To further emphasize the need for us to appreciate wisdom, we will turn our attention now to various passages in the book of Proverbs that highlight the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. We can divide these into two categories: physical consequences and spiritual consequences. As we consider the following passages, there will be a few that may have application to both physical and spiritual consequences, but for our study they will be placed in one category or the other.
Physical Consequences
“What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted” (10:24).
Our future is made up of three things: what we desire, what we fear, and what we do not expect. Generally, the righteous can expect some measure of blessing from God for following His will. The wicked can look forward to those things which he fears as the negative consequences for his foolish behavior.
“The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of strong men perishes. The righteous is delivered from trouble, but the wicked takes his place” (11:3-8).
The underlying theme of the above verses is the right way and the wrong way to gain wealth. The righteous, being guided by his integrity (11:3), understanding the limitations of riches (11:4), and acting blamelessly (11:5) and uprightly (11:6), will avoid trouble in regard to the riches of this life (11:8). In contrast, the wicked man will be crooked (11:3) in his desire to accumulate wealth. Morality or integrity do not matter because in his greed (11:6), all he has to hope for are the riches of this life (11:7). But his riches will not profit him when the time comes to suffer the consequences of his misplaced priorities and corrupt practices (11:4).
“The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm. The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain life, and he who pursues evil will bring about his own death” (11:17-19).
These verses emphasize the way in which we treat others. Those who are merciful and righteous toward others will have a reward. Those who are cruel, wicked, and evil in the treatment of others will suffer. The wicked, though, deceives himself, thinking that he will do himself good by mistreating others. In the short term, this may work out for him. But in the long term, it does not. This is why Solomon says, “The wicked earns deceptive wages.” He fools himself into thinking that the short term “benefit” he gets from cheating others is sustainable over the long term. It is not. Jesus would later discuss how we are to treat others when He instituted what we commonly call the “Golden Rule”: “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
“A man will be praised according to his insight, but one of perverse mind will be despised” (12:8).
Those who pursue the wisdom that comes from above will gain insight. With this comes praise from those who respect God and His wisdom. The “one of perverse mind” is he that rejects God’s wisdom and walks according to his own way. Those who follow this wisdom, whether through rebelliousness or ignorance, will be despised by those who recognize and respect divine wisdom.
“The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out” (13:9).
Light is used to symbolize insight and understanding. It also provides one with a sense of safety and security. The word rejoices is derived from a word meaning to brighten. Hence, the insight, understanding, safety, and security enjoyed by the righteous man abounds, or shines brightly. In contrast, the wicked man’s lamp (his understanding, insight, safety, and security) is put out.
“The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, but the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a foundation of life, to turn aside from the snares of death. Good understanding produces favor, but the way of the treacherous is hard” (13:13-15).
One who fears the Lord and His word, follows the teachings of the wise, and practices righteousness, will be rewarded with life and favor. But the one who despises the word of the Lord and walks treacherously will suffer hardships in this life that could have been avoided if he would have just followed the will of God. Several passages make this same point. “He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who seeks evil, evil will come to him” (11:27). “No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble” (12:21). “Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will be far from them” (22:5).
“A wicked messenger falls into adversity, but a faithful envoy brings healing” (13:17).
Those who are faithful in bringing the message of truth leading to divine wisdom are a benefit to all those that will hear them. The “wicked messenger,” besides providing no help to his audience, also brings trouble upon himself.
“Adversity pursues sinners, but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity” (13:21).
The wicked man does not just stumble into trouble. Solomon says that trouble pursues him, while the righteous enjoys prosperity. A similar statement is found a couple of chapters later: “Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, but trouble is in the income of the wicked” (15:6).
“The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is in need” (13:25).
Passages that we have already considered that speak of wealth and prosperity as being rewards for the righteous should not be interpreted as teaching that following God is a way to obtain riches far above and beyond what most in the world will ever enjoy (cf. 1 Timothy 6:3-5). However, there are blessings for following after righteousness. Jesus would later say, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things [the basic necessities of life] will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). By avoiding the ways of wickedness and by following the ways of wisdom, the righteous man can be assured of being blessed so that he may “satisfy his appetite.” The one who rejects righteousness finds himself “in need.” This concept is approached from a different angle in the next chapter. Solomon said, “The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied with his” (14:14). The righteous man, in both verses, is able to be content with the blessings that come from doing good. The wicked man is “in need” of those blessings that are good (13:25), while having an abundance of the hardships that come as a consequence of his wickedness (14:14).
“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity” (24:16).
Even the righteous man will occasionally stumble into sin and have to suffer the consequences for it. But the difference between the righteous and the wicked is that the righteous man gets back up after stumbling and continues on in the way of truth, whereas the wicked man remains in his sin as the consequences of sin compound against him.
“An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered” (28:25-26).
The fundamental difference between the righteous and the wicked is in whom they place their trust. The righteous man “trusts in the Lord.” As a result, he “will be delivered” (this is true for both his physical and spiritual well-being). The wicked man is “arrogant” and foolishly “trusts in his own heart.” Therefore, if we are to be righteous, and enjoy the rewards of being righteous, we must trust in the Lord.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones” (3:5-8).
