An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Dangers of Paraphrase

(Pro 28:2 KJV)  For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

As I have said, I am reading Proverbs in the NIV this month.  Often what I read sounds good and speaks to me as well as the King James.  At other times I read something in it jumps out, bites me on the nose and I say, “What?”  This verse today is one of those. Notice what the NIV says,

Proverbs 28:2 (NIV) When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
My first reading, which may be all some people give, is that the rebellion is against the rulers, or against the government.  That is one possibility from this translation.  But that’s not what it’s talking about.  How much better word is that used in the King James and other translations of “transgression.”

This is not a warning against starting a revolution.  You can go other places to find that.  This is a warning that if the people of a nation refuse to follow the laws of God and live in righteousness, then chaos will be our reward.

So?  We are called to live righteous lives.  We need to understand that it makes a difference, not only in our salvation, but in the society in which we live. 

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