Seeming Oxymoron (Proverbs 13:23)

It seems as though that those who follow the law suffer want while those who do not want to follow the law, do so freely. This may be the case; not because the Lord is not there, but because there is a curse placed upon the earth.

"Much food is in the tilled land of the poor, but there are those who are destroyed because of injustice." Proverbs 13:23, Amplified

It already seems to me that this verse is not making much sense. First of all it speaks of the poor owning land. How can the poor own land and still be poor? The Lord looks out for his own. Remember, however, that the person in the world is still subject to the laws of this world. Because of injustice a person can be destroyed. If the Lord looks out for His own, then cleave to Him.

True Inheritance (Proverbs 13:22)

One of the goals in the American society is to leave an inheritance for the next generation so that the same struggles do not necessarily have to be endured. As an inheritance is passed, a legacy is born. Some names on the American landscape have embodied this ideal. Not only is it an American "philosophy", but it is also something that the Lord wants and desires for fathers to do for their children. For years I have put off finishing my education, and now I am only three units away from being able to teach.

"A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up." Proverbs 13:22, Amplified

The inheritance left by a good man is not necessarily the same as the person of the world might view an inheritance. Try to think of the inheritance as a lifestyle or ideals left for the next generation to live up to. Life is more than money. A good man leaves moral stability just as the world leaves iniquity for his children. "The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation." (Numbers 14:18, NKJV) We have all seen the effects of an alcoholism in the family tree. Sin has a way of transferring to the next generation. This is not to say that we do not have choice and free will. My father was an alcoholic and I chose not to be, because I decided early in life that my children deserved better, a more stable inheritance.

As for the second part of the verse, what is trying to be conveyed is that the sinner cannot hold on to material things forever. What the righteous man has is eternal, it follows us into the next life; this is the inheritance that our children's children need.

Hold fast to what is good and true.

A New Hiding Place (Proverbs 13:21)

I could not fall asleep tonight because visions of deeds past are flooding my thoughts as I alone lay awake in my bed. I know that I have been forgiven for the things that I have done in my past, but something is holding on to my heart. An eternal fight for my soul wages in the dark hours.

"Evil pursues sinners, but the consistently upright and in right standing with God shall be recompensed with good." Proverbs 13:21, Amplified

For the sinner, he has none to look to for support in his time of need. He must constantly find a new hiding place as paranoia ensnares his mind. There is no hope for salvation for this man, unless he decides to turn to the Lord for that salvation. The upright man of God has already found that refuge, the Lord is his strong tower.

The Company We Keep (Proverbs 13:20)

It is Christmas morning. Almost one year has passed us by again. What does the Lord want us to know this morning?

"He who walks [as a companion] with wise men shall be wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools will [be a fool himself and] shall smart for it." Proverbs 13:20, Amplified

It is the company that we keep which defines who we are. Some say that we are a product of our environment. I believe this to be true to a point. Inevitably, we are who we are because of choices that we make. Those choices can definitely be inspired or influenced by the company that we keep.

If the company that we keep is with wise men, then the choices we make will be wiser. This is not just because we want to please the crowd around us, rather it is because of the conversation and make up of the crowd. In High School, everyone became a part of a clique. Whether you liked it or not, we were immediately stereotyped and placed into our peg or we were one of the fortunate ones who almost understood who we were and hung out with the crowd of our own choosing. That crowd influenced our way of life for the next four years. We dressed as they dressed and spoke as they spoke and did as they did because that was the crowd we were with. To surround ourselves with wise a God-fearing persons greatly influences the outcome of our day. As we get older, the stereotypes remain, but we become more self-aware and are able to better define our own beings and associate with the persons of our own choosing.

However, if that crowd be of the foolish persuasion, then we ourselves become fools and act foolishly. "For the foolish person will speak foolishness, and his heart will work iniquity; to practice ungodliness, to utter error against the Lord, to keep the hungry unsatisfied, to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail." (Isaiah 32:6, NKJV) We do have to choice of who we surround ourselves with. It can either be God fearing men and women or foolish men and women. Never forget, however, that we do have the choice. One of the greatest things that the Lord installed inside of man at his inception was free-will. We have the choice.

Merry Christmas

Giddiness (Proverbs 13:19)

When a task is set, a goal sits on the horizon. As that goal is met, a satisfied accomplishment fills the heart.

"Satisfied desire is sweet to a person; therefore it is hateful and exceedingly offensive to [self-confident] fools to give up evil [upon which they have set their hearts]." Proverbs 13:19, Amplified

The human heart needs to have a sense of accomplishment. I know for myself that the dream of becoming a teacher has set on my horizon for far too long. However, know it sits only three units out of my grasp. Every time I think about the fact that I am only one class away from my desire, I feel all giddy inside.

But for the fool, the same thing applies for him when we speak of evil. For him to depart from it is taking away his sweet desire. He gets the same feelings of accomplishment from his wrong doing that I am getting from reaching my own goal. It is hard for a person to understand the heart of one who does those bad things.

True and Godly Correction (Proverbs 13:18)

To understand the true meaning of correction is important as well as how to use the tools of correction correctly.

"Poverty and shame shall be to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he who heeds reproof shall be honored." Proverbs 13:18, Amplified

There is something about correction that the human heart or psyche cannot receive. Maybe it is the whole thing of being told that we are wrong.

If we do not receive that correction, however, then we are doomed to failure. Maybe not this time, or even the next. Failure will be on the horizon.

It is our job, though, to understand the correction that is coming our way. There are those authority figures in our lives that abuse their roles and tend to over correct and misdirect. True and godly correction is done out of love for the individual. True and godly correction wants us to succeed.

No More Cookies (Proverbs 13:17)

It is important for us to receive good news for it lifts the spirit. But it is just as important to bring good news to another as well.

"A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador brings healing." Proverbs 13:17, Amplified

I like how the verse is laid out. First it speaks of a messenger, then it speaks of an ambassador. In this situation I would liken the messenger to a mail carrier and the ambassador to an actual political ambassador. Here is why.

A messenger has no real authority. All they are doing in delivering a word or a package from point A to point B. If that messenger should be wicked, then the he falls into evil. What this means is that the message will become distorted along the way. Either he will open the package, destroy the package or even change the message. Uriah the Hittite was a faithful messenger. He delivered his death sentence from the king to Joab without even realizing. Had he been a wicked messenger, he would have opened the message and saved his own life. But for his faithfulness to his king, Bathsheba will be forever known as the wife of Uriah (Matthew 1:6)

An ambassador, however, is given the power to speak for a king and in effect speak for an entire nation. We can be that ambassador, each of us individually can be ambassadors of heaven. If we are faithful in spreading the gospel, then we are that faithful ambassador. To bring a good word to a person is to bring health. It seems at time some are offended at the gospel and even hurt. Think of it like this. When peroxide goes on to an infected wound, it hurts because of all the filth that it contains. Now the less filthy the wound the less it will hurt. The same can be said for the gospel and a filthy heart. We just need to be that faithful ambassador who brings that healing word. We need to face the fact that cookies from our mothers never really healed, they just made us forget.

Measuring Up (Proverbs 13:15-16)

Knowledge is good. To have it is to also have understanding. Understanding brings a happier and healthier life.

"Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp]." Proverbs 13:15, Amplified

I like how the Amplified Version delivers this verse. I calls the way of the transgressor like barren, dry soil or an impassable swamp. There is either not enough moisture, or there is too much. In other words, there is no moderation. The thing a child of God has going for him, is that the Lord guides him in his daily life. He has a governor telling him when it is too much or too little. The child of the world has no one guide him and must rely on his own instinct and understanding. The one problem is that he has nothing to measure himself up against other than the world.

"Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool exposes and flaunts his folly." Proverbs 13:16, Amplified

This is the problem of not having anything real to measure yourself up against. For the Christian, there is God and the Bible. For the man of the world, there is only others from the world. You will never be able to draw a 12" line with a ruler that is only 10". You will fall short every time. The Bible is our measuring stick. To ignore it's contents is to ignore knowledge and expose shame.

The Bible (Proverbs 13:13-14)

Listen to the words of warning that surround you on a daily basis. They were placed there by the Lord to protect us. The Bible is not a tool to keep us from something, rather it is a tool to bring us to eternal life.

"Whoever despises the Word [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who (reverently) fears and respects the commandment [of God] shall be rewarded." Proverbs 13:13, Amplified

To not heed the Word is to invite destruction upon yourself. It is full of the words of life that we need to survive and enter eternal life. But to despise it and reject it is to fall into the hands of death. I mean this verse pretty much speaks for itself with no help of interpretation.

"The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death." Proverbs 13:14, Amplified

Remember that wisdom is knowledge applied. It is possible that the wise have been where you are at this moment in time. When you are taught by them, they are coming from a place of experience. The snares of death being spoken of here may not just be the sudden stop at the end of life, but also the second death, Hell. The Lord places people around us to place us on the path to heaven. There are no guard rails and we are welcome to leave the path whenever we want. But leaving the path means that we just might be inviting destruction upon ourselves.

Hope (Proverbs 13:12)

Sometimes hope is the only thing the heat has to hold on to.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12, Amplified

When the hope that we have is gone, the heart sinks into sickness. It is said that most survivors in a tragic accident hold on simply because they hope to be rescued. But when that hope of salvation is gone, they slip away into death because there is nothing left to hold on to: hope is gone. My father clung to life for a few weeks, knowing that the doctors would find a way to fix his liver. When the realization came to him that his life would not be the same when a new liver was received, he called my mother on their anniversary, December 24. He told her how much he loved her, but that he could not fight anymore. She told him that everything was going to be okay, and she would she him on Christmas Day. The next morning we got the call about my father. We were able to spend the very last 3 hours of his life with him on December 25, 2008.

Hope as we saw it was gone, for my mother and my hope was for my father to live. But this was not the case. My father's hope was fulfilled, he received his tree of life. His desire was for the pain and suffering to end. Once he had breathed his last, his fight was over.

Whatever the hope may be in life, the heart wants for it so much that it can physically make one sick. But when that hope is fulfilled the heart springs back to life. It could be love or something a little more tangible. Whatever the case, present your concern to the Lord.

Monies Gained (Proverbs 13:11)

It seems that everyone in the past was trying to make an honest buck. Of late, that honest buck has turned in to a fast buck. Scams and other means of gaining that money have come about to get that money deceitfully. That money will not last.

"Wealth [not earned] but won in haste, or unjustly, or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use, [such riches] will dwindle away; but he who gathers little by little will increase them." Proverbs 13:11, Amplified

What is trying o be conveyed here is that an unjust or hasty gain of fortune will not last. I am talking about the up and coming star who finds himself in a lot of cash. One who did not have has no idea how to handle the fortune. Parties, drugs, booze, women is how the fortune dwindles away. I know this because I have a friend who did this. Lance Kerwin became famous from his hit television show, James at 15. He was also in the Steven King film, Salem's Lot. Fortune overtook Lance, and he became a user and an abuser, he lost it all. Lance landed in a rehab facility where I happened to be. Now he is a youth pastor in Temecula, California.

But if you take someone like Donald Trump, who gained his vast fortune little by little understands how to deal with the money that they have received. If someone knows how to save a $100, then the know how to save $1,000. If they know how to save $1,000 then they know how to save $500,000.

The Lord wants us to be good stewards of what we have. If we are faithful in little, He will entrust us with more. This is not to say that He will give us $500,000. Be a good steward of the money that you have. Save a little, spend less and that nest egg will begin to grow. This is not a theological concept, it is economical. The Lord uses the logical things of this world to bless His children. Does He want us to be rich? Maybe. But for now, be faithful to Him with what you already have and not with what you want.

Pride (Proverbs 13:10)

Pride is one of those ugly things in life that can creep up on a person and soon consume him.

"By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful and godly Wisdom." Proverbs 13:10, Amplified

Pride is that thing in life that tries to convince us that we are the best. I am not talking about a collective we, I am talking about only me. You see, pride tries to tell us that it is only myself that is great. There is no room for anyone else, besides myself, at the pinnacle of pride. This is where the contention comes in, everyone fights for the number one spot. When pride is involved, the Lord is not.

it is interesting that the second half of the verse speaks of the "well-advised". Parents, teachers and other authority figures need to help mold the mind of the younger generation. Teach them that the individual is not the important piece, rather it is about the collective. Godly wisdom teaches us that the most important thing in the world is not ourself, but it is the Lord first then others around us. Pride leaves no room for anyone else; godly wisdom envelops everyone around us. I heard it once said that true joy is this: "J"esus "O"thers and "Y"ou.

Light (Proverbs 13:9)

There is a light within man. It can either be a divine light which shines ever brighter, or his own light which will soon extinguish.

"The light of the [uncompromisingly] righteous [is within him; it grows brighter and] rejoices; but the lamp of the wicked [ furnishes only a deprived, temporary light and] shall be put out shortly." Proverbs 13:9, Amplified

The light of the righteous grows brighter and brighter because it has an eternal source. The body has a tendency to wear out and wind down. If we rely on the Lord, then that light will not be extinguished. It becomes a source of warmth to those around us. With that light we can guide others on the path of righteousness. That light is the example that others need.

If that light should be of a temporal source of our own making, how long will it be before that light burns out? Yes there are those out there who do not have the Lord in their lives and people are drawn to their dynamic personalities. But the source of that light will soon need to be replenished. How can a lamp replenish its own oil? An external source is needed, without it we are doomed to burn out.

Ransom (Proverbs 13:8)

Some people desire riches so much, they are willing to go to great lengths to get them, even if they must take it.

"A rich man can buy himself out of threatened death by paying a ransom, but the poor man does not even have to listen to threats [from the envious]." Proverbs 13:8, Amplified

It seems to be a common theme is some movies where a rich man's family is threatened and a ransom letter is sent with a certain amount of money and a drop point listed. Though it is a common them in the movies, it is a very real event. However, I must ask a question, how many of those men were poor? None. The poor do not have to worry about anyone else being envious of their possessions.

What the Lord is laying out here is that there is more to worry about when you are rich than if you are not. I do not feel that the Lord does not want us to have money, but riches can cloud the heart and mind. No one envies a poor man. And if your riches are in heaven, no one can ever send a ransom note for those goods.

Rich and Poor (Proverbs 13:7)

It is a shameful thing to make ourselves into something that we are not. Who really wants to live their life like they were going to a masquerade ball? But no matter what kind of mask is worn, the Lord sees us for who we really are.

"One man considers himself rich, yet has nothing [to keep permanently]; another considers himself poor, yet has great [and indestructible] riches." Proverbs 13:7, Amplified

There are people in the world who would like you to believe that they are rich. They overspend on houses and cars and toys so that their friends will "ooh & ahh" over the things that they possess. There are others who actually have the money to live extravagantly and they do. But the fact of the matter is that all this stuff is going to burn, it will all be destroyed. Nothing in this life can be taken into the next. I have never seen a U-Haul following a hearse. Riches cloud the heart.

But there are those who consider themselves poor, but they have eternity waiting for them. Their inheritance is indestructible. All they need is Jesus. I have never been a rich man, but the Lord has always provided for my family.

There is also a third way to see this. Just because one is poor does not mean that he is going to heaven. Some people are so stricken by their lot in life that they cannot see the glory of heaven. They feel that "God is the Creator of their fate" and "He is the one to blame." And there are those who are rich who will be going to heaven. The creator of the "dogloo" (a dog house make to look like an igloo) became a millionaire. After this he became very depressed because all people wanted from him was his money. On the verge losing himself, he found he Lord and became a born again Christian. He is the founder of the Christian clothing store "C28".

Life Saver (Proverbs 13:5-6)

The difference between a righteous man and a wicked man is that the righteous man feels guilt. When he has transgressed against the Lord, his heart weighs heavy in his chest.

"A [consistently] righteous man hates lying and deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome [his very breath spreads pollution] and he surely comes to shame." Proverbs 13:5, Amplified

The righteous man can lie. It is within the ability of every man to transgress the commandments of the Lord. The difference between the two is the shame that follows. I know for myself, when I sin, a great heaviness accompanies it. I begin to hate myself for allowing my heart to stray. Forgiveness is soon sought after. But the wicked man feels no shame or guilt. The difference is that within the righteous man resides the Holy Spirit. Conviction causes the Christian to seek forgiveness.

"Righteousness [rightness and justice in every area and relation] guards him who is upright in his way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows the sinner." Proverbs 13:6, Amplified

If we walk in righteousness, we will be guarded. This is not to say that bad things will not happen to the righteous man. I know that I got fired from my job when I decided to do the right thing. You see, we must view everything in our lives as a greater plan created by God. The guard that covers the Christian is the faith that he possesses. When things go wrong for the sinner, he has nothing to hold on to. If all we ever know is sin, then that sin will soon overtake us. But if we come to a saving knowledge of the Lord, then we have that proverbial life saver awaiting us.

Appetite (Proverbs 13:4)

In order to experience life, one must get off his fanny and act. If we sit and do nothing, life passes us by without thinking twice about it.

"The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent shall be abundantly supplied." Proverbs 13:4, Amplified

The lazy man desires and is never fulfilled because his desires never manifest into action. It is like being hungry and knowing where to get food but doing nothing to satisfy the appetite. Eventually you will die of starvation.

The righteous man is diligent for he hungers after the things of God. His desire is for an eternity with the Lord. The diligent man works toward heaven, he fulfills his appetite by doing the things of God. He will be satisfied with heaven, whereas the lazy man will only experience hell. This is not to say that a lazy man cannot be saved and go to heaven. But laziness is not an attribute of God. When one thinks of the attributes of a man of God, laziness is not even close to being on the list.

If ever we read a biography of somebody who lived their life for God, we find one common theme. They were always on the move. Never resting. Never stopping. A stagnant pool of water only breeds disease, but a running spring refreshes the soul.

Words (Proverbs 13:2-3)

It is so important for us, as Christians to watch what comes out of our mouths. Simple jokes might ruin the chance of someone making the decision to come to Christ.

"A good man shall eat good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence." Proverbs 13:2, Amplified

There is a certain satisfaction that comes with being good and speaking good things. I have found in my search for worldly things, there is never a satisfaction, I am never full. But when I am in line with what the Lord wants from my life, I feel satisfied.

"He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips will come to ruin." Proverbs 13:3, Amplified

The mouth can be a very horrible thing, for the words that come out of it have the ability to destroy. It is our duty to guard what escapes our lips. We do that by deciding what has the ability to enter our eyes and ears. If we take in only the bad, then only the bad will exit. But if we take in the good, then we have a better chance at speaking only good. I say better chance because we have a sinful nature. It is the nature of man to act selfishly and sinfully. But as we align our hearts with God, a process begins in our hearts, a sort of filtration system. We now have the choice of only speaking good, because as we store the Word of God in our hearts, the Holy Spirit reminds us of what we need to do or say.

Instruction and Correction (Proverbs 13:1)

One of the touch points of maturity is being able to listen to correction.

"A wise son heeds [and is the fruit of] his father's instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke." Proverbs 13:1, Amplified

The job of a father is to rear his children correctly, to help them grow into great adults. A wise child latches on to whatever his father may be teaching him. This is a symbiotic relationship, wherein both parties benefit.

A scoffer is one who will not heed the words of rebuke. Rebuke and instruction are two different things. When things are going wrong and bad choices are made, a rebuke must be administered. One who does not care about the wisdom of his father, scoffs at the idea of rebuke. Instruction and correction cannot be separated.

Eternity (Proverbs 12:28)

Death is a place that all must visit. For the Christian, it only comes once.

"Life is in the way of righteousness [moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation], and in its pathway there is no death, but immortality - perpetual, eternal life." Proverbs 12:28, Amplified

To give one's whole being over to the Lord opens the door to eternal life. Death comes for us all. How is life being lived now for yourself. Are your actions an echo of your soul? Is what you do reeking of eternal life?

When we die, there will be two judgments, one for us and one for them. The Great White Throne Judgment will send everyone who approaches it to Hell. The there is the judgment for those belonging to God; what was done with the name of Jesus? How was life spent? Those of us who do not encounter the Great White Throne will be blessed to live a life eternally with our Creator.

There is a great spiritual truth for us all to know, "For those who sow to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit real everlasting life." (Galations 6:8, NKJV)

I pray, everyday, that what I do reeks of eternal life. I want others to desire what I have. I want the opportunity to share the prospect of eternity with everyone. I want to live like I was dying. Everyday important. Everyday my last. Everyday my moment to shine for the Lord.

Diligence and Laziness (Proverbs 12:27)

When we are given certain things, or items, we are expected to use them appropriately. The man whose heart and mind are not focused on the Lord does not act accordingly.

"The slothful man will not catch his game, or roast it if he should kill it; but the diligent man will get precious possessions." Proverbs 12:27, Amplified

There is a man who is so lazy that he has no desire to do the things he must in order to survive. He will not go out and hunt for his game, but if at some point he does catch game, he will not cook it. If the effort is not put forth to take care of ourselves, then the effort will never be put forth in a relationship with the Lord.

But a diligent man will not only hunt and kill and cook, he will also get many valuable possessions along the way. he is the man whose relationship with the Lord will be a strong one, if indeed he does have a relationship. Now a diligent man does not necessarily have to be a Christian. There have been many men throughout the centuries that have garnered possessions that were not men of God.

The purpose of this verse is to allow us to see the difference between two men. The lazy man will suffer hunger because of his laziness and the diligent man will be blessed because of his diligence.

Examples (Proverbs 12:26)

If a man were to be defined by his surroundings, then you could tell what was in his heart. The same can be said about the company he keeps.

"The [consistently] righteous man is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked causes others to go astray." Proverbs 12:26, Amplified

If you are reading the New King James version, the first half of this verse reads so very differently. "The righteous man should choose his friends carefully..." (Proverbs 12:26a, NKJV)

It does not make a difference to the message of the verse, however. In choosing his friends carefully, the righteous man is making decision about who to surround himself with. In doing so, he becomes a guide, or example, to his neighbor. It is how we live our lives as Christians that speaks the loudest. Our examples will convert faster than the best sermon, because we are that sermon in motion. If a sermon were to have a name and a face it would look like me and be named Jeffrey. People do not want to hear the Word, they want to see it in action. The world has been letting them down with broken promises for years. When expectations are constantly unmet, words become cheap. Lets make a promise through our actions, win people to Christ with our lifestyles.

The Wicked One has been leading people astray for years with his words and misdeeds. If he can lead others astray, so too can we lead others to Christ.

Depression (Proverbs 12:25)

It is easy to get bogged down by the world around us.

"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad." Proverbs 12:25, Amplified

Anxiety is caused by worry. Worry is simply lack of faith in our God. Yes, as human beings we have a tendency to see only the temporal and not the eternal. We have a tendency to see only the physical and not the spiritual. When we lose our focus on the Lord, anxiety sets in. Some translations use the word depression in this verse.

Depression is very real, and can be devastating to a Christian. For years, I have battled with depression. I used to take pills to help with my depression. Since i was seventeen I have not taken the pills. Over the years I have managed with the depression because a good word did make me glad. Of late, however, the fight is getting harder for me, so I must root myself deeper into the Lord.

I am meeting with a good friend today to help me with a tough decision today regarding depression. I know the Lord is with me.

Fortunes Flipped (Proverbs 12:24)

In the end, payment will be rendered.

"The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor." Proverbs 12:24, Amplified

Fortunes will turn in the end. The diligent will be in the place where they do not have to work anymore. Those who developed blisters from working, will rule from a plush throne. The men and women that proved their faithfulness will be rewarded.

When they are taken away from their labor, who will step into their places? The lazy and the slothful. Those who do not know how to work will be put to forced labor.

Hands that worked will be put to rest and the hands that did not will be stirred to sweat.

The Mouth (Proverbs 12:23)

The difference between the foolish and the wise man is their mouth. One is always open.

"The prudent man is reluctant to display his knowledge, but the heart of [self-confident] fools proclaims their folly." Proverbs 12:23, Amplified

What separates the foolish man from the wise and prudent man is only eighteen inches; from heart to head. Whatever knowledge the wise man has collected and stored, he waits to relinquish that knowledge to others. That knowledge might be detrimental to others, it may destroy others, it man hurt others. So his mouth remains closed, because he thinks before he speaks, emotion has little to do with what he thinks.

The foolish man does not care who is hurt by his verbal vomiting. They will spew their filth wherever and upon whomever. The think little about what is to be said because emotion has everything to do with what they think.