15. With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16. If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
17. Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
18. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
19. Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
20. Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart
is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
and like vinegar on soda.
21. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22. for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.
23. The north wind brings forth rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24. It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25. Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.
26. Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27. It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.
28. A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Comment: As he was writing these words I think that Solomon was wearing his poet’s garb. Look at his turns of phrase ….
- A soft tongue can break a bone! (Get a king angry at you and it can even remove a head!) He only has to speak a word.
- Too much of a good thing leads to biliousness.
- False witnessing is like clubbing or spearing someone to death.
- Singing songs in the ear of the heavy-hearted is like helping him to remove his/her outer clothing when they are cold. It really depresses him more.
- Even as a North wind brings rain; backbiting precipitates anger.
- Flee to the edge of the roof for peace rather than live in a quarrelling relationship.
- Righteousness is like pure clear water; sin adds mud and filth to the spring or fountain of life!
- You open yourself to ruin if you lose your self control.
Prayer: Much of this sounds like common sense, Lord. Teach me to use mine and add lessons as You teach them.
As I read it! 