21: 4-8. Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away
because they refuse to do what is just.
The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is right.
There is a unity to these good sayings, and it is found in the middle verse. I have put ‘a fleeting vapor’ in bold print. The Hebrew word there, hebel, covers a wide range of meanings from ‘fantasy’, to ‘idol’, to ‘vanity’. It is the word in Ecclesiastes 1:2 that gives us, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” It is the word in the Law where God says, they have “provoked me with their idols” (Deuteronomy 32: 21). It is the word that Job uses when he says, “my days are but a breath” (Job 7:16).
What is Solomon talking about? Everything about the ways of the wicked is false, their hopes are in vain because their behavior is crooked, unjust, and just plain sinful. The constellation of meanings around the word hebel imply that the pursuit of gain by the use of deceit, deception, and violence is really a form of idol-worship. First, because the plans and actions of the wicked are a kind of devotion to wealth and power, and the people who follow these powerful but wicked leaders are like devotees to a religion or a cult. Consider the rise of Adolf Hitler, or any other despot. These people are devoted to power; they are not devoted to God Almighty.
The pursuit of riches and power is also idol-worship in that the idol itself is like a vanishing mist which draws the perpetrator in, then finally lifts to reveal the truth. The truth is that this way leads to death. The attraction turned out to be a well-baited trap, and they fell for it.
Are we capable of fooling ourselves about where our devotion lies? Apparently, Jesus thought so. “No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6: 24).
Is it possible to dissuade such a person from the path that they have chosen. It is possible, but it is not easy. They have already adopted a disdain for the truth, so they have trouble hearing it. That’s the gateway, they head down the wrong path when truth is discarded in favor of the click-bait of a false narrative.
21: 11. When a scoffer is punished,
even the simple become wiser;
when the wise are instructed,
they increase in knowledge.
This verse introduces the second important term in this chapter. It is luts, which can mean ‘Scoffer’ or ‘Scorner’, someone who has disdain for others and mocks other people mercilessly. This is the person who disrespects every person except himself, and every idea that is not his own. Solomon’s hope is that when the Scoffer is punished for his crimes, then the average person will see it and become wiser. Good luck with that!
The wise make mistakes too, but when they are instructed, they increase in knowledge instead of doubling-down on their own stupidity. As a counter-example, Jimmy Buffett showed some wisdom in his song “Margaritaville.” First chorus: “Some people say that there’s a woman to blame, but I know, it’s nobody’s fault.” Second chorus: “...But I think, it could be my fault.” Third chorus: “And I know, it’s my own damn fault.”
21: 20-24. Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise,
but the fool devours it.
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life and honor.
One wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.
To watch over mouth and tongue
is to keep out of trouble.
The proud, haughty person, named Scoffer;
he acts with arrogant pride.
The wise person is kind to others, not one who treats others with contempt. The wise person is careful with the resources that God has given him, not one to consume at a rate that spends it all in his generation. The wise person thinks things through (the wise man built his house upon the rock), and thus survives when others fail. The wise person watches what he says and who he says it to, rather than run his mouth and get into trouble. The wise person is humble and considers the impact of his behavior on others. The Scoffer speaks and acts without regard to anyone else, even if others are hurt by his actions. The Scoffer doesn’t care.
21: 16. Whoever wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.