Proverbs 22:11-16

Proverbs 22:11-16
English Standard Version
11 He who loves purity of heart,
    and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
    but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit;
    he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

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This passage ends a very long passage known as "The Proverbs of Solomon" that started in Proverbs 10:1 (I opted to only include that title in the first several articles from this large section).  Solomon starts off this passage continuing his exhortation for purity of heart (integrity) and gracious speech which comes from a pure a clean heart (remember that out of the heart, the mouth overflows).  Solomon says that such people who are pure, noble, and gracious with their speech will be friends with the king.

The LORD is a watchman that preserves the truth of His Word from generation to generation.  The LORD also sees the traitor and overthrows his words so that no one will listen to him.

The lazy man makes excuses for why he does not go out to work.  The fear of a lion in the city (usually with city walls, gates, guards, and lots of people) is an irrational fear or just a poor excuse that no one believes except maybe the sluggard himself (tell yourself a lie for long enough, and you start to believe it).

The seductive words of the harlot are like a pit that is meant to ensnare animals that are being hunted.  The LORD allows rebellious sinners to fall into such sin as part of His punishment for their rebellion.

Children can be blissfully ignorant and foolish, and that's usually okay when it's a child.  We have an expectation that this is part of childhood.  However, it is quite another thing when someone who is supposed to be a mature adult acts this way.  Such a person lacks discipline, and there comes a point in even a child's life where they are to stop acting foolish and to start learning wisdom and prudence.

The LORD warns the people to never mistreat the poor to steal what little they have for themselves.  He also warns the people to never give bribes to the rich seeking favoritism from them.  In both cases, the people should trust in the LORD to provide everything that they need, and those who have much should be helping to take care of those who don't have enough.  Those who let money and material possessions control them will come to ruin and poverty.  The LORD will not let us worship money or let us sacrifice our character or integrity for wealth.