Proverbially Speaking Trivia Quiz

Answer: show himself to be friendly

Sometimes the most obvious answer is the correct one. The King James Version renders Proverbs 18:24 this way, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

A person must show themselves to be friendly toward others in order to make friends. Hmmm. What a simple concept.

Think about it. How many friends would you have if you were always angry, snarly and hateful to everyone that you met?

Answer: when he was living with a brawling woman

The King James Version of this scripture puts it this way: "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house."

Now, this might be rather obvious, but consider this statement as well...

Don't give your wife a REASON to have a brawling nature, and don't engage in it yourself!

Answer: a virtuous woman

In verse 14, the virtuous woman spoken of is compared to a merchant ship, bringing her family food from far away, and in verse 16, she is noted to be a purchaser of land and a laborer in it. I love verse 28, because it says "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

This woman leaves quite a legacy, and there have been many of them throughout the centuries, my own mother included, and hopefully yours as well!

Answer: the fruit of his mouth

Proverbs 18:20-21 says this: "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

So, let's see. We eat the FRUIT of our own mouths and we use our TONGUES to speak death or life to ourselves...

Interesting thought. We either eat death or life, according to the words that we actually speak. Mull this over a bit and consider: Do YOU condemn or enliven yourself with YOUR own words? If you speak words of faith and truth, this verse says you "eat" of that faith; if you speak of doubt and defeat, well, you get to "eat" of those words. (Yuck!)

Answer: a liberal or giving person

"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25 - King James Version

This seems to say; if you look after others, someone will look after you. Your reputation will precede you, whether you are selfish or giving, and others will respond accordingly.

Answer: Wisdom

In the second verse of the chapter, wisdom is given a female personification. While wisdom may be seen as the main topic, Jesus Christ seems to be indicated later in this chapter for the following reasons:
A)- no mere man could claim to have existed before the earth began (verses 23 and 26);
B)- nor could any man claim to have existed when God prepared the heavens (verse 27);
C)- nor did any man exist when God set the boundaries of the seas after parting the waters, and creating dry land according to the account found in Genesis 1:9 (verse 29); and
D)- there is the quite compelling statement that is found in verse 30: "Then I was by him [God] as one brought up with him when he appointed the foundations of the earth."
Most Christians believe that Jesus was in heaven with the Father prior to coming in the flesh as the ultimate sacrifice for man, and that He has always existed along with the Father and the Holy Ghost.

Answer: their own soul

"He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding." - King James Version

Answer: when the thief is hungry

Proverbs 6:30 and 31 says, "Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry: But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house."

A similar, yet even more exact thought may be found in the book of Exodus, when God gave specific instructions to the children of Israel. In Exodus 22:1-15, these details are spelled out, and in verse 3 it says "... if he have nothing, he shall be sold for his theft."

Whenever anyone steals from another individual, in a manner of speaking they are automatically placing themselves into that person's debt. This may also be viewed as a form of self-inflicted enslavement.

Answer: punishment of their own

"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished."

Proverbs 17:5 seems to be saying that if we insult the poverty-stricken we stand in danger of insulting God Himself, and if we rejoice to see our enemies suffering, then we will also be punished for desiring to see them "get theirs."

Answer: when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 states very plainly that one should "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
- King James Version