Proverbs for Presbyters

By Jared Nelson | June 21, 2022

For my own edification, I have made a habit to read through the book of Proverbs in preparation for General Assembly each year. A few years ago, I wrote out certain Proverbs which I need to remember when interacting with others, speaking privately or publicly, and maintaining my integrity at General Assembly.

I am sharing them here in case they may be helpful for your edification as well. Each Proverb is worth time pondering and applying to our own hearts and lives, and worth sharing that it might be made use of for others’ edification as well. Remember, we do well to apply the book of Proverbs as a whole and each individual proverb contained therein to ourselves first before setting them before our neighbors:

• My son, do not lose sight of these – keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. – Proverbs 3:21-23
• Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.  – Proverbs 3:30
• There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.  – Proverbs 6:16-19
• Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.  – Proverbs 9:8
• Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.  – Proverbs 10:10
• Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.  – Proverbs 10:12
• The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.  – Proverbs 10:18
• When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.  – Proverbs 11:2
• Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.  – Proverbs 11:14
• Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.  – Proverbs 12:1
• Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. – Proverbs 14:29
• A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  – Proverbs 15:1
• A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.  – Proverbs 15:12
• A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.  – Proverbs 15:18
• All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.  – Proverbs 16:2
• Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.  – Proverbs 16:18
• Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.  – Proverbs 16:32
• Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.  – Proverbs 17:1
• Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.  – Proverbs 17:9
• The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.  – Proverbs 17:14
• Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.  – Proverbs 17:27
• Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.  – Proverbs 17:28
• A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.  – Proverbs 18:2
• If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.  – Proverbs 18:13
• The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.  – Proverbs 18:17
• A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.  – Proverbs 18:19
• Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.  – Proverbs 19:2
• Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.  – Proverbs 19:20
• It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.  – Proverbs 20:3
• Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?  – Proverbs 20:9
• Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.  – Proverbs 20:19
• Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.  – Proverbs 20:23
• It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.  – Proverbs 20:25
• Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.  – Proverbs 21:2
• Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.  – Proverbs 21:23
• Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.  – Proverbs 22:10
• Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.  – Proverbs 22:24-25
• Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.  – Proverbs 23:20-21
• Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.  – Proverbs 23:29-30
• Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.  – Proverbs 24:27
• Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.  – Proverbs 24:28
• With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.  – Proverbs 25:15
• Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.  – Proverbs 26:6
• Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.  – Proverbs 26:12
• Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.  – Proverbs 26:17
• Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”  – Proverbs 26:18-19
• For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.  – Proverbs 26:20
• As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.  – Proverbs 26:21
• A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.  – Proverbs 26:28
• Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.  – Proverbs 27:1
• Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.  – Proverbs 27:2
• Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.  – Proverbs 27:5-6
• Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.  – Proverbs 27:9
• The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.  – Proverbs 27:12
• Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.  – Proverbs 27:17
• Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.  – Proverbs 28:4
• If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.  – Proverbs 28:9
• Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.  – Proverbs 28:18
• To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.  – Proverbs 28:21
• Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.  – Proverbs 28:23
• He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.  – Proverbs 29:1
• Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.  – Proverbs 29:8
• If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.  – Proverbs 29:9
• A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.  – Proverbs 29:11
• Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.  – Proverbs 29:20
• A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.  – Proverbs 29:22
• Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.  – Proverbs 31:8-9
• Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  – Proverbs 31:30

Jared Nelson is a PCA Teaching Elder serving as Pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church in Hopewell Township, PA.