The Book of Proverbs is a collection of moral sayings and teachings written by King Solomon. The first scripture in question, Proverbs 11:2, warns about the dangers of pride. In Hebrew, "pride" is translated as "gaon," which means high or lofty. When people become prideful and put themselves above others, they will ultimately bring dishonor upon themselves. The word "dishonor" in Hebrew is "salon," meaning lightly esteemed or despised. Therefore, this scripture advises us to avoid pride and its disastrous consequences.
The second scripture, Proverbs 14:12, speaks about the consequences of following our intuition rather than wisdom and guidance from God. The Hebrew word for "way" is "Derek," which means a life course or a path. When we rely on our understanding and desires, we may think we are going the right way but unknowingly head toward death. The Hebrew word for "death" is "maven," which means physical or spiritual death. This scripture encourages us to seek God's direction and wisdom to avoid harm.
The third scripture, Proverbs 30:32, advises us to be humble and avoid speaking recklessly. The Hebrew word for "foolish" is "Chesil," which means a stubborn or dull person. When we exalt ourselves and speak recklessly, we only reveal our foolishness. The Hebrew phrase "put your hand on your mouth" is an idiom that means to be silent or hold back from speaking. Therefore, this scripture urges us to be humble and wise in our communications.
Lastly, the scripture from Isaiah 5:20-21 condemns those who distort excellent and evil. The Hebrew word for "woe" is "hoy," which expresses sorrow or distress. This passage exposes the dangers of moral relativism and self-righteousness. In Hebrew, "evil" is "ra," while "good" is "tov." Those who call evil good and good bad distort the truth and the proper order of things. The Hebrew word for "substitute" is "sum," which means to put in a different place. Such people exchange light for darkness and sweet for bitterness toward closing their eyes to the consequences of their actions. This verse warns us against moral confusion and encourages us to seek truth and justice.