Proverbs 27:10-18

TEXT Proverbs 27:10-18

10.

Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity:

Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.

11.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

12.

A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;

But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

13.

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;

And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman.

14.

He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,

It shall be counted a curse to him.

15.

A continual dropping in a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike:

16.

He that would restrain her restraineth the wind;

And his right hand encountereth oil.

17.

Iron sharpeneth iron;

So a man sharpeneth the countenance of a friend.

18.

Whoso keepth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof;

And he that regardeth his master shall be honored.

19.

As in water face answereth to face,

So the heart of man to man.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 27:10-18

1.

How does Proverbs 27:10 depart from the usual form of a verse in Proverbs?

2.

What does Proverbs 27:10 say about our friendship-ties?

3.

In what sense should one not go into his brother's house during calamity (Proverbs 27:10)?

4.

What will people reproach a man because of his unfaithful children (Proverbs 27:11)?

5.

Illustrate Proverbs 27:12 in various ways.

6.

What is the meaning of Proverbs 27:13?

7.

What kind of person would bless his friend with a loud voice (Proverbs 27:14)?

8.

Comment upon the comparison in Proverbs 27:15.

9.

What is meant by the last statement in Proverbs 27:16?

10.

Which iron sharpeneth iron (Proverbs 27:17)?

11.

Where does Paul state the same truth as in Proverbs 27:18'S first statement?

PARAPHRASE OF 27:10-18

10.

Never abandon a friendeither yours or your father'S. Then you won-'t need to go to a distant relative for help in your time of need.

11.

My son, how happy I will be if you turn out to be sensible! It will be a public honor to me.

12.

A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences.

13.

The world's poorest credit risk is the man who agrees to pay a stranger's debts.

14.

If you shout a pleasant greeting to a friend too early in the morning, he will count it as a curse!

15, 16.

A constant dripping on a rainy day and a cranky woman are much alike! You can no more stop her complaints than you can stop the wind or hold onto anything with oilslick hands.

17.

A friendly discussion is as stimulating as the sparks that fly when iron strikes iron.

18.

A workman may eat from the orchard he tends; anyone should be rewarded who protects another's interests.

COMMENTS ON 27:10-18

Proverbs 27:10. This verse contains three lines instead of the customary two. This is a great verse on friendship, even stating that we should value the long-time friendships of our family as well as those of friends we have personally made. On the puzzling statement about not going into your brother's house in time of trouble, Pulpit Commentary observes: The mere blood-relationship, which is the result of circumstances over which one has had no control, is inferior to the affectionate connection which arises from moral considerations and is the effect of deliberate choice. We must remember, too, that the practice of polygamy, with the separate establishments of the various wives, greatly weakened the tie of brotherhood. There was little love between David's sons; and Jonathan was far dearer to David himself than any of his numerous brothers were.

Proverbs 27:11. Saying My son, and then urging him to listen to what the father was about to say was common in the first part of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:8-10; Proverbs 2:1, Proverbs 3:1-2; Proverbs 4:1-2; Proverbs 5:1-2; Proverbs 6:1-2; Proverbs 7:1-3), but in this verse is the only time it appears in this latter part of the book, Good children are one of a man's best recommendations. A wise son not only makes a glad father (Proverbs 10:1), but fathers with good children shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate (Psalms 127:5). Many leaders, even in religion, have been put to shame by the bad behavior and reputation of their sons.

Proverbs 27:12. This saying is also given in Proverbs 22:3, A prudent man is a man who has his eyes open and sees (in this verse he foresees the evil coming), and he acts in wisdom (he hides himself from the evil rather than walking right into it). But the simple man doesn-'t see the evil, doesn-'t pay any attention to it, and he suffers for it. Picture evil as a trap that is set; there is as much difference between men who can and cannot be caught in the trap of evil as there is between animals. Mink, foxes and a few other animals are difficult to get into a trapit can be sometimes done by shrewd and careful means. But no ingenuity is required for getting a possum or a skunk into a trapjust put the trap in the mouth of his den and he will step on it as thoughtlessly as he would on a stick. The truth of this verse is seen in people in regard to their physical, moral, spiritual and financial life.

Proverbs 27:13. This verse is very similar to Proverbs 20:16. If one has become surety for a stranger or for a foreign woman, the creditor should and will hold his garment in pledge just as he would the stranger's or the foreign woman'S. Exodus 22:26 shows that they took one's garment as security when loaning money.

Proverbs 27:14. Haven-'t you seen this character who talks louder than is appropriate seemingly with the idea of drawing non-related parties-' attention to what he is saying or doing? And, oh, as he talks, how he casts his eyes here and there to get other people to listen to what he is saying! Very similar to the hypocrite of Matthew 6:2 sounding a trumpet among people just before giving alms to a poor person. Jesus said not to do it (Matthew 6:1-2). and if one dies, whatever praise he might get from men will be the only reward he will get (Matthew 6:2). To rise early to bless a friend was as much a part of the put-on righteousness as the blessing with a loud voice.

Proverbs 27:15. The ill-constructed roofs of Eastern houses were very subject to leakage, being flat and formed of porous material (Pulpit Commentary). But even our own type of roof can spring a leak and drip! drip! drip! as long as there is water to drip. Such is unwelcome and wearying, and so are the contentions of a contentious woman. It is a poor way to treat a husband or anyone else. Proverbs 19:13 says, The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

Proverbs 27:16. There was an old adage that said there are three things which cannot be hidden but always betray themselves: a woman, the wind, and ointment. This verse may have reference to this since it involves those three (all three) and nothing else. One has as much chance of stopping the wind as stopping the mouth of an angry, fretful and unreasonable woman. That's why most men married to such often say nothing back but keep on reading the paper or working at whatever they are doing. Their thought: She-'ll run down in time (like the wind). What is meant by the statement about oil is not so clear, some thinking it refers to the impossibility of concealing the smell of the ointment one has put on his hand and some that it refers to her slipping through his hand if he tries to do anything to her. Clarke confesses: The Hebrew is very obscure and is variously translated. But we know whatever the figure, it would be attempting the impossible.

Proverbs 27:17. The proverb deals with the influence which men have upon one another (Pulpit Commentary). See the harder steel file sharpen the softer steel knife edge, or watch the butcher as he sharpens his cutting knife by the use of polished steel. This is not to say that men do not use stones to sharpen knives, but the fact that they also use iron upon iron shows that things of the same material can also affect one anotherjust as men can affect men from sadness to gladness. And ability to cheer up a sorrowful human heart becomes a responsibility to do so. Thus, Jesus referred to our visiting the sick and those in prison (Matthew 25:36) and Hebrews 12:12 to our lifting up the hands that hand down.

Proverbs 27:18. One who carefully tends his fig tree will in time be rewarded for his patient effort, and one who faithfully serves his master will also find that he will be honored for it. Jesus is our Master, and to each who has faithfully served Him here on earth will hear Him say, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:21).

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 27:10-18

1.

Whose friend should we regard as well as a friend of our own making (Proverbs 27:10)?

2.

Why not go to your brother's house in a time of trouble but to a friend's (Proverbs 27:10)?

3.

How many times is My son used in the last part of Proverbs? how many times in the early part (Proverbs 27:11)?

4.

What is one of the best recommendations any man can have (Proverbs 27:11)?

5.

What does the prudent man see and do in Proverbs 27:12? what about the simple?

6.

What was sometimes taken as security for a debt (Proverbs 27:13)?

7.

While it is good to bless a friend, what is wrong in Proverbs 27:14?

8.

Who is compared with a leaky roof (Proverbs 27:15)?

9.

What about the statement about oil in Proverbs 27:16?

10.

What is impossible to do according to Proverbs 27:16?

11.

What is the lesson of Proverbs 27:17?

12.

What is our obligation to sorrowing, discouraged people about us (Proverbs 27:17)?

13.

Proverbs 27:18 shows that righteous labor in time brings its .......