Poetry

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Introduction

The Proverbs are already poetry, but they were written in Hebrew, and the Hebrews did not use rhyme like we do in our culture. So to make them seem like real poetry, I have attempted to sum up the gist of each proverb with a typical American poem of rhyme. Sometimes they are almost like commentary, and they give a good meaning to the words of Solomon. Other times they are not so clear, and so you need to wait for the commentary to get a more accurate meaning. The first one is a good example of uncertainty of meaning.


1 To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.

To man belongs the plans of the heart
But we need to know that tis just the start,
For God takes this work man has begun
And gives the final word, the reply of his tongue.

2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.

There is nothing wrong with what I do
For everyone else is doing it too.
But God searches within to find
What true motives are guiding his mind.

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.

If you really want to succeed
All of the Proverbs are fully agreed;
Commit to the Lord all that you do
And he will see that your dreams come true.

4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.

God's in control. His will never bends
He works out everything for his own ends.
Even the wicked the law cannot master
Serves his purpose for the day of disaster.

5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

God says it often and says it loud,
He hates those whose hearts are proud.
So you can always be sure of this
Their judgment day they'll never miss.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

Sin can be atoned for by faithfulness and love,
But even better is avoiding sin like the heavenly dove.
Flee from sin in the fear of the Lord,
And walk in his will with one accord.


7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

You can your heavenly Master please
When in a righteous way you walk,
This kind of walk will also ease
Tensions with enemies with whom you talk.

8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.

True this is right to the letter
That little with righteousness is better,
Than riches by false methods gained,
Making relationships quite strained.

9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.

In his heart man plans his course
But that is not the final source,
For even before he begins his preps
God has determined his final steps.


10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth should not betray justice.

What power in the words of the king.
He can decide most everything,
But it is vital that he never say
What will true justice ever betray.

11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.

There are so many ways to cheat
That is why God demands honest scales.
Crooked dealing he wants to defeat,
So that honesty for all prevails.

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.

When citizens are doing wrong,
It always makes an angry king,
For he knows he can't be strong,
Unless they to the good life cling.

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.

The king is filled with greatest pleasure
When his people will honesty treasure,
He is always seeking his staff to equip
From honest people with truth on their lip.


14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will appease it.

What a fool is he who will anger the king,
For nothing but death will such folly bring,
But wise is the man who opportunity sees
To humor the king and his anger appease.

15 When a king's face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

If you want to be a winner in life's race
Always seek to brighten your master's face.
For when it shines you'll praises sing,
For his favor will be like the rain cloud in spring.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!

Over and over we have to be told
That wisdom is always better than gold,
And better than silver is a good education
For our own self esteem and the good of the nation.


17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.

Prevention is the name of the game,
So travel the road that avoids all blame,
For he who guards his life from shame
Will enjoy the fruit of a righteous name.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride lifts you up, you think in your mind,
But this is the reality that you will find;
This haughty spirit that makes you seem tall
Is really setting you up to take a great fall.

19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

Better to be on the bottom of the pile
And have your heavenly Father's smile,
Than to be up on high as the cloud
Sharing the plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

Listen to teaching and get ahead;
Neglect it, and you're halfway dead.
Trust in the Lord and happy be,
Now and for all eternity.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction.

The wise in heart are called discerning,
For they are deep in love with learning,
And they have come to this clear deduction,
That pleasant words promote instruction.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
but folly brings punishment to fools.

Grasping the truth is a fountain of life
And those who have it avoid much strife,
But others are content with shallow pools,
And such folly brings on judgment to fools.

23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.

A wise man's mouth need the guidance of his heart,
Or it will lead him from God's will to part.
But when its under the hearts construction
The mouth will promote godly instruction.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Sweet talkers are subject to blame
For using words in ways to shame,
But when sweet words are used aright
They aid the whole man to win the fight.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

There is a way seems right to man
As his map of life he seeks to scan,
But he fails to see all indication
That death is his final destination.

26 The laborer's appetite works for him;
his hunger drives him on.

Hard work call for healthy appetite,
Ready to eat all food in sight,
And hunger is a healthy drive
To keep him going, and alive.

27 A scoundrel plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.

The scoundrel's not a pleasant man;
Plotting evil whenever he can.
In evil speech he'll never tire
In scorching others as with fire.

28 A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.

How perverse is that man's life
Whose always stirring constant strife?
And how can any expect good ends
When their gossip separates close friends?

29 A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.

A violent man by strong emotion
Can stir his neighbor into motion
That takes him down a path not good
Forsaking to go the way he should.

30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

Body language can often reveal
When a man is a real heal.
His pursed lips and winking eye
Can say enough to make you cry.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained by a righteous life.

It is a saying often found
That graying hair is a crown,
And that it comes not from strife
But living a just and righteous life.

32 Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

If you want to be the better man,
Forget I'll be a warrior plan,
Instead, on your temper show no pity,
Controlling it, is better than taking a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.

So often men think when casting the lot,
Now all is decided, but the fact is, its not.
Men do not have the last word to say,
For God has the choice of the ultimate way.

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