Proverbs 21:6-10

Proverbs 21:6-10
English Standard Version
​6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
    because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
    but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

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Obtaining riches using dishonest means (especially by lying) will not anyone.  In fact, Solomon says that it is a snare unto death.

The wicked who engage in violence will be caught up by their own violence--what they have sown they will reap as other will repay them for their violence or do violence to them, or the state will execute them justly.  In any case, their lifestyle will catch up to them and will be short-lived.  Those who refuse to do justice are refusing to do what God requires of them (see Micah 6:8) and they will learn what the LORD's justice is when they experience it for themselves.

We often describe the way in which the wicked live as "crooked" as opposed to the "straight and narrow" path that the righteous are supposed to walk on.  The wicked don't seem to care that their path is crooked though as it is broad and easy.  The narrow path of the righteous is difficult.  However, the conduct of the righteous is pure.  Instead of doing what is right in the own eyes, the righteous try to do what is pleasing in the eyes of the LORD.

Solomon now gives some practical advice about marriage.  "Happy wife, happy life" can somewhat summarize what Solomon is saying here.  If your wife is unhappy and wants to fight (quarrel--verbal argument) all the time, there is no place in the house that is pleasant to be in.  You might as well live up on the roof (they had flat roofs in that day) in the corner, as far away as you could get.  It would be better for everyone if the two that had been made one by marriage could make peace with one another and be unified once again.  Solomon made some poor choices regarding marriage though (I do not believe he sought the LORD's wisdom in many of these choices).  Watch out that you don't make the same kind of mistakes that Solomon made as he tries to warn his son not to repeat his mistakes.

The wicked man desires to do evil to others (and sometimes to himself) and has no mercy for those around him.  Those who love the LORD should desire to do good to everyone around them, especially those who don't deserve it, because we did not deserve the love of the LORD.