Proverbs 21:13-23

13 He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.

14 By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.

15 It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.

16 The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.

17 The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.

18 The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.

19 It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.

20 There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.

21 He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.

22 A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.

23 He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 21:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 9

This chapter relates a second vision Solomon had at Gibeon, in which he received an answer to his prayer in the preceding chapter, 1Ki 9:1-9 that passed between him and Hiram king of Tyre, 1Ki 9:10-14, the places that Solomon built or repaired, 1Ki 9:15-19, the Canaanitish people that became bondmen to him, and the officers he had among the children of Israel, 1Ki 9:20-23 the removal of Pharaoh's daughter to the house built for her, 1Ki 9:24. Solomon's attention to religious services, 1Ki 9:25 and the navy of ships he employed, which brought him in great riches, 1Ki 9:26-28.