The Effect of Things

Introduction

Inviolable laws of God.

Matthew 23:23 NASB95

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

v.18

Proverbs 11:18 NASB95

18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.

Proverbs 11:18 BHS/WHM 4.2

18 רָשָׁ֗ע עֹשֶׂ֥ה פְעֻלַּת־שָׁ֑קֶר וְזֹרֵ֥עַ צְ֝דָקָ֗ה שֶׂ֣כֶר אֱמֶֽת׃

Hosea 10:12 NASB95

12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs National and Personal Prudence (11:14–15)

Note that this pair has links to vv. 16–17. The wealth of the cruel man corresponds to deceptive wages as the honor given a kind woman is genuine. Also the health/self-inflicted pain of v. 17 corresponds to the life and death of v. 19.

“This is a brief commentary on the evil man’s labors. Since he works only for himself, not giving any heed to his responsibilities to God, his words are “deceitful.” He gains that which has no eternal value to it.” - Steveson, p.152

v.19

Proverbs 11:19 NASB95

19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.

Proverbs 11:19 BHS/WHM 4.2

19 כֵּן־צְדָקָ֥ה לְחַיִּ֑ים וּמְרַדֵּ֖ף רָעָ֣ה לְמוֹתֹֽו׃

Proverbs 11:18 BHS/WHM 4.2

18 רָשָׁ֗ע עֹשֶׂ֥ה פְעֻלַּת־שָׁ֑קֶר וְזֹרֵ֥עַ צְ֝דָקָ֗ה שֶׂ֣כֶר אֱמֶֽת׃

Proverbs 13:21 NASB95

21 Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Proverbs 18–21

The general idea of the verse is plain: righteousness insures a long and happy life, wickedness a premature or otherwise unhappy death

NOTE:

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs National and Personal Prudence (11:14–15)

This pair has the chiastic pattern “wicked man / he who sows righteousness / righteousness/he who pursues evil.” The wages of sin are deceptive in that they are fleeting and illusory, whereas the wages of righteousness are permanent.

v.20

Proverbs 11:20 NASB95

20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.

Proverbs 11:20 BHS/WHM 4.2

20 תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה עִקְּשֵׁי־לֵ֑ב וּ֝רְצוֹנֹ֗ו תְּמִ֣ימֵי דָֽרֶךְ׃

v.21

Proverbs 11:21 NASB95

21 Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 BHS/WHM 4.2

21 יָ֣ד לְ֭יָד לֹא־יִנָּ֣קֶה רָּ֑ע וְזֶ֖רַע צַדִּיקִ֣ים נִמְלָֽט׃

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs Divine Judgment (11:20–21)

11:20–21 God’s attitude toward individuals (disgust/pleasure) in v. 20 corresponds to the outcome of their lives (inescapable trouble/deliverance) in v. 21. The language in v. 21 is also somewhat forensic in that the evil are convicted (“not go unpunished”) but the righteous acquitted (“go free”). God’s judgment follows his evaluation of people. On the other hand, the NIV may well be wrong to emend the text of v. 21b, as it has. The MT reads, “But the offspring of [the] righteous are delivered.” The implication is that one’s behavior effects not just oneself but one’s children as well.