but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
Proverbs 13:21 (from Bible.com)
A thought: I have never gained so much from my sin that it beats the negative results. I want to be holy in my work and life, looking to a Saviour who went before me and saved me.
A prayer: Jesus, you paid no heed to the shame of the cross, because you saw ahead to the joy of heaven. Help me seek you. Amen
Some places where else this is discussed:
Light/lamp references: Job 18:5,6, Prov 4:18,19
My thoughts:
Our choices in life often tend to affect what kind of life we have. If we determine to live only for self, pushing others who interfere aside, what kind of life would we end up with? We’ll lose any chance at deep relationships, have a very small view of the world, and be in open rebellion of our Maker.
This proverb talks of life with the metaphorical use of lights and lamps. People’s lifestyles affect the brightness of their life-light. The righteous has a bright lamp, as they are living the life they were created for, loving neighbour and God as best they can. The wicked’s lamp is put out before it’s time, reflecting the dangerous behaviour they exhibit.
Our lives aren’t easy or guaranteed to be long for any of us, but its always worth seeking the One who created us to be righteous. In him our life-light can shine brightly.
Thanks for reading! Pete.
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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!
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Some places where else this is discussed:
My thoughts:
We are often undone by our own actions. Whether it’s at work or home, with our finances or relationships, our mess ups turn back onto us. People have a way of exposing a matter if it’s affected them, revealing our deception, error, or hurtful actions.
This proverb talks of a person saved or destroyed respectively by her good or evil behaviour. The woman of integrity is protected from harsh outcomes because of her obedience to God’s good commands. She sticks to what she knows God would have her do. The sinful woman experiences the full force of her actions and has no help in her fall. Let’s take God at his word and seek righteousness in Christ. It will guard us from many pains.
Thanks for reading! Pete.
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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!
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Some places where else this is discussed:
Prov. 6:16-19, 8:13, Psalm 119:163
My thoughts:
Hate is a strong emotion. We shouldn’t hate people personally, but we are given free 
reign in the Bible to hate evil. Evil deserves drastic action. For us to hate our own evil actions or the temptation to do them, we’d need to avoid them, stamp them out, and flee such things.
In this proverb, the man who seeks to be righteous despises any deception; he follows in what God hates. The wicked man has no qualms about lying, as long as it gets them what they want. Yet they bring upon themselves all manner of shame. So often the truth ousts us. We realise it would have been far better to have not lied in the first place.
Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!
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Some places where else this is discussed:
Prov. 3:2; 4:10; 11:24
My thoughts:
The promise of a long life or one without sickness or poverty is often hard to believe. Yet the proverbs and psalms of the Bible don’t shy from it. In this proverb, righteousness is seen as the important path to follow, and with it comes life. The life lived in honour of 
God is also one with hope for the future, and not just for our earthly existence – to live forever in Heaven under the rule of God is our hope, too. Becoming right with God is a path that leads to so much good.
Thanks for reading! Pete.
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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!
Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with references, and difficult concepts and words. Plus he has a real way with words!
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The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. – Proverbs 12:26
Some places where else this is discussed:
Prov. 18:24; 22:24-25
My thoughts:
How do you pick your friends? I know for myself people can come into my life and I’m drawn to them, not thinking about their character too much. It can be easy to connect with people at an emotional or intellectual level, but not delve into all of who they are. 
Friends do influence us both in good and bad ways, and this proverb speaks of how it is the mark of the righteous to choose them carefully. Let’s be wise with who we hang out with so we aren’t influenced to turn away from God.
Thanks for reading! Pete.
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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!
Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with references, and difficult concepts and words. Plus he has a real way with words!
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No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble. – Proverbs 12:21
The context of this Proverb:
Proverbs 12:13-25
My thoughts:
While we can’t often control what happens to us, and it’s up to God in His Will as to that, we can control our actions and words. This proverb talks of the righteous not having 
harm overcome them and the opposite for the wicked. How can we interpret this? Well in the context of proverbs about how words affect us, the fill of trouble could be self-inflicted. The one who mistreats another could easily find a similar response right back.
Thanks for reading! Pete.
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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!
Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with difficult concepts and words. Plus he has a real way with words!
Photo Attribution: Jochen Frey Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0
On Proverbs 