Proverbs

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Proverbs 22 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Proverbs 22 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

A good name is better than riches.

2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Those who are humble and fear God will live long and prosper. Should we fear God?

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
(But what if she doesn't want to do it your way? Should she be forced?)
I assume the question of the author of the SAB has to be read as: “What if the child does not want to be a Christian.” Children hardly ever question the values of their parents, and then only when the deeds of their parents are in obvious conflict with their words. There are things which parents can and should correct: behavior and respect for example. But there are things parents cannot do. Parents cannot give their children a new heart. But parents can certainly pray to an almighty God to give their children a new heart. So to answer the question: no, she should not be forced, but her parents should pray the more to the God of heaven and earth.
But we can also ask it the other way around: “What if you are an atheist and child wants to be a Christian. How do atheists actually behave in that case?”

7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

"He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor."
On giving, see John 15:12.

10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

"Strange women" have "deep pits" for mouths into which fall those whom God hates.
Strange women are women with loose morals and harlots.

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Beating your children will make them less foolish. Have you beaten your child today? What the Bible says about parenting and torture
The Bible's guide to torture

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

Don't rob the poor or oppress the afflicted. Is it okay to own slaves?
On slavery, see the verses the author of the SAB mentions. See for example Luke 12:46.

23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.