THE VALUE OF MORALITY AND THE INCOMPATIBILITY 
BETWEEN WISDOM AND FOLLY

I. PROVERBS THAT ARE PRINCIPLES.
   A. The inner person:
        v. 10:  Only you (and God) know yourself this well.
        v. 12:  One of the roots of denominationalism (John 8:32).
        v. 13:  Emotions are often mixed, confused, or even deceptive.
        v. 22:  “Devising” begins in the mind, and it can take you two ways.
        vv. 26,27:  Fear leads to obedience, respect, and honor towards God.
        v. 29:  It is good to be slow at some things, rather than “short of spirit”
                  (impulsive).
        v. 30:  Whatever is in you will either make you or break you.
   B.  The tongue: 
        v. 5:  How simply can it be said?  See Ephesians 4:25-32.
        v. 25:  Let us say it again!  Are you true or false in your words?
   C. Work:  
        v.  4:  Are you as smart as an ox?  Then work (1 Corinthians 15:58)!
        v. 23:  Again I ask—are you a talker or a doer??  Please answer:
                   __________________
   D. Honor:
        v. 28:  If your honor is in numbers, then you don’t have much honor.
        v. 34:  Application—the eyes of the world are on the nation of God,
                   and they should be.
        v. 35:  The chapter closes with another lesson on reaping and
                   sowing—will your king’s favor be toward you?

II. PROVERBS ABOUT PEOPLE.
    A. Woman (v. 1):  How much help are you giving to your “house”?
    B. Perverse (v. 2):  To walk uprightly is to seek to please God, but
         perverseness leads one   to seek his own way.  He hurts himself and
         others, which is equal to despising God.
    C. Fools.
         v. 3:  Are your lips preserving you, or is there a “twig” of pride 
                 sticking out?
         vv. 6-8:  Foolishness has its roots in how the fool views knowledge.
         v. 9:  He despises God and enjoys sin.
         vv. 15-19:  Here, the simple one is being foolish; in word, step,
                           temper, inheritance, and results.
         v. 24:  What could be more foolish than this?
         v. 33:  A fool can’t keep from being “found out.”
    D. Wicked.
         v. 11:  God has no problem destroying a house or saving a tent (much
                    unlike a tornado or the “big, bad wolf”).
         v. 32:  Implies the immortality of the soul (Matthew 25:31-46).
    E.  Backslider (v. 14):  Yes, a backslider has nothing but his own ways 
         again and again; but   the good man looks above himself.
    F.  Neighbor (vv. 20,21):  James 2:1-13.
    G. Oppressor (v. 31):  Respect of persons is sinful.
 

1.    How does the wise woman build her house (v. 1)?
2.    Does the fear of the Lord have any effect on how one walks (v. 2)?
3.    Why will the crib be clean where there are no oxen (v. 4)?
4.    Who finds knowledge easily (v. 6)?
5.    When should we leave the presence of a foolish man (v. 7)?
6.    Who mocks sin (v. 9)?
7.    Can a way which ends in death really seem right (v. 12)?
8.    What is a backslider (v. 14)?
9.    Is it prudent to believe every word heard (v. 15; see 1 John 4:1)?
10.  Does verse 17 teach that anger is sin (see Ephesians 4:26; Titus 1:7)?
11.  How does the world treat the poor and the rich (v. 20)?
12.  What does it mean to have mercy on the poor (v. 21)?
13.  What tends (leads) to penury (extreme poverty; v. 23)?
14.  How does a true witness deliver souls (v. 25)?
15.  The fear of the Lord gives ____________ _____________________
       and is a ________________ of __________ (vv. 26,27).
16.  What is the life of the flesh (v. 30)?
17.  Who reproaches God (v. 31)?
18.  What exalts a nation (v. 34)?
 

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