Has humanity generally lacked wisdom? Let’s look at Proverbs 18.
What motivates people to separate themselves from others, and refuse to listen to good advice?
Unfriendly people look out for themselves; they bicker with sensible people. (Pr 18:1 CEB)
What motivates an opinionated person to constantly talk and rarely listen?
Fools have no desire to learn, instead they would rather give their own opinion. (Pr 18:2 CEV)
What follows a wicked life, and what kind of life brings disrespect?
When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. (Pr 18:3 ESV)
What is the value in listening to what others have to say?
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom. (Pr 18:4 HCSB)
How dangerous is it to show favor to anyone who continually commits crimes?
It’s not good to be partial towards an evil person, thereby depriving the righteous of justice. (Pr 18:5 ISV)
What kind of person constantly starts arguments, and what are they inviting?
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. (Pr 18:6 KJV)
What do the many words of fools bring down upon themselves?
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul. (Pr 18:7 LSB)
What are the words of a person who tears others down behind their backs?
The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. (Pr 18:8 NASB)
Is a lazy worker similar to a destroyer to any business venture?
One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. (Pr 18:9 NIV)
In the battleground of this world’s craziness, where can we flee for safety?
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. (Pr 18:10 NKJV)
How is wealth a mere delusion and not a real tower of safety?
The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. (Pr 18:11 NLT)
What are the consequences of two different ways of life, pride and humility?
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility. (Pr 18:12 WEB)
What are people who answer a matter without listening to hear it out?
Those who answer before they listen are foolish and disgraceful. (Pr 18:13 CEB)
It is hard not to give up in hard times, but what are we encouraged to do?
Being cheerful helps when you are sick, but nothing helps when you give up. (Pr 18:14 CEV)
What does a wise and intelligent person seek to acquire?
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Pr 18:15 ESV)
Is a gift always a bribe or sometimes just a rite of passage?
A gift opens doors for a man and brings him before the great. (Pr 18:16 HCSB)
Is it wise to hear just one side of a story and make a hasty judgment?
The first to put forth his case seems right, until someone else steps forward and cross-examines him. (Pr 18:17 ISV)
Can agreeing to flip a coin or cast lots settle a dispute?
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. (Pr 18:18 KJV)
Is it harder to win back an offended friend than to capture a fortified city?
A brother offended is harder to win over than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel. (Pr 18:19 LSB)
How important are tact and diplomacy in business dealings?
With the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. (Pr 18:20 NASB)
Will we all have to eat our words, whether they were good or evil words?
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Pr 18:21 NIV)
Was God’s original creation of Eve, a wife for Adam, designed to be a good thing?
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord. (Pr 18:22 NKJV)
In this world do the rich take unfair advantage of their money?
The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults. (Pr 18:23 NLT)
Can many so-called friends abandon us, while a true friend is more loyal than family?
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Pr 18:24 WEB)
Why is the final call for wisdom in the Bible, to calculate the number of the beast’s name? Did Daniel describe successive human governments as beasts? Is understanding the failure of human governments wisdom?
It will not allow anyone to make a purchase or sell anything unless the person has the mark with the beast’s name or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the one who understands calculate the beast’s number, for it’s a human being’s number. Its number is six hundred sixty-six. (Rev 13:17-18 CEB)
Has humanity generally lacked wisdom? You decide!
