Proverbs 10

Here are a few of Solomon's nuggets of wisdom from the 10th chapter of Proverbs:

Prov 10:4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
I have always struggled to put the literalness of Proverbs into proper perspective. It can't possibly be absolute for all people at all times, in all places, can they? It's sort of like the Farmer's Almanac predicting the weather -- some general principles, generally correct, but not 100 percent. Do the hands of all diligent people bring wealth, and the hands of all lazy people bring poverty? Is this referring simply to money, or to other, less tangible, riches? I do know that when I am lazy, my income suffers. So does the quality of other facets of my life.

Prov 10:9 The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
Have you ever taken a crooked path and then held your breath wondering when someone will find out and call you on the carpet for your wayward steps? Oh, I hate that feeling of knowing I've been foolish, and then waiting for the consequence. Sometimes I wonder if the anxious waiting isn't the punishment in and of itself.

Prov 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
Why is it that Jesus, when asked what the most important of God's commands are, simply replies, "Love the Lord with all your heart .... and love your neighbor as you love yourself." Because love covers a multitude of sin. How many misunderstandings are the result of a lack of trust? Isn't a lack of trust simply a result of lacking confidence in someones love for us?

Prov 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Ever been in a conversation where someone ended up slandering another person, or gossiping, because their mouth ran on overtime? It started as a nice conversation, but took a turn for the sinful simply because too much was being said? I hate that. I hate when it's me doing the running-at-the-mouth. This is a hard one for me, because people generally regard me as outgoing and conversational. When I am quiet, people ask, "What's wrong?" Sometimes something is wrong. But often, I'm just trying to hold my tongue.