Proverbs
“And more than that, the preacher was wise; he still taught the
people knowledge. Yes, he listened, and looked, and set in order many
proverbs. The preacher sought to find out pleasing words; and words of
truth written by the upright. The words of the wise are like goads; yes,
their collected words are like nails driven home; they are given from
one Shepherd” (Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 MKJV).
In the middle of the night of April 15-16 of 2007, it was given
me to write proverbs. Like a tap of water turned on, they came, one after
the
other, 78 in all. Then, as
fast as they began, they ended, like a tap turned off. There was
no premeditation, no expectation and when the end came, there was
nothing I could do to continue. They were just there.
Since then the Lord has given me more, when I am quiet, in His
way, and when He wills.
The principles of life have many manifestations, each of which
can be expressed as a proverb. A proverb can appear simple on the
surface, stating the obvious, as even to give the impression that
a simpleton speaks. As one contemplates the words and seeks a deeper
meaning, however, he or she can be rewarded with counsel and understanding
that serve well in many applications of life, should God give to
that one.
Victor Hafichuk
PROVERBS
1-250 251-500 501-750 751-1000 1001-1250 1251-1500 1501-
1001. Heinous
is the crime of the religious who serves God to the detriment
of his neighbor.
1002. Blessed
are the sinners who know their sin, for they shall be cleansed.
Woe to those who know no sin, for they have their
reward and the fires seek them out.
1003. God
is not a pyromaniac; fires are lit only when there is that which
needs to be burned, and He will not permit fire where
it is not appropriate.
1004. Woe
to those who favor the persons of the rich and famous – they
shall be despised.
1005. Wicked
is the nation and government that forbid good things and promote
evil – destruction will
surely take its toll.
1006. Woe
to the people who are haughty and proud – they
shall fall.
1007. Woe
to the nation that is proud of itself – it
shall soon be humbled.
1008. Woe
to the nation that looks for the easy life – it
will have hardship.
1009. Woe
to the nation that lives to please and entertain itself – it
shall mourn soon enough.
1010. Woe
to the nation that forsakes God’s Law – it
shall be a lawless land of chaos.
1011. Woe
to the nation whose laws and decisions on justice and well being
are bought and determined by those
who seek to profit
thereby – it shall be called unjust.
1012. Woe
to the nation that does not confess and repent of its past – the past will rise up to haunt
it manifold.
1013. Woe
to the nation that fears the loud voices of fools and ignores
the still, small voice of wisdom – seeking
to please man is not good - it will fall into foolish paths.
1014. Woe
to the nation that takes away the right of its people to speak
freely for good and to defend themselves – fruitful
speech will be lost.
1015. Woe
to the people whose laws exonerate perversion and condemn those
who protest against it – debauchery follows.
1016. Woe
to the nation that promotes sexual perversion – it
shall be seduced and ravished.
1017. Woe
to the nation that punishes the good and rewards the evil – it shall be confounded.
1018. Woe
to the nation whose laws can be used by its enemies against its
own citizens for evil – it has
given away its liberty.
1019. Woe
to the people who decide for appearance’ sake
and not for substance – they will be blind.
1020. Woe
to the people who look to man for salvation and well being – they shall suffer.
1021. Woe
to the nation that chooses leaders who flatter and promise for
power – it will be subjugated.
1022. Woe
to the people whose rulers are chosen by their wealth and popularity – they will be oppressed
by vanity.
1023. Woe
to the people who favor rulers that make many and great promises – they shall be disappointed.
1024. Woe
to the nation whose leaders frame words to deceive their people – it shall believe lies.
1025. Woe
to the people whose rulers satisfy themselves – they
shall be neglected.
1026. Woe
to the nation whose rulers rule to rule – it
shall be without rule.
1027. Woe
to the nation that honors evil religion for the sake of religious
freedom – it shall lose its freedom.
1028. Woe
to the nation that is filled with mock religion – it
shall be mocked.
1029. Woe
to the nation that compels all things to be one for unity’s sake – it shall be divided.
1030. Woe
to the nation that fears minorities and treats them as majorities – it will be diminished.
1031. Woe
to the people who give freedom to haters of their nation – they
shall have no nation.
1032. Woe
to the nation whose people must do battle with its government
to gain reasonable rights – they have
already lost and the wicked rule.
1033. Woe
to the nation that gives to the rich and ignores the poor – it shall be poor.
1034. Woe
to the nation that oppresses its poor – it
shall be oppressed.
1035. Woe
to the nation that slays the weak and the defenseless – it
shall be weak and defenseless when its slayer comes.
1036. Woe
to the nation that makes work for work’s sake
and not for practical benefit – its effort will be futile
and tend to poverty.
1037. Woe
to the nation that poisons its food – it
shall grow ill and die.
1038. Woe
to the people that forbid God-created raw milk but sanction man-made,
harmful substances – they
will be ill.
1039. Woe
to the nation that oppresses and disregards its food producers – it shall hunger.
1040. Woe
to the nation that disregards its air, soil, rivers, lakes, fields,
and forests – it shall lose
its life.
1041. Woe
to the nation that does not eliminate its waste – it
shall be polluted.
1042. Woe
to the people whose doctors are gods – they
shall suffer the fruits of idolatry.
1043. Woe
to the nation that treats symptoms rather than causes – it
deceives itself to death.
1044. Woe
to the nation of gluttons and drunkards – it
shall be driven to debt and poverty.
1045. Woe
to the nation that wars to gain – it
shall lose.
1046. Woe
to the nation that is silent at injustice with its neighbors – injustice
is at its doors.
1047. Woe
to the nation that spends more than it has and does not prepare
for a day of want – it shall
suffer lack.
1048. Woe
to the nation that is indebted to another – it
shall be its servant.
1049. Woe
to the nation that uses deceitful money – it
shall be robbed.
1050. Woe
to the nation that does not protect its young – it
shall grow old alone.
1051. Woe
to the nation that teaches its children that all things are chance – it has contemned its Benefactor.
1052. Woe
to the nation that forgets God – it
shall be forgotten.
1053. The
wise one will receive correction; he will always see the need
for more.
1054. One
who ceases to receive admonishment has ceased to be wise.
1055. One
who refuses to receive correction from a poor child will not
receive it from a wealthy man.
1056. Children
have much to learn but also much to teach.
1057. Knowledge
and preparation help to remove doubt and fear.
1058. The
man who measures by money has no rest, and he who has no rest
has no money.
1059. The
more a man values this world’s
substance, the less he appreciates the One Who gave it to him.
1060. If
money is regarded as the source of fulfillment, then one must
obtain all of it and much more.
1061. There
are many who strive for perfection in this world, but they only
succeed in excelling over one another in imperfection.
1062. The
heart is made tender by trials, but one who hardens himself will
be destroyed.
1063. Only
one will prevail over all things, and that is the one who lays
down his life for the sake of Him Who laid down His life
for all.
1064. Many
teach, but how many live? Many begin a good work, but by and
by become attached to the means, losing appreciation for
the end.
1065. He
who measures by money will miscalculate – it
is a treacherous measure.
1066. The
evil that comes to the chosen and faithful works good, bringing
great treasure.
1067. The
chosen one who does evil does not harm God but himself, for who
can harm God? But when he harms himself, he hurts God,
for God loves him.
1068. Money
is a deceitful yardstick that will warp itself into a loop suddenly
and without warning.
1069. One
who sets his heart on riches will be troubled, but he who sets
his mind on the Source of all things will have peace.
1070. Money
cannot break in and steal; it can only rob a man if he opens
the door to it.
1071. I am
hated and feared by many, but I love them all because the Son
of God has made it so.
1072. Can
a rich man have peace? Let him forsake his riches for the love
of God and he will soon see; if he does not do so, he will never
see.
1073. Time
is a friend to those who faithfully labor for good, but it is
a vexation to the sluggard, the selfish, and the greedy.
1074. Who
knows how to handle riches? Does not God use them to handle him?
1075. As
one who can never drink enough water to feed himself, so riches
never satisfy.
1076. Riches
have swifter wings than any falcon, and fly to and fro without
warning.
1077. What
price the deceitful riches? Peace of mind, satisfaction, comfort,
health, true friends, family, and very life.
1078. Money
is a no man’s land with movable borders that cannot be
known.
1079. How
much can you eat each day? Who cares what you wear? How many
beds do you need each night? Are houses forever?
1080. He
who takes up residence in his scaffolding and forsakes plans
to live in the house he is building is not wise.
1081. The
good things increase their value when taken away, and value of
evil things is recognized when they have done their work.
1082. Because
an imitation misrepresents or falls short of the original, men
without understanding discredit the original.
1083. There
is a time and place to rejoice, and a time and place to grieve;
1084. A time
and place to bless, and a time and place to curse; a time to
be pleased, and a time to be displeased;
1085. A time
to be friendly, and a time to be unfriendly; a time to praise,
and a time to rebuke and reprove;
1086. A time
to love, and a time to hate; a time to be gentle, and a time
to be harsh;
1087. A time
to sing for joy, and a time to wail for sorrow; a time to weep
for sorrow, and a time to weep for joy;
1088. A time
for appropriateness, and a time for inappropriateness;
1089. A time
to act, and a time to pause and be still; a time to begin, and
a time to finish; a time to complete, and a time to leave undone;
1090. A time
to work, and a time to rest; a time to work, and a time to play;
a time to work, and a time to pray;
1091. A time
to earn, and a time to spend; a time to give, and a time to receive;
a time to grant, and a time to withhold;
1092. A time
to go forth, and a time to retreat; a time to hurry, and a time
to delay;
1093. A time
for protection, and a time for vulnerability; a time to be hidden,
and a time to be exposed; a time to reveal, and a time to conceal;
1094. A time
for sickness, and a time for health; a time to succeed, and a
time to fail; a time to stand, and a time to fall;
1095. A time
to expand and grow, and a time to be pruned and purged; a time
to be exalted, and a time to be humbled;
1096. A time
to gather, and a time to scatter; a time to assemble, and a time
to disperse;
1097. A time
to grasp, and a time to release; a time to open, and a time to
shut;
1098. A time
to be silent, and a time to speak; a time to see, and a time
to be blind;
1099. A time
to be foolish, and a time to be wise; a time to understand, and
a time to be confounded;
1100. A time
for prosperity, and a time for poverty; a time for fatness, and
a time for leanness; a time to eat, and a time to fast;
1101. A time
to obey, and a time to command; a time to obey, and a time to
disobey;
1102. A time
for weakness, and a time for strength; a time to yield and submit,
and a time to fight and overcome;
1103. A time
for pressure, and a time for relief; a time to oppress, and a
time to be merciful;
1104. A time
for nightmares to become real, and a time for dreams to come
true;
1105. A time
to judge, and a time to be judged;
1106. A time
to be exalted, and a time to be abased; a time for glory, and
a time for shame.
1107. A time
for children, and a time to be childless; a time for fathers
and mothers, and a time for sons and daughters;
1108. There
is a time for everything, and a time when there is no time for
anything. There is a time and season for all things.
1109. As
water wears a rock unnoticed, so a man wanders from the way by
degree.
1110. Spilled
milk is never redeemed by complaint; it only sours and finally
puts forth a putrid stench.
1111. The
face and words of a liar conceal the heart and its intent,
but the fruits reveal it in due time.
1112. The
simple one believes in men and all that they say.
1113. The
proud and rebellious one says, “All things said and done
against me are offensive, unjustified, and wrong.”
1114. The
flatterer is snared and destroyed by his own words.
1115. The
proud one says, “I am humble”; the fool says, “I
am wise”; the liar says, “I never lie”; the
brutish one says, “I am reasonable”;
1116. The
judgmental one is offended when judged; the cruel one pleads
that he be shown mercy;
1117. The
hateful one hates being hated; the tyrant demands that he be
treated justly; the unmerciful one shows himself merciful until
he obtains his desire.
1118. For
the covetous to show generosity is for a stove to hide its heat.
1119. The
selfish expects to be treated generously, not considering that
those whose goods he covets also like to receive.
1120. As
the hireling shows himself compassionate, the thief gives to
take; the preacher preaches for himself; and Naïveté believes
them all.
1121. Those
who place their faith in the visible are blind.
1122. The
flesh is weak and profits nothing; the power in the spirit determines
all things.
1123. The
battle is in the heavens, and the course of earth is determined
there.
1124. Give
a rock the spiritual power and it will overcome a glorious king
who trusts in himself.
1125. The
less a man sees, the more he trusts in what he does see.
1126. Power
is not in numbers, might, prosperity, knowledge, age, sex, or
size, but in God, Who gives as He wills.
1127. Blessed
is the man who puts his trust in God; he will always prevail.
1128. Even
in failure, the man of faith overcomes.
1129. Do
you look at the outward? Don’t be deceived; get eyes for
the beyond.
1130. While
it appears the earth is peaceful and quiet, battles rage in the
Heavens, where are all things determined.
1131. It
is not the mighty but the righteous one who has cause for sure
hope.
1132. Faith
is the fuel that empowers the engine of creation. Without it,
nothing of worth is accomplished; with it, nothing is impossible.
1133. Conformity
is a disease; all who are afflicted thereby become ill and draw
near to death.
1134. One
who for right resists conformity will be spared, but one who
conforms to spare himself will perish.
1135. As
a plane takes off facing the wind, so must it be for the soul
beginning its spiritual journey.
1136. A tide
may carry one anywhere, but those who defy the tide know where
they are going.
1137. Multitudes
conform; so one who flows against the current will find himself
contrary to many.
1138. The
traffic lanes toward God are almost empty, but full are those
that rush away from Him.
1139. The
nonconformist for good is as one who drives against the traffic,
but if he prevails, he will find God.
1140. For
a stick to flow with the river is easy and natural, but to flow
against the current is impossible without intervention.
1141. Up
is down, and down is up; in is out, and out is in; light is darkness,
and darkness is light; truth is error, and error is truth; good
is evil, and evil is good; wisdom is foolishness, and foolishness
is wisdom. So it is with heaven and earth.
1142. A grotesque
spectacle stalks all the earth - men with heads larger than their
bodies, and mouths larger than their heads.
1143. I have
found an unpleasant thing – men in prosperity forget God,
and those in trouble and need do not remember Him.
1144. People
will always rally around a man, religion, flag, nation, fortune,
fame, and every kind of philosophy, but they will consistently
reject the One Who created them.
1145. As
a rock is worn by water unnoticed, so a man wanders from the
Way.
1146. Lord,
we are all as brute beasts without You. You are the only difference,
and none of us can take credit for You.
1147. Five
minutes can be as half a century, and half a century as five
minutes.
1148. As
we treat others, so is it indelibly recorded in our hearts and
countenances and cannot be concealed.
1149. To
the believing, we are as a fresh and delightful breeze and a
cool drink of delicious water on a hot day, but to the wicked,
as a hurricane or tornado, and a cesspool.
1150. As
darkness manifests light, so lies and falsehood give occasion
to bear witness to the truth.
1151. Truth
is distasteful to the wicked, but pleasant to those who hunger
and thirst after what is right and good.
1152. The
healthy love the Physician because He has made them well, but
those who are sick hate Him because they have not known His benefit.
1153. How
is it that those in greatest need despise most the provision
available to meet their need?
1154. Little
is required of the wicked man, but the righteous man must pay
dearly.
1155. One
who cannot forgive his enemy is no different from his enemy.
1156. Learning
costs, but as a good investment, it also pays.
1157. All
enmity towards God is vain, for He has made His enemies for Himself
until the appointed time when He does away with them.
1158. Faith
is the knowledge that God is in full control of every detail.
1159. Do
you doubt yourself or do you doubt God? Is not God over you?
Why entertain doubts about yourself when you can exercise faith
in God?
1160. The
Lord God rewards every man according to his heart, perfectly.
1161. Faith
is to know that nothing is in one’s own control.
1162. Better
to be in the difficult process of renewal than in the pleasurable
process of destruction.
1163. Of
what value is life if one cannot live?
1164. Creatures
do not save themselves with the Creator’s help, and the
Creator does not save His creatures with their help; the Creator
does what He wills with all His creatures.
1165. The
righteous will be condemned by the world, not for doing wrong,
but for being wrong, because to the world righteousness is wrong.
1166. No
wrong can be charged against the elect, therefore the world hates
them.
1167. The
destroyer must be permitted to destroy that which must be destroyed,
then the destroyer will be destroyed.
1168. As
an arid desert cannot be fruitful, so a fretting and worried
heart cannot produce anything good.
1169. Troubles
born of evil produce fear and confusion, but tribulation and
suffering from God produce revelation and understanding.
1170. A hero’s
worshipper is his worst enemy.
1171. Man’s
love is hate and God’s hate is love; God’s hate is
to be preferred.
1172. Over
abundance and lack are equal detriments.
1173. If
the dead can be raised, how can anything be too late for God?
1174. Sharpness
is increased by a stone, so one is improved by difficulty.
1175. Coarse
sandpaper is needed for rough surfaces, so roughness is needed
for the rough in spirit.
1176. A leopard
appears cuddlesome and attractive, but it is deadly. So there
are the cruel in spirit that show themselves refined.
1177. The
ox is a brutish beast that is gentle and helpful, and the poor
working man is not to be despised.
1178. Cunning
is the victim in his devices; he sees no fault in himself.
1179. As
a cat lives its life without knowing its own nature, so the victim
perpetrates without consideration.
1180. Perpetrators
are first their own victims.
1181. Come
away from death and hell – do to your neighbor as you would
have him do to you.
1182. We
choose our enemies and friends, as many as we will.
1183. Shod
yourself with your neighbor’s shoes, and then if God should
shod you with your neighbor’s feet, you will have enough
to judge righteous judgment.
1184. A rod
on the back of the wicked will bring protest, until the wicked
is wicked no longer.
1185. A man
is known by his answer, which is spoken from the heart.
1186. We
wrestle with ourselves in the vain hope of overcoming an enemy
too great for us.
1187. Is
our depravity greater than our Maker? Can He not unmake that
which is spoiled?
1188. Can
God not do as He pleases and restore at will? Will He not restore
if it is His mind to do so? And what can we do if it is not His
mind to restore?
1189. Sons
of resurrection can only go back with the intent of resurrecting
others, never of rejoining the dead.
1190. As
a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, so sons of earth become sons
of Heaven.
1191. Sons
of correction are granted to embrace the grave in order to become
sons of the resurrection.
1192. Men
seek happiness, but sons of God have much better.
1193. Satan
brings out the best in man, and God brings out the worst.
1194. Is
a fat wallet wise? If in the back pocket, it is uncomfortable
to sit or lay on. If in the front pocket, it cramps the trousers
when sitting. When opened, covetous onlookers ponder how they
might obtain it.
1195. If
a fat wallet is lost, there is more to regret. Are there not
better things to be done than to carry and display plenty? So
it is with the riches of this world.
1196. Because
artificial light can reveal things of darkness, it is assumed
the light is of God, not of men.
1197. Creatures
that burrow and those that swim, creatures that fly and those that
crawl, creatures that love the light and those
that hide from it, beasts both subtle and dumb, saints and sinners
- God is Lord of them all.
1198. Men
will never speak truth, except it benefits them.
1199. Beware
and judge discreetly the complaint of victims.
1200. Those
who complain the loudest as victims are the greatest of perpetrators.
1201. Trials
and tribulations come and go, but God remains.
1202. Men
are ever premature or tardy, but God's timing is always perfect.
1203. Wise
rulers seek complements, but the foolish, compliments.
1204. The
sting of the bee is painful, but what creature provides the life
and sweetness of the bee?
1205. Enemies
of the bee are hurt, but friends of the bee are blessed.
1206. As
moths conceal themselves from daylight and cannot resist artificial
light
in the night, so do men.
1207. As
I was feeding the birds, I considered that some flew away at
my approach much
sooner than did others. Some continued
to feed while I was near, while others would not dare to do so.
Then I considered that those who recognize safety with
the hand that feeds them are blessed, while others who
do not recognize the provident hand live in continual fear.
1208. My
heart is warmed when the birds trust me so as to feed out of
my hand. I am not pleased to see others fly away at the
least provocation, though no danger threatens.
1209. As
moths avoid the sun but are drawn to artificial light, so those
without a heart for the True Light are attracted to the
works of men.
1210. Once
the cement is poured, there is little time to change it before
it sets and remains forever as poured.
1211. See
a man who knows he is unworthy of reward though he does his duty
faithfully? You see a man who believes.
1212. Because
the ground is hard and not prepared for sowing, does that mean
one should
not take the breaker or plow to it?
1213. The
physician who brings the diagnosis is treated as though he brought
the disease.
1214. The
bearer of good news is praised, and the bearer of bad news is despised;
yet each is only responsible for the report
and not the event.
1215. What
is a proverb but a means to express the observed realities of existence
in thoughtfully chosen words?
1216. With
the favored of the Lord, though they are afraid, there is peace
and safety, but with the wicked, though they are confident,
there is only wrath.
1217. The
Lord waits and tries His people as though He is not faithful,
but in due time, He proves Himself faithful and compensates
them in full.
1218. Blessed
is the one who suffers yet remains faithful; he will be rewarded
when the time comes.
1219. With
the Lord is great treasure, but without Him is perfect poverty.
1220. There
is no safety but the Lord, and there is no danger but with the
Lord.
1221. With
shamefacedness we receive our reward, until it wipes away the
tears and makes our suffering and trials more than worthwhile.
1222. Why
do you ask, “Where is the Lord?” Where is
He not?
1223. Faith
is marching in step to the beat of a drum from above.
1224. Truth
is not a journey, but a destination that can be arrived at sooner
than one may think.
1225. “I no longer believe because of what that so-called
believer did or said,” says the bitter one. The truth is
that he was only exposed for the belief he never had.
1226. Fools
will use all excuses to justify themselves in their unbelief.
1227. “I was offended!” shrieks
the proud and wicked one, not considering that the Just One was
killed by those offended
as was he.
1228. There
was a man who lived comfortably as a citizen in a certain country.
He heard that he could also prosper in a neighboring
country. Investigating, the benefits appealed to him, so he obtained
a second citizenship.
Soon after, war
broke out between the two nations. It was not easy to tell
which way the war would go, but he only cared to be on the winning
side. He did not want to risk his life fighting for either
of
them. It was not long before
he was served a draft notice by each nation to serve in battle.
He considered what to do and thought, “I
will tell each nation that I belong to the other. That way I can
avoid fighting, and keep my choice of citizenship open. I'll get
to live with the victor when it is over.”
The day came when a
wooden crate was delivered from one country to the other, with
an accompanying
letter - “We chanced on
a dual citizen of our nations who, though he enjoyed our benefits,
refused to enlist with us in our war against you, being also
a citizen of your nation. Enclosed, therefore, you will
find your half.”
1229. Forgiveness
for an offense committed is the greatest gift one can give or
receive.
1230. Unforgiveness
is the greatest offense one can commit against another.
1231. Forgiveness
is as a dam opened up to restore the flow of the river of life.
1232. Unforgiveness
destroys, and forgiveness revives.
1233. Who
will not forgive but the one who is not willing to live?
1234. Peace
is to the man who would rather endure wrong than to repay it.
1235. Those
who forgive are forgiven, but those who will not forgive hold
it against themselves.
1236. A grudge
poisons the soul and kills the one who holds it.
1237. As
a cancer eats away at internal organs, so resentment devours
the soul.
1238. Cursed
is the man who curses another without cause.
1239. Blessed
are those who return blessing for curses; they will inherit the
Kingdom of Heaven.
1240. Forgiveness
is a precious balm of healing to those who receive it, and the
glory and power of a divine healer in those who give it.
1241. As
curtains are drawn on a window to conceal, so a schemer will
not look one in the eye lest he should reveal the thoughts and
intents of his heart.
1242. It
is much better to explain to a simple child than to an intelligent
man.
1243. High
words and high thoughts are for high men, but God regards the
lowly and simple.
1244. Beware
lest the mote you see in your neighbor’s eye is but a reflection
of the beam in your eye.
1245. It
is easier to count many words than to make a few words count.
1246. Those
who are proud and presume to gather admirers are, by and by,
humbled before all.
1247. Only
the wise know how foolish they are; only the foolish know how
wise they are.
1248. Those
who find it easy to say find it hard to live, but those who have
suffered are mindful of their words.
1249. Thankfulness
is a treasure for which one can be very thankful.
1250. As
water poured out finds its way to every nook and cranny, rushes
to the lowest levels, and rises to cover the greatest heights,
so perfect judgment comes, and none shall escape.
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