Proverbs 22:1-29

22:1 | Self-worth is more imporant than net worth. It is better to have a good name and reputation than to be a millionaire (Eccl. 7:1).

22:6 | The word for train up comes from the Hebrew word that describes the palate or roof of the mouth. In order to stimulate a newborn’s sucking reflex, Hebrew midwives would put something sweet on their finger and rub it on the roof of the infant’s mouth in order to train up their nursing instincts. Likewise, a wise parent is one who uses incentives to stimulate and train up their children toward godliness, creating a hunger in him for righteousness and wise living. Just as an infant never loses the ability to suckle, so a child will not forget the instincts toward godliness which were stimulated in him as a child.

22:7 | The lender always holds power over the borrower. For this reason, it is better to avoid taking out large loans as much as possible. A loan can easily become a form of bondage.

22:13 | A lazy person will make all kinds of excuses to avoid responsibility, never realizing how foolish his or her words and conduct appear to others (26:13).

22:15 | Foolishness comes with being a child. Thus, parents need to correct children, not only because discipline purges wrong conduct from a child’s life but because it points them in the right direction - the way of wisdom. Correction in this context includes teaching children to distinguish between right and wrong and may sometimes involve corporal punishment (the rod - 13:24; 23:13-14; 29:15).

22:28 | Landmarks were stone pillars or piles of sotne that marked property boundaries in fields. Moving them resulted in individual loss or gain of property and wealth. Since God owned and apportioned all the land, removing an ancient landmark would have been a sin against God (Deut. 27:17).