Proverbs 22 Verses 1-16 A Matter of Life or Debt or The Duties of the Wise and Righteous September 8, 2024

Proverbs 22 Verses 1-16 A Matter of Life or Debt or The Duties of the Wise and Righteous September 8, 2024 Lesson 10 The Search for Wisdom Series Class Presentation Notes AAAAAAa

Background Scriptures:

· Matthew 6:21 (MSG) 21 It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

· Hebrews 13:5 (NASB) 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

· Luke 12:15 (NASB) 15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

Main Idea:

· Unwise debt is a symptom of the disease of greed.

Study Aim:

· To understand that only the presence of God in your life can give you real contentment.

Create Interest:

· As I have researched the target verse 7 for our ABF focus for the week, I could not ignore the rest of the group….as such, we will address them😊.

o Know the value God places upon every individual (vv.1–2).

o Know a man reaps what he sows (vv.3–11).

o Know God opposes certain types of people (vv.12–16).[1]

Lesson in Historical Context:

· This section of Proverbs is not the conclusion of the book, it is a major transition in the book. These sixteen proverbs (Proverbs 22:1-16) mark the end of the wise sayings written and contributed by Solomon. The remainder of the book consists of proverbs collected from and written by other wise individuals as well as proverbs written by Solomon that were later discovered by others and added to his.

· In a sense, then, this section draws to a close all that Solomon has written up to this point. Picture Solomon reviewing his work, trying to decide how to most effectively conclude his writings. He realizes that he has …

o A remarkable set of lessons or instructions for parents to teach their children (1:1–9:18)

o 359 wise sayings for skillful, successful living (10:1–22:16)

· Struggling with the decision, Solomon finally chooses to make his last chapter a summary of the former chapters. These proverbs are a recap of what Solomon has already said. They touch on all the major themes that are a part of living wisely. These verse could be part of series named “ The Duties of the Wise and the Righteous” (22:1–16).

Bible Study:

Know the Value God Places on every individual

Proverbs 22:1-2 (NASB) 1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. 2 The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all.

Vs. 1: Know that a person’s name is more valuable that wealth.

· Names are very important in Scripture. For example, the names of God mean far more than the titles we use to refer to Him. God uses His names to reveal Himself to us. They describe His character and attributes.

· In this particular proverb, a person’s name refers to far more than the identifying title our parents give us at birth. It speaks of our reputation with others—the character by which we are known.

· “While it is true that reputation and the affection of others are more desirable than great riches, we must not forget that they may be in themselves vanity and a snare … The only honor that is safe is that which comes from God.” (Bridges)[2]

o We should value our reputation above all else. If given a choice between a good reputation and wealth, the wise person will choose a good name.

· Notice that the comparison is not between a good name and riches or money but between a good name and great riches—abundant, exorbitant wealth.

o Many people would not compromise their character for a small amount of money, but they would if they could get enough money to sustain them for life. Can you be bought? If so for how much?

o Having a reputation for honor, integrity, and righteousness is priceless. It is of greater value than silver and gold—the richest metals on earth. Solomon is not advocating the pursuit of popularity but the importance of living with integrity. What other people think about you in this regard is important.

§ Ecclesiastes 7:1 (NASB) 1 A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. Y/N ? Discuss

Vs. 2: Know that every person—rich and poor alike—is important to God as his/her creator.

· Unlike humans, who idolize and cater to the rich, God is unmoved by the size of a person’s house, bank accounts, and portfolios (Jas. 2:1–4).

· A Rich Person

Any person having income well exceeding what is needed to attain necessities. Discuss

o God does not discriminate among people because of their wealth, success, gender, race, or social status (Ga. 3:28). He is the Creator of all and He loves everyone.

§ James 2:1-4 (NASB) 1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude ofpersonal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

§ Ephesians 6:9 (NASB) 9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

§ In Western culture, the meeting of rich and poor may be largely confined to such contexts. At our church, we may meet homeless people outside, but we don’t have much success in inviting them in.

o In Israel it would likely be different. Poor and rich had the temple in common; both went to worship there. The worship itself would remind them that God creates both (v. 2). Typically, Proverbs leaves its readers to work out the implications (though it has pointed out that oppressing or mocking the poor is an insult to their maker: see (14:31; 17:5).

o People who are doing OK in life might take that fact as an affirmation from God and take the predicament of the poor as indicating God’s judgment on their lives. Sometimes the inference is correct, but it easily becomes an unjustified knee-jerk reaction that has forgotten who is the poor person’s creator.[3]

Before moving on I submit this comment to prepare you for the next verses:

Know a man reaps what he sows: Vs. 3-11

§ God has established the natural law of sowing and reaping to help govern the affairs of the human race. Wise people usually consider the consequences of their behavior before acting. The present passage encourages us to remember the law of sowing and reaping—to imprint it on our hearts and in our minds and never forget it. Keep this in mind as you read Vs. 3-11.

o Galatians 6:7-8 (NASB) 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

o Proverbs 22:3 (NASB) 3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

Vs. 3: Be wise, stay alert, and avoid danger: The simple are blind and suffer the consequences.

§ The contrast here is between the wise person and the simpleperson.

o Simple peoplebehave foolishly failed to turn to God because they have not learned wisdom (1:2–5). They differ from the scorner or mocker in that they do not make a deliberate choice to ridicule and scoff at God’s law. And they differ from the fool in that they do not stubbornly and completely reject God; they do not live completely and carelessly in sin. There is hope for the simple if they will fear the Lord and choose the path of life.

§ Simple people who are not instructed in God’s wisdom are ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Co. 2:11). They are blind to his traps and fall innocently into them, where they suffer the painful consequences of sin. This is illustrated by the simple young man who ignorantly walked into the harlot’s snare (7:7–23).

o Prudent people—people who are wise and discerning—recognize the dangers of sin and go out of their way to avoid these dangers. They are constantly looking ahead so they can avoid the enticements and temptations so prevalent in the world. A person’s having the ability to recognize potential temptation and protect him or herself from its danger is receiving a great benefit of wisdom.

Proverbs 22:4 (NASB) 4 The reward of humility andthe fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

.

VS. 4: Be humble and fear the Lord: This will result in wealth, honor, and life).

§ Humility and trust—the fear of the Lord—are the foundations of wisdom. Scorners are proud and fools who completely reject God rather than fear Him (21:24). They despise His wisdom (1:7). People who become wise humble themselves and submit to God. They realize that only God can give the human soul a sense of permanent purpose, meaning, fulfillment, and satisfaction. Only He can give eternal life. Therefore, the wise revere God and desire a relationship with Him.

o Riches, honor, and lifeare the rewards of knowing God and following His wisdom. Throughout his proverbs, Solomon has emphasized these three great assets and the fact that they are only found along the way of wisdom, the path of righteousness.

§ “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Pr. 1:7).

§ “Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor” (Pr. 3:16).[4]

📷 A Rich Person is any person having income well exceeding what is needed to attain necessities. Discuss.

Proverbs 22:5 (NASB) 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them.

Vs. 5: Guard your soul and stay away from the path of the wicked: You will escape the thorns (hazards) and traps (enslavements).

§ Notably, although v. 3 describes such people as “simple” (perhaps even “stupid”), in v. 5 they are described in moral terms as “wicked.”

§ Also “thorns” and “snares” may not be just economic or personal danger but moral danger as well.

o To be humble in the sight of God is to be aware of one’s limitation and contingency; thus, the humble are more secure, more aware of dangers, and more financially stable than the proud.[5]

Proverbs 22:6 (NASB) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:15 (NASB) 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

Vs. 6: Train a child to walk the path of wise, godly living: When he is old, he will not turn away from it.

Vs. 15: The foolish child: Discipline will drive foolishness from him and replace it with wisdom

· Train a child in a manner befitting a child.” In other words, one should train a child using vocabulary, concepts, and illustrations a child can understand. It does not mean that instruction should be tailor-made for each individual child (however valid that concept may be) but that one should begin instructing a child in elementary principles of right and wrong as soon as possible.

· Another contention is whether “and when he is old” implies he will come back to the right way in later years after a period of straying or whether it simply means that he will faithfully persevere in the right way. Discuss.

o “Old” here does not mean after he is “elderly,” however; the point, after v. 6a, is that he will build on the fundamental principles as he grows up and persevere in the right way. The whole could be translated, “Train a child in a manner befitting a child, and even as he grows old, he will not turn from it.”

Thought to Soak on relating to Vs. 6:

· In this proverb, the word translated “youth” is used in the Old Testament to apply to children from pre-birth through the first 20 years of life.

· Furthermore, the “way he should go” relates to the way God has created every normal human being. Even Jesus Christ in His human nature progressed through these natural phases. Luke has recorded that as a young boy “Jesus increased in wisdom [mentally] and stature [physically], and in favor with God [spiritually] and with people [socially]” (Lk 2:52).

· Understanding these God-created phases is very important in teaching children, particularly as parents. When we ignore this growth process, we can create frustration, anxiety, discouragement, insecurity, and even anger, which can lead to rebellion. When this kind of resentment becomes persistent, children often make decisions to reject and “depart from” the will of God.[6]

· Verse 15 is fairly clear. In conjunction with v. 6, it implies that if one gets the folly out of a child in the beginning, the child will continue in the right way. This does mean to use every opportunity as a loving teaching moment with consistency supplied by the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 22:7-9 (NASB) 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave. 8 He who sows iniquity will reap trouble, And the rod of his fury will perish. 9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.

Proverbs 22:16 (NASB) 16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come topoverty.

Vs. 7: Understand the consequences of poverty and borrowing: It subjects a person to others.

VS. 8: Remember God’s judgment: The wicked will reap trouble, and his power (rod) will be destroyed.

VS. 9: Be generous and share with the poor: You will reap a blessing.

Vs. 16: The oppressor and the briber: Both will be punished and suffer poverty (both material and spiritual poverty).

· The language of 22:16 possibly means that it is gain for someone to give generously to the poor, whereas attempts at bribery lead only to impoverishment.[7]

· The one explicit implication of God’s being the creator of both rich and poor comes in (v. 16). It doesn’t talk about God’s judgment but does make a declaration that works within Proverbs’ other framework for thinking about life, that life itself works out our actions’ consequences in our lives.

o Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

o 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NKJV) 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,

· There’s a kind of moral structuring to the way life works, which operates often enough for it to be worthwhile and wise to take it into account. You don’t have to appeal to God in order to commend it as a piece of wisdom to people who don’t take God into account in their thinking.

o Paradoxically, the poorer people are, the more there may be an inclination to oppress them. The Hebrew word for “oppress” often means “extort,” and that is the form oppression often takes; they are poor already, but they may pay a larger amount of their income in taxes.

Thoughts to consider relating to Verse 7:

📷

Proverbs 22:7 (NASB) 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.

· Hard work results in wealth, whereas “He becomes poor who deals with a slack hand” (Prov. 10:4). A poor man is avoided, “even of his own” (Prov. 14:20). “The brothers of the poor do hate him” (Prov. 19:7). Those who lack financial means are reduced to begging (Prov. 18:23).

· In the ancient world, societies existed through relationships which were enhanced by borrowing, lending, and bartering. These relationships required those with wealth to share or lend to those in need.

· Those who borrowed entered into a relationshipthat caused a dependence on the giver. Those in power could easily exploit the borrower—creating a system of manipulation, lending with unfair interest, and punishment for inability to pay.

· Those borrowing were vulnerable and needed to ask from those in power. The words used suggest that one “asks” and/or “receives” from another. This indicates that a relationship begins when one is indebted to the lender.

· See what Scripture says about lenders in Biblical times😊:

o Ex 22:25–27

§ “If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest. “If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, for that is his only covering; it is…

o Dt 23:19–20

§ “You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. “You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake.

· Although the poor grow crops, even the produce of their fields is taken by the rich (Prov. 13:23). We should not be surprised at the oppression of the poor (Ecc. 5:8). Unlike the wealthy and influential, a poor man “walks in his integrity” (Prov. 19:1). He conducts himself circumspectly (Prov. 28:6). It is better to be a poor man than a foolish king who lacks nothing (Ecc. 4:14). God is partial to the poor. He will punish those who mock them (Prov. 17:5). Ironically, some wealthy feign poverty: “Another has great wealth but goes in rags” (Prov. 13:7, NEB). Discussion prompter in example follows:

o Example from today: Corn/soybean growers in the “ Rust Belt of the U.S. likely borrow one million dollars or more subject to present high interest rates to prepare, plant, and harvest their crops per farm…This year, 2024, the crop promises to be a bumper crop but the excess production could keep the price down and thus make repayment difficult….and that is the problem of a “good weather year”(: Their hope is to be able to farm again next year. Discuss.

· The rich were prohibited from oppressing the poor. For example, David was the rich man (HED # 6474) in the prophet Nathan’s story who stole the only lamb owned by his poor neighbor (2 Sam. 12:1f, 4). This parable illustrated the manner in which David stole the wife of Uriah and then had him killed. Proverbs says the rich have many superficial friends (Prov. 14:20), rely on their wealth for strength (18:11), rule over the poor (22:7) and deceptively consider themselves wise (28:11).[8]

· That possibility is open because the wealthy people are also the people who determine the tax system. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrowers serve the lenders (v. 7).

o Conversely, the richer people are, the more they may be inclined to augment their wealth by the way the law works and by bribery, again because they have power as well as wealth.

o The borrower is servant to the lender, is obliged to him, and must sometimes beg, Have patience with me. Therefore, it is part of Israel’s promised happiness that they should lend and borrow, Deu. 28:12.

§ Deuteronomy 28:12 (NASB) 12 "The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

o And it should be our endeavor to keep as much as may be out of debt. Some sell their liberty to gratify their luxury.[9]

To be thorough without writing a dissertation, let’s consider the term “slave” and tie that to a “borrower”.

A slave:

· It is generally translated as “servant” or “slave,” but the sense of bondage against a person’s will is not always present in the use of this word. The noun is widely attested throughout Semitic. This article will deal with the uses of this term in regard to enslavement, signs of wealth, employment, polite address, servants of kings and servants of the Lord.[10]

A borrower:

· Neither the OT or NT prohibit borrowing or lending. For example, Ps. 37:26 says that the righteous “are always generous and lend freely” (NIV). One final comment on the OT idea of lending, God rewards compassionate acts of lending. The proverb reads, “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done” (Prov. 19:17; cf. Matt. 25:31ff). Also, “A good man shows favor, and lends” (Ps. 112:5).

o Romans 13:8states, “owe no man anything,” and Ps. 37:21 says, “The wicked borrow but do not repay.”

o Sin enters into the process when a loan is not repaid.

o To further illustrate how the Lord views lending, Lev. 25:8–55 prescribes the “year of Jubilee.” Every fiftieth year was a special year in which Israel was to “proclaim liberty throughout the land” (v.10).

§ Individuals who incurred debt and had sold themselves as slaves were forgiven their debt and granted their freedom. Any land which had changed hands was to be returned to the tribe to whom it was originally assigned. Land could not be sold, since it belonged to the Lord (v. 23).

Proverbs 22:8 (MSG) 8 Whoever sows sin reaps weeds, and bullying anger sputters into nothing.

o Vs. 8: A person who sows seeds of wickedness(‘awlâh, “injustice”) will reap a harvest of trouble (’āwen, “trouble or sorrow,” rendered “harm” in 12:21). Trouble is the inevitable result of sin (cf. Hosea 10:13; Gal. 6:7). Fury renders a word that means “overflowing rage.” What the wicked achieve through their fury or wrath willnot last; their manipulative techniques will be exhausted.

o And the rod of his fury will perish. rod,” “stick” or “staff” in various contexts including a rod or staff of authority that a master wielded over his slaves (Exo. 21:20) or a rod used by anyone in general (Isa. 10:15), including a workman (28:27)[11]

§ This thought is encouraging to the oppressed. The trouble the wicked bring on others will come on themselves.[12]).

Proverbs 22:9 (NASB) 9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.

o Vs. 9: On the other hand, blessings will come to people who share their resources (presumably honestly obtained) with the needy. They thus show that they are “good in eye” or have good eyes—that is, eyes that look with goodness on such people.

Proverbs 22:10-11 (NASB) 10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease. 11 He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

Vs. 10: Expel or throw out the mocker: You will end the strife, argument, or insult.

Vs. 11: Speak graciously with a pure heart: You will gain the respect and friendship of leaders (the king).

· Vs. 10: Disagreement and bad blood sometimes arise not from the facts of a situation but from a person with a wrong attitude, who makes mischief. “What an institution sometimes needs is not reforms, but the expulsion of a member.” The New Testament prescribes this remedy for the church, a prescription that needs to be heeded by us all.; see Matthew 18:17.

· Vs. 11: The connection between the first and second phrases is left to the reader to supply. It is the equal partnership of integrity and charm, the one not diminishing the other, that is the rarity.[13]

o People whose intentions are right and honorable and whose words are pleasant, and edifying will spend time in the presence of the king. They will be respected and valued by their leaders.

§ Take note of the extremes in the two proverbs:

Know God opposes certain types of people. (Vs. 12-16)

Proverbs 22:12-13 (NASB) 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man. 13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!"

Vs. 12: The deceiver: God frustrates his words and upholds the truth (preserves knowledge)[14]

Vs. 13: The lazy: He makes absurd excuses to avoid work

· Vs. 12: It is a wonderful instance of the power and goodness of the eyes of the Lord, that is, his watchful providence. He preserves men of knowledge, wise and good men (2 Chr. 16:9), particularly faithful witnesses, who speak what they know; God protects such, and prospers their counsels.

o He does by his grace preserves knowledge in such, secures his own work and interest in them.

§ Proverbs 2:7-9 (NKJV) 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

o He overthrows the words of the transgressor and preserves knowledge in spite of him. He defeats all the counsels and designs of false and treacherous men, and turns them to their own confusion.[15]

· Vs. 13: Here we have the lazy man again. This verse has its humor in it, too. Believe me, the lazy man is full of excuses. It’s too cold outside so he cannot go out to plow. Here is his new excuse: “There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.” I think he was lying’ about the lion![16]

Proverbs 22:14 (NASB) 14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the LORDwill fall into it.

Vs. 14: The immoral: Her (his) mouth—seductive speech—is a deep pit into which people fall and suffer God’s wrath

· Finally, the prostitute uses her mouth to seduce the young man and drag him down to the grave.[17]

· The forbidden woman lures men with her words. To be cursed by God is to experience His indignation (Ezek 22:31). The wicked will realize they are cursed when they fall (Ps 81:11–12; Rm 1:24–28).[18]

Note in closing:

Do you find it interesting as think about what you just learned from Solomon’s training of his son up to this point, summarized in verses 1-16? These proverbs intertwine with each other and offer guidance to us today if we will carry them across the time bridge to our day. Note Vs. 15 is associated with Vs. 6 and Vs. 16 with Vs. 7. Grace and peace as you go your way this day😊

[1]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Proverbs, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2012), 336. [2]David Guzik, Proverbs, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2017), Pr 22:1. [3]John Goldingay, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs for Everyone, Old Testament for Everyone (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2014), 102. [4]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Proverbs, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2012), 338–339. [5]Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, vol. 14, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 186–187. [6]Gene A. Getz, Life Essentials Study Bible: Biblical Principles to Live By (B&H, 2011), Pr 22:6. [7]David Atkinson, The Message of Proverbs: Wisdom for Life, ed. J. A. Motyer, John Stott, and Derek Tidball, The Bible Speaks Today (England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996), 114. [8]Thoralf Gilbrant, “עָשִׁיר,” The Old Testament Hebrew-English Dictionary, The Complete Biblical Library (WORDsearch, 1998). [9]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume(Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1004. [10]Thoralf Gilbrant, “ עֶבֶד(1),” The Old Testament Hebrew-English Dictionary, The Complete Biblical Library (WORDsearch, 1998). [11]Thoralf Gilbrant, “שֵׁבֶט,” The Old Testament Hebrew-English Dictionary, The Complete Biblical Library (WORDsearch, 1998). [12]Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 953. [13]Derek Kidner, Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 17, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1964), 139. [14]Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Proverbs, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2012), 341. [15]Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume(Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1004. [16]J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: Poetry (Proverbs), electronic ed., vol. 20 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 191. [17]Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Shepherd’s Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 1998), 65. [18]Jeremy Royal Howard, ed., HCSB Study Bible: God’s Word for Life (B&H, 2010), Pr 22:14.