I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 18-21.

    Again today’s passage contains many unconnected proverbs. However, there are several themes which are touched on from different perspectives by different proverbs. The writer repeatedly comes back to the importance of being careful in what we say. In today’s passage his emphasis is on more than just being careful about what words we choose. He emphasizes the importance of actually knowing what we are talking about. when we argue/debate with others we should be seeking to deepen our understanding of the situation, not just to express our opinion. To that end we need to seek to learn all of the facts before we form an opinion, let alone express it. The writer does not stop there, he points out that we need to listen to both sides of the story before we come to a conclusion. Even if person A is being completely honest with us, it is possible that there are aspects of the situation which they do not know. Which will result in their interpretation being incorrect.

    Something I had never noticed, or perhaps, just never made the connection: If you wish to teach someone not to do wrong, tell them that they have done wrong. Those who are wise enough will change their ways. Those who do not respond to instruction will not learn from punishment. Punish those who failed to learn from instruction in order to teach others. You do not punish someone in order to teach them not to do wrong: you punish them in order to teach others not to do wrong. Understanding this should inform both our criminal justice system and how we deal with subordinates in the work place (or anyone else over whom we have power).