Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 A king's wrath is like the roar of a lion; he who angers him forfeits his life.
3 It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4 A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
5 The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"?
10 Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both.
11 Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14 "It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.
17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.
20 If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.
24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man [a] ; it searches out his inmost being.
28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.
30 Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 20:27 Or The spirit of man is the LORD 's lamp
Sunday, December 20, 2009
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I've long contemplated the meaning of "differing weights and measures" in modern commerce. Does it go beyond the obviously dishonest practice of short-changing a buyer? In other words, if I label a can as containing 16 ounces when in fact it holds only 10 ounces, then I've cheated the buyer. That's clear.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what is less clear is whether "differing weights and measures" applies to selling the same item to different buyers at different prices. This most often comes up in situations where haggling is commonplace. Once while I was on a trip to Hong Kong, I went to market with a friend. We both bought the same blouse (in different colors) from the same shopkeeper; however, I paid less than she did. She paid the posted price and I negotiated a discount.
Was that fair? In terms of the world, yes. We each made a decision about how much we were willing to spend and the shopkeeper made a decision to accept each of our offers. We all got what we bargained for.
In an American store, where haggling is not usually done, we still bargain. It's a "yes or no" deal, in that if we do not like the posted price, we can decide not to buy the item at all. If enough people pass on the item, the shop may mark down the price and then we can deliberate again over whether we want the item at the new price.
Even then we run into issues of fairness. What if the shop clerk knows the price of an item is going to be marked down the next day? Does she tell a customer who is buying the item right now at full price to come back tomorrow when they will pay less? Or, is that cheating the owner of the shop out of the profit they are entitled to today?
Yikes! I have more questions here than answers...which is probably why I've thought about this for so long.