished to do EVERYTHING we do for the glory of God.

Some people work as mechanics, some in health professions, others as pastors, others have gifts of service… whatever God calls us to do, when we are seeking HIS righteousness first in our lives, will be blessed and lead us closer to Him. Eventually, THAT will lead us to an abundant life here. A life that is satisfying and blessed, not always with lots of money, but in peace and joy in our hearts and minds. We will also be given eternal life after we leave this one.

The second part of the verse, contrasts (as usual in the Hebrew form of poetry) with the first in that it is speaking of those that aren’t righteous, but lead sinful lives. It tells us that their “wages”: 1. Payment for labor or services to a worker… or 2. a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing, are spent on things that lead to sin in their lives, and “the wages of sin is death…”

Those that are “wicked” (1. Evil by nature and in practice. 2. Playfully malicious or mischievous 3. Severe and distressing:.4. Highly offensive; obnoxious ) spend their pay on things that lead them deeper into sin, and eventually, this will lead to their demise unless they allow God to change their ways.

Proverbs 10:12 Love Covers...

Today’s verse is a very important one… one that we should all memorize. The second half of this verse is God's ultimate Will for us to know and live... just as Jesus lived it out, even to dying to cover ALL of OUR sins.

Proverbs 10:12 (NKJV)

12 Hatred stirs up strife,

But love covers all sins.

The online dictionary defines “hatred” as: the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action. It defines “strife” as: 1. Heated, often violent dissension; bitter conflict 2. A struggle, fight, or quarrel. 3. Contention or competition between rivals.

When people allow hatred to settle into their hearts, whether caused by a wrong done to them or a loved one, some kind of pain caused them or one they love, or any other reason, (covetousness, jealousy, etc.) sooner or later, those feelings will “bubble up” inside of them.

These strong feelings, will eventually cause conflict of some sort. Sometimes, this is deep within one’s own body, as stress compounds like cortisol pour into the system. These compounds will erode the natural, God-given immune system that was created to help us fight off diseases.

The following is taken from a website about Stress Management:

Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:

*Impaired cognitive performance
*Suppressed thyroid function
*Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia

*Decreased bone density
*Decrease in muscle tissue

*Higher blood pressure
*Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses

in the body, slowed wound healing,

and other health consequences

*Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of , higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems!

Another thing that a continued, “simmering hatred” often does is to manifest outward problems, most typically anger issues, in a person’s life. They have anger that they just can’t seem to control, and that can come out in self-destructive behavior, as well as in violent displays and acts toward others.

Hatred is a sin! Jesus makes that clear in his teachings in Matt. 5:21 & 22:

Murder Begins in the Heart

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

The second part of this verse is the “cure” for these problems. It states: “love covers all sins.” When we are “born again” by asking Jesus to forgive our sins (that would lead us to eternal death), and to come and live within us with His Holy Spirit (leading us into God’s kingdom and eternal life), than that “renewed spirit” is one that God helps to grow into a forgiving, loving spirit as we grow and become more like Him.

This most often DOESN’T happen overnight… it often takes some time. Praying for the person or problem will allow God to work in our lives, give us self-control, and show us things that can change the “hatred” in our own hurting hearts. Once we reach a place of forgiveness, then the seed of love can grow. Here is what Jesus has to say on this subject in Luke 6: 27-36 :

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Proverbs 10: 9 Walk With Integrity...

Today, we will look at verse 9 of Chapter 10.

Proverbs 10: 9 (NKJV)

9 He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.


The Online Dictionary defines “integrity” as: steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code, or honesty. It defines the word “securely” as: 1. Free from danger or attack: 2. Free from risk of loss; safe: 3. Free from fear, anxiety, or doubt. 4. Not likely to fail or give way; stable:.5. Reliable; dependable: 6. Assured; certain:


So the first part of verse 9 tells us that those who walk according to a strict moral code and with honesty, will walk in safety. They can be free from fear because they are not going to fail in God’s eyes. They can be assured that the “Maker” of that code, God, is reliable and can be depended upon to keep them on a path that will lead them to safety… in Heaven sooner or later.

The Online Dictionary defines the word "perverts" as: 1. To cause to turn away from what is right, proper, or good; to corrupt. 2. To bring to a bad or worse condition; debase. 3. To put to a wrong or improper use; to misuse. 4. To interpret incorrectly; misconstrue or distort: So, the second part of the verse warns that those who do these evil, “perverted” things, will eventually be found out and punished… if not in this life, then when they ultimately face God, for He says “vengeance is Mine…”