Chapter 1

1:26-28 - God will laugh at your misfortunes, mock you when you are afraid, and ignore you when you ask him for help. And if you seek him, you will not find him, contrary to Pr.8:17, Mt.7:7-8, and Lk.11:9-10.

* These verses are better understood by reading verses 24 and 25, too.  These two, preceding verses indicate who God is talking about in verses 26-28.  Proverbs 1:24 and 25 read, "Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke."

* God is a God of love.  He is also a God of mercy and patience.  However, along with these characteristics, God is also a God of judgment.  He loves people and is patient with them, but after they reject and hate Him, He eventually judges them. 

Chapter 2

2:16-19 - God warns us about the dangers of "strange women." Strange men are OK though.

* These verses warn about evil women.  However, they do not glorify men; not strange or normal men.

Chapter 3

3:5 - "Lean not unto thine own understanding." Don't try to understand things; just accept whatever the bible and your religious leaders tell you.

* All throughout the Bible, worldly wisdom is contrasted with godly wisdom.  The Bible is full of godly wisdom, so we can read it and trust it.

* This verse (and the Bible) never tells us to wholeheartedly trust everything that religious leaders tell us.  In fact, the Word tells us to search the scriptures, seek God, and test the words of humans, so we will know what is true and what He wants for us.

3:13 - According to this verse wisdom and understanding make people happy; but Ec.1:18 says that knowledge makes people miserable.

* Ecclesiastes is a book of one man's journey away from God.  He tries to find fulfillment in worldly things.  During this journey, in Ecclesiastes 1:17, he says, "And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind."  Since he is writing about his time away from God, we cannot take the majority of the book of Ecclesiastes as biblical doctrines.  It is simply a recollection of a man's experiences without God in the center of his life.

* If a person is acting ungodly and acquires worldly wisdom and knowledge, it will only make him miserable.  Without Jesus Christ, there is no salvation and no light at the end of the tunnel.

* Proverb 3:13 is referring to a godly person who finds godly wisdom and understanding.  This person is happy because they understand their purpose and the God who gave it to them.

3:33 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

Chapter 4

4:7 - Proverbs, unlike Paul, greatly values wisdom and understanding.

* In 1 Corinthians 1:19, Paul is referring to worldly wisdom and how it is unprofitable.  This is obvious if you read the next verse.  Verse 20 reads, "Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"

4:18 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

Chapter 5

5:3-5 - The feet of strange women "go down to death," and "her steps take hold on hell."

* This Hebrew word for "strange" is better translated "profane."  It is referring to a sinful, unbelieving woman who likely commits adultery.  This woman that rejects God and His ways will go to Hell.  The phrases above are simply poetic phrases that indicate this woman's destiny.

5:18 - "Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times."

* The quote above is in verse 19; not 18.  Verse 18 indicates this quote is referring to a man's wife.  It is very appropriate and wise.  Proverb 5:18 reads, ". . . rejoice with the wife of your youth."

Chapter 6

6:16-19 - Does God love everyone?

* God loves all people. However, we also see that He can hate sinners. This doesn't mean that they are outside His grace. It simply means that He hates sin and those that reject Him and choose to hurt themselves and others by sinning can conjure His wrath.

6:24-26 - Watch out for those evil, strange, and whorish women.

* This is wise advice.

Chapter 7

7:5-27 - A woman that seduces a man is evil -- the man is just an innocent victim.

* Proverb 7:1 begins, "Son, keep my words . . ."  This book of the Bible was written by Solomon.  He devoted much of it to his son.  This is why it isn't specifically admonishing and warning women.

* This passage never advocates sinful activity by men.  In fact, verse 22 calls a man who sins with a sinful women a "fool."

7:18 - "Come let us take our fill of love until the morning."

* This is a correct quote.  This is the sinful adulteress talking to a man.

Chapter 8

8:17 - "Those that seek me early shall find me." Or will they? Pr.1:28 says just the opposite: "They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me."

* Proverbs 1:26-28 are better understood by reading verses 24 and 25, too.  These two, preceding verses indicate who God is talking about in verses 26-28.  Proverbs 1:24 and 25 read, "Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke."

* God is a God of love.  He is also a God of mercy and patience.  However, along with these characteristics, God is also a God of judgment.  He loves people and is patient with them, but after they reject and hate Him, He eventually judges them. 

* If you read all of Proverb 8:17, you see who it is talking about.  It reads, "I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me."  This verse is talking to people who love God.  These people will find Him when they seek Him diligently.

Chapter 9

9:9 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

9:13-18 - We are warned again about "foolish women" who are "simple" and "knoweth nothing," who drag their guests into "the depths of hell."

* This is true.

Chapter 10

10:6 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

10:7 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

10:20 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

10:25 - Does Hell exist? No.

* This is a figurative proverb about the wicked and how they won't stand against earthly adversity.  It has nothing to do with the afterlife.

10:27 - This verse claims that the wicked die young, but Job 21:7-9 says the wicked live long and prosper.

* "The years of the wicked will be shortened" refers to foolish things that shorten the lives of sinful people.  These things include, but are not limited to smoking, doing drugs, drinking and driving, having promiscuous, premarital sex and getting AIDS, etc.

* Much of the book of Job is Job's feelings about his circumstances.  They aren't all doctrinal statements.  In Job 21:7-9, he is venting his frustration concerning certain, wicked people.  He felt like they were living too long and prospering.  These verses read, "Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?  Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.  Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them."

Chapter 11

11:9 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

11:22 - A fair woman without discretion is like a golden jewel in a pig's snout.

* Brilliant analogy.

Chapter 12

12:1 - "Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge." But Paul expresses a different view in 1 Cor.14:38: "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."

* This statement in Proverb 12:1 is regarding a person who loves instruction.  He or she also loves knowledge.  The remainder of this verse states, "but he who hates correction is stupid."

* This passage in 1 Corinthians 14:38 is referring to a different kind of person.  Paul is essentially saying, "If a person wants to be a fool, then a fool he will be."  Paul is not encouraging ignorance.  He is simply saying that a fool will be a fool at his own peril.

12:13 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

12:21 - This verse says that bad things don't happen to good people. But this is denied in Heb.12:6.

* Proverb 12:21 reads, "No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil."  This verse never says that bad things don't happen to good people.  However, it does tell us that the righteous will not be overtaken by "grave trouble."  In other words, righteous people will keep their cool and know what to do, even when bad things happen.  They won't be overtaken.

* Hebrews 12:6 is clearly referring to God disciplining the ones who love Him when they sin.  These are two very different circumstances.  This is made very clear by reading the rest of this chapter in Hebrews 12.

12:21 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

12:22 - "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." If so, then why did God "put a lying spirit in the mouths" of prophets? (1 Kg.22:23)

* When humans lie by their own will, the Lord hates it.

* God used a lying spirit to enact his judgment on some wicked people.  This is consistent with God's ways.  He does not tempt people, but he allows them to be tempted and even judges them by allowing evil spirits to do their work.

Chapter 13

13:24 - Beating your children with a rod is a sure sign of parental love.

* This Hebrew word for "rod" also means "stick" or "branch."  Incidentally, my parents would spank me with a wooden paddle.  Parents have every right to discipline their children, out of love, in this way.

13:25 - This proverb tells us tow to tell the good from the bad: Good people are the ones who get plenty to eat, and wicked are the ones who go hungry.

* This verse doesn't say this at all.  The Living Bible translates this verse as follows: "The good man eats to live, while the evil man lives to eat."  This translation indicates overeating, which leads to numerous problems, is evil.

* A more literal translation of this verse tells us that 1) the righteous man eats to satisfy his soul and 2) the wicked man is in need.  Righteous people have a spiritual diet of godliness - obedience to God's commands, reading His Word, doing good deeds to glorify God, etc.  This fills him up and makes him happy and healthy.  The wicked man does not feed his spiritual needs.  He ignores his spiritual diet and suffers.

Chapter 14

14:15 - "The simple believeth every word." I wonder if this would apply to the fundamentalists who believe every of the Bible. But Paul says that we should "believe all things." (1 Cor.13:7)

* This verse does say that "the simple believe every word."  This is true and consistent with the other scriptures.  It is important to be careful when trusting people.  Not everyone deserves your trust.

* In 1 Corinthians 13:7, this Greek word for "believe" is "pisteuo."  It refers to entrusting one's spiritual well-being to Christ.  It surely means believing "all things" that Christ has said.

Chapter 15

15:3 - This verse says that God sees everything. But other verses disagree.

* Yes, God knows and sees everything.  See "Special Questions" for more on this.

15:6 - Is wealth a sign of righteousness or of wickedness?

* There are many kinds of wealth.  Righteousness always brings spiritual riches and wealth.  Wickedness brings spiritual bankruptcy and poverty.

Chapter 16

16:4 - God made bad people for the pleasure of punishing them, contrary to 1 Tim.2:4 and 2 Pet.1:9.

* This verse reveals how God has made all people for Himself.  It also tells us that the wicked people will face the day of doom.  This verse does not say that God enjoys punishing people.

* 1 Timothy 2:4 reveals that God desires for all people to be saved.  This is consistent with many other passages of scripture.

* 2 Peter 1:9 doesn't say anything about God making bad people for pleasure or for good or anything of the sort.

16:7 - If you are faithful to God, your enemies will be at peace with you. If so, then the author of 2 Tim.3:12 must have been mistaken.

* Proverb 16:7 does not say that all of an obedient person's enemies will always be at peace with him.  Incidentally, nobody continuously avoids sin and remains obedient to God, so even if this verse was an absolute statement, nobody would ever experience perfect and continual peace with all of their enemies.  This is actually a conditional statement.  It reads, "When a man's ways please the Lord, even enemies will be at peace with him."

Chapter 17

17:15 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

17:22 - Is it a good thing to be happy as this verse says, or is happiness something to be avoided (Ec.7:3-4, Lk.6:25)?

* It is a good thing to have a merry or happy heart.

* These verses in Ecclesiastes aren't wise.  As it was stated above, Ecclesiastes was written by a man who was trying to find happiness away from God.  Therefore, these verses reveal worldly wisdom and they don't make much sense.

* Luke 6:25 was directed to the Pharisees in Jesus' time.  They were rich and happy because they were cheating and lying to the people.  Jesus is warning them that they wouldn't be happy for much longer because they would be judged for their evil deeds.

17:26 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

Chapter 18

18:2,6 - "A fool hath no delight in understanding." and hiis "mouth is his destruction." This seems true enough, but Christians should remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:22:" Whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

* First, these verses are describing a fool.  They aren't calling someone a fool.  Note how Jesus said, "Whoever shall 'say' thou fool . . ."

* Jesus' words about calling someone a fool were referring to people who essentially hated others and only wanted to call them a fool.  Jesus gives this warning to people who offer no advice or help, but only call someone a fool and let them remain in their foolishness.  These people that are too weak, unloving or scared to help a fool and only call them one are in danger of hell fire.

18:22 - Is marriage a good thing?

* Yes, marriage is a good thing.  This is shown in many passages of scripture, such as Genesis 2:18, Proverb 18:22, Matthew 19:5, Hebrews 13:4, etc.

* 1 Corinthians 7:1 simply states that a man shouldn't touch a woman.  This is excellent advice for unmarried men and this verse is directed to them.

* 1 Corinthians 7:7 and 8 were simply Paul's words about his single life.  He had ample time to wholeheartedly serve God.  Therefore, he was telling about the benefits of staying unmarried.

Chapter 19

19:18 - Beat your children and don't stop just because they cry.

* This isn't what this verse is saying.  In fact, it never uses the word "beat."

* Proverb 19:18 tells parents to "chasten" their children (which can also be translated "instruct" or "punish").  It also tells them to do this even if they cry.  In other words, parents are to discipline their children, even if they whine or cry.

19:23 - Do bad things happen to good people?

* Both good and bad things happen to good and bad people.

* God promises blessings for righteousness and punishments for disobedience.  This is consistent with His entire Word.  When people are just and they fear God, they are blessed.  However, everyone sins and nobody is perfect.  Even if they were, God would let some things happen to them that would increase their character.

Chapter 20

20:1 - Wine and strong drink are condemned in this verse, but in other places the Bible encourages drinking.

* Proverb 20:1 reads, "Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise."  This verse is revealing the pitfalls of drinking too much wine and strong drink.

* Daniel 1:8 is where Daniel refuses to follow King Nebuchadnezzar's diet.  This meant that he wouldn't drink his wine or eat his food.  In this verse, the Hebrew word for wine implies intoxication (the same as the "wine" in Proverb 20:1).  Therefore, the king's wine would have made Daniel drunk.

20:7 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

20:9 - Can anyone claim to be free from sin?

* God forgives those that ask Him for forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  However, people will still sin.  Furthermore, since we have the power of God inside of us, we can be free from the bondage of continual sin (which includes things that we didn't even know were sins before we believed in Him), but we will not be exempt from sinning until we enter Heaven.

* 1 John 3:6 and 9 and 1 John 5:18 are describing times of obedience to God.  In no way did the author convey perfection.  This is why phrases like, "Whosoever abides in Him will not sin" and "Whosoever is born of God doesn't commit sin" are used.  Christians that abide in God will not sin.  They should not choose sin, but humans often fall short of this ideal.

20:27 - What is "the candle of the Lord" doing probing about "the inward parts of the belly?"

* The "spirit of a man" is compared to the "candle of the Lord."  This refers to his conscience.  It searches within him and convicts with its light.

20:30 - How could "the blueness of a wound" or "stripes [on] the inward parts of the belly" cleanse away evil?

* This verse is better translated: "Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart."  When a person receives discipline that is unpleasant, they can know they did wrong and repent.  This is cleansing to them.

Chapter 21

21:9 - Avoid living with "brawling" women.

* This verse simply states that it is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop than in a house shared with a contentious (or brawling) woman.  This is wise advice.

21:15 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

21:18 - "The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous."

* In His judgments, God often cuts off the wicked, so they don't destroy the righteous.

21:19 - Try not to live with "contentious" or "angry" women.

* This is similar to verse 9, but it states that it is better to live in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman.

Chapter 22

22:14 - "Strange women" have "deep pits" for mouths into which fall those whom God hates.

* This verse is warning people about immoral women.  Their mouths speak evil and they create pits for people to fall into.  This isn't a literal pit.  This is a spiritual pit.

22:15 - Beating your children will make them less foolish. Have you beaten your child today?

* Once again, this word for "rod" can mean "branch" or "stick," too.  This verse doesn't encourage senseless beating.  However, it does encourage loving discipline.

22:22-23 - Don't rob the poor or oppress the afflicted. But is it okay to own slaves?

* This verse doesn't mention anything about slaves. Nonetheless, the Bible never condones owning slaves. It only gives laws to curtail it and eventually end it. See 1 Corinthians 13 for God's will regarding the ethical treatment of other humans.

Chapter 23

23:6 - Don't eat dinner with a person who has an "evil eye."

* This Hebrew word for "eye" is sometimes used figuratively.  Therefore, this verse isn't necessarily warning people to beware of those with evil eyes.  It is warning them about evil people.

23:13-14 - Beat your children hard and often. Don't worry about hurting them. You may break a few bones and cause some brain damage, but it isn't going to kill them. And even if they do die, they'll be better off. They'll thank you in heaven for beating the hell out of them.

* Once again, this word "rod" is referring to a "branch" or "stick." 

* This verse never encourages senseless beating or severely wounding a child.  However, it clearly states the need to discipline your children and the consequences of refusing to discipline them.

23:20 - What kind of animals may we eat?

* This verse isn't about kinds of animals. It is giving a warning about gluttony. The word "zalal" that is translated as "riotous" in the KJV is also translated as "gluttonous." See the Hebrew text, the NKJV, the NIV, etc.

23:20-21, 29-30 - Is it ok to drink alcohol?

* In the scriptures, we only see drinking condoned when it is either consumed when a person is dying or celebrating. Strong drink was given to people who were very sick because they didn't have medication or pills. During celebrations, drinking a little wine without getting drunk was acceptable.

* Many times, especially in the book of Proverbs, we see warnings against drunkenness. It is clearly foolish and wrong to get drunk. We don't see drunkenness condoned anywhere in the scriptures.

23:27-28 - "Whores" and "strange women" lie around waiting to trap innocent men.

* This is what the scriptures say and this is true.

23:33 - Don't even look at any "strange women." If you do, you will utter perverse things.

* This verse is simply saying that when you look at adulteresses and profane women that your heart will utter perverse things.  In other words, if you look at sinful women, you will think sinful thoughts.

Chapter 24

24:16 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

24:17 - "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth." But Ps.58:10 says we should rejoice when our enemies suffer.

* This verse is better understood by reading verse 18, too.  It reads, "Lest the Lord see it and it displease Him and He turn away His wrath from him."

* Psalm 58:10 and 11 read, "The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, So that men will say, 'Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is God who judges in the earth.'”  These verses are simply making an observation.  David is saying the righteous "shall rejoice" when he sees the vengeance (of God).  This isn't necessarily God's will for the righteous.

* The context of this Psalm is David running for his life from King Saul.  Like some of the Psalms, they are David's thoughts and feelings and not necessarily the godly ideal.

24:20 - Does Hell exist? No.

* This verse is referring to wicked humans being killed.  It doesn't mention the afterlife.

24:21 - Should we fear God?

* Yes, we should fear God.  See "Special Questions" for more on this.

Chapter 25

25:24 - Avoid living with "brawling" women.

* This is good advice.

Chapter 26

26:3 - Whip horses, bridle asses, and strike the backs of foolish people with rods.

* This verse reads, "A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back."  It isn't a command to beat fools with rods.  However, it is revealing how horses are disciplined with whips, donkeys are disciplined with bridles, and fools are disciplined with punishment.  If the fool is your child, according to other verses, you may discipline him or her with a "rod."  However, this verse never says or implies that a person should beat any or all foolish people with rods.  In short, it is showing that the horse, the donkey, and the fool need correction.

26:4-5 - These two consecutive verses directly contradict one another. Verse 4 says not to answer a fool and verse 5 says to answer him.

* One, English, Bible translation translates Proverbs 26:4 and 5 like this: "When arguing with a rebel, don’t use foolish arguments as he does, or you will become as foolish as he is!  Prick his conceit with silly replies."  This is one possibility.

* This Hebrew word for "answer" also means "respect."  Therefore, another rendering of these verses is as follows: "Don't respect a fool's folly, or you'll become like him.  Answer a fool's folly, or he'll be wise in his own eyes."

26:11 - "As a dog returneth to his vomit ..."

* This is a good simile.

Chapter 27

27:15 - "Contentious women" are like "a continual dropping on a very rainy day." There are no contentious men. Well, maybe there are a few, but they are like sunny spring days.

* This verse only addresses contentious women.  It does not mention or praise contentious men.

Chapter 28

28:9 - If you don't listen to and follow the laws of Moses, then don't even try praying, because your prayer will become an abomination.

* This passage is correct and corresponds with many other passages of scripture.  In this time, the Israelites were to follow all of the Levitical laws.  When they followed them, they were blessed and God heard their prayers.  However, when they disobeyed God, they were disciplined and God did not answer their prayers. 

* Incidentally, when a person is choosing to disobey God, his or her mind isn't on the things of God.  Therefore, they won't be seeking His will or seeing answers to their prayers.  When a person obeys God and aligns with His will, then they will pray for the right things and receive answers.

28:21 - To follow this proverb you must treat everyone with disrespect.

* This Hebrew word for "respect" is better translated "partiality."  This is consistent with numerous other scriptures.  Showing partiality to others based on their social status, earthly wealth, etc. isn't right.

28:22 - If you are greedy then you must have an "evil eye."

* The phrase "evil eye" is simply a word picture of an evil person.

28:22 - Does the Bible condemn gambling?

* This verse uses the phrase "hastens to be rich" and it warns against it. This could be applied to gambling. However, it couldn't be applied to casting lots according to God's will.

Chapter 29

29:10 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

29:15 - Beating your children will make them wise.

* This verse says, ". . . the rod and reproof bring wisdom . . ."  This is in concert with the rest of Proverbs.  Disciplining a child includes punishment and an explanation of what they did wrong; not senseless beating.

29:19 - Beat your servants (slaves), as though they were your children.

* This verse never says that one should beat their servants.

29:27 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

Chapter 30

30:5 - "Every word of God is pure." Well then, the Bible must not be the word of God. See Ezek.23:20 and Mal.2:3 for just two examples of the "pure" word of God.

* God's Word is pure.  However, it includes things like man's foolishness and the judgment of God that some people may not like or appreciate.

30:17 - If you mock your father or disobey your mother, the ravens will pick out your eyeballs and the eagles will eat them.

* This is a metaphor showing that those that despise and disobey their parents will likely come to an untimely and unfortunate end.

30:18-19 - One of the four "wonderful" things is "the way of a man with a maid." (As a sailor and birdwatcher, though, I have to agree that the way an eagle flies and a ship sails are two of the most wonderfull things.)

* This Hebrew word for "maid" is better translated "virgin."  Agur is likely referring to a husband sleeping with his virgin wife.

30:20 - Adulterous women eat, wipe their mouths, and say "what a good girl am I."

* This verse describes an adulterous women who is not repentant.

30:21, 23 - One of the four things that the earth cannot bear is: an odious woman when she is married."

* The earth is "perturbed" or "disquieted" when an odious (hateful) woman is married.

30:33 - "The wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood."

* This is true.  "Wringing" can also be translated "forcing" or "pressure."

Chapter 31

31:3 - Don't give your strength to women.

* This verse is telling men to avoid giving their strength (sustenance, wealth, etc.) to many women.  This is good advice because a man shouldn't be chasing after women and giving them great things in order to entice them.  He should be concerned with their inner beauty and looking for a godly woman.

31:6-7 - "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." These verses recommend drinking wine and strong drink, but elsewhere in the bible drinking is condemned.

* The first part of this verse is directed to criminals that are being put to death.  As we see with Jesus Christ on the cross, the tradition was to give criminals (although Jesus wasn't one) strong drink.  Incidentally, Jesus refused it.

* In verse 7, this Hebrew word for "drink" doesn't imply getting drunk.  This wine isn't strong wine.

31:10 - "Who can find a virtuous woman?" Virtuous men are much more common.

* This is a rhetorical question.  The rest of this passage describes a virtuous woman.

* This verse doesn't say anything about virtuous men - one way or the other.