angela hormberg

Tag: Wicked

  • Proverbs 12:3

    Proverbs 12:3

    Root of the Righteous

    Commonplace –

    “A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved” (Proverbs 12:3).

    In Proverbs 12:3, Solomon declares that a wicked man does not have a firm foundation; he is constantly shifting in response to current trends. The righteous, however, have solid roots, which are firm and immovable.

    We can compare the righteous to math facts, like 1 + 1 = 2. That is an unchanging fact. It’s the same truth all over the world. Yet, the wicked will play games with facts. A wicked person would ask, “Does 3/3 + 3/3 = 2?” Most people do not like fractions and will become confused. The wicked person has manipulated the fact and caused the victim to doubt themselves. 3/3 + 3/3 = 2 is the same as 1 + 1 =2.

    More commonly, the wicked manipulate language. For instance, a common street hustle goes like this: A hustler will walk up to an unsuspecting victim and say, “I bet you $20 I can tell you where you got your shoes.” The victim thinks this is an easy bet, because there is no way the hustler will know where he bought the shoes, so the victim takes the bet. The hustler then says, “You got them on your feet.” The victim assumed he understood the hustler was asking where he bought the shoes, when the hustler was asking where the shoes currently were located. The hustler manipulated language to hoodwink the victim.

    The scams of the wicked are usually revealed or become known, causing them to have to constantly pivot to learn new tricks. They are continually at risk of having their wickedness discovered. In contrast, the righteous live with a clear conscience and a life rooted in Christ. As Matthew Henry notes, “Those that by faith are rooted in Christ are firmly fixed; in him their comfort and happiness are so rooted as never to be rooted up” (702).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 12:3.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2026 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 11:23

    Proverbs 11:23

    Desires and Expectations

    Commonplace –

    “The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath” (Proverbs 11:23).

    In Proverbs 11:23, Solomon mentions desires and expectations, and essentially, the words have the same meaning. The Hebrew word for ‘desire’ is “ta’ăvâ“, which means the “longing of the heart” (“H378”). The Hebrew word for ‘expectations’ is “tiqvâ“, which means “hope” (“H8615”).

    What is the hope of the righteous? The righteous long for a good outcome. What is the hope of the wicked? The wicked long for a bad outcome. The good hope the best for themselves and those around them. The wicked desire wrath, fury, and revenge.

    What are you thinking when you think of the outcome of events?

    Works Cited

    “H8378 – ta’ăvâ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 10 Mar, 2026. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8378/kjv/wlc/0-1/.

    “H8615 – tiqvâ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 10 Mar, 2026. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8615/kjv/wlc/0-1/.

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 11:23.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2026 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 11:11

    Proverbs 11:11

    The Righteous in the City

    Commonplace –

    “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 11:11).

    It is quite something to read the ancient words of Proverbs and realize how relatable and true they still are today! In Proverbs 11:11, the writer notes the impact of the upright and the wicked on the city. The upright bless the city and raise it upward, but the wicked tear down and overthrow the city. This is why good men and women are needed to participate in government.

    Matthew Henry has much to say about the good in regard to Proverbs 11:11:

    “…those that are good do good but (as saith the proverb of the ancients) wickedness proceeds from the wicked.

    1. Good men are public blessings – Vir bonus est commune bonum. By the blessing of the upright, the blessings with which they are blessed, which enlarge their sphere of usefulness, – by the blessings with which they bless their neighbours, their advice, their example, their prayers, and all the instances of their serviceableness to the public interest, – by the blessings with which God blesses others for their sake, – by these the city is exalted and made more comfortable to the inhabitants, and more considerable among its neighbors.
    2. Wicked men are public nuisances, not only the burdens, but the plagues of their generation. The city is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked, whose evil communications corrupt good manners, are enough to debauch a town, to ruin virtue in it, and bring down the judgments of God upon it” (697).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 11:11.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2026 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 11:10

    Proverbs 11:10

    Good Triumphs

    Commonplace –

    “When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting” (Proverbs 11:10).

    Who doesn’t love and long for a happy ending in a story, a book, a movie? How much more so do we love a happy ending to a person’s life? Proverbs 11:10 reveals this universal truth. It is all about getting the happy ending, whether it’s the righteous winning or the wicked being defeated.

    In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell states the following:

    “The happy ending of the fairy tale, the myth, and the divine comedy of the soul is to be read, not as a contradiction, but as a transcendental of the universal tragedy of man” (21).

    Turning to God and accepting Christ releases us from the bonds of the material world and opens up eternity, where justice is always served, good always triumphs over evil, and Proverbs 11:10 is the final outcome. Yet even in our material world, even men without “religion themselves, have a good word for a good man” (Henry 697).

    “Good men are public blessings – Vir bonum est commune bonum” (Henry 697).

    Works Cited

    Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New World Library. 2008.

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 11:10.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2026 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 11:8

    Proverbs 11:8

    Deliverance

    Commonplace –

    “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead” (Proverbs 11:8).

    Proverbs 11:8 states that the righteous are saved from a trouble, but the wicked fall when confronted with the same situation. This happens due to the choices made by each person. A righteous person will choose the good and be delivered. The wicked person will choose evil and fall. Of course, we all see situations in the material world we live in where it appears the good make a good choice and are punished by their choice, sometimes even unto death. However, that viewpoint leaves out the eternal, spiritual perspective, which is essential. As Matthew Henry notes in his Commentary,

    “When a godly man dies his expectations are out-done, and all his fears vanish; but when a wicked man dies his expectations are dashed, dashed to pieces; in that very day his thoughts perish with which he had pleased himself, his hopes vanish” (697).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 11:8.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2026 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 10:30

    Proverbs 10:30

    Standing Firm

    Commonplace –

    “The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth” (Proverbs 10:30).

    In Proverbs 10:30, Solomon addresses the material and immaterial position of the righteous. On this material earth, the righteous have their spiritual life, which grounds them and points the way for them. That solid rock foundation holds them fast in the changing circumstances of the world. It doesn’t make them perfect, but it does give them a roadmap, pointing the way to the good in every situation. Later, when the righteous pass on from their material body, they move into their eternal life in heaven, not so the wicked, which Solomon points out in the second half of the verse. As Matthew Henry notes, “Ruin and destruction are the certain consequences of wickedness. The wicked shall not only not inherit the earth, though they lay up their treasure in it, but the shall not so much as inhabit the earth; God’s judgments will root them out” (695).

    In his Commentary, Matthew Henry also wrote the following regarding the outcome of the righteous and the wicked:

    “…the way of the Lord which is the strength of the upright is consumption and terror to the workers of iniquity; the same gospel which to the one is a savour of life unto life to the other is a savour of death unto death; the same providence, like the same sun, softens the one and hardens the other, Hos. 14:9 (695).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 10:30.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    We'd love to hear from you!

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 10:25

    Proverbs 10:25

    An Eternal Foundation

    Commonplace –

    “As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation” (Proverbs 10:24).

    In Proverbs 10:24, Solomon speaks to the whirlwind that is the wicked. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like a whirlwind, more like a hurricane that sits in one place for a while and won’t move, until it does. In contrast, the righteous are the long game, everlasting, anchored.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 10:25.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    We'd love to hear from you!

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 10:20

    Proverbs 10:20

    The Worth of the Just and the Wicked

    Commonplace –

    “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth” (Proverbs 10:20).

    In Proverbs 10:20, Solomon again unites two familiar subjects: the tongue and the heart. Here we learn “the tongue of the just is as choice silver”. Silver is wealth, so the words of the just are like riches, while “the heart of the wicked is little worth”, like poverty. Recalling previous verses in chapter 10, we remember that our words originate in our heart. As Jesus said,

    “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).

    Circling back to Proverbs 10:20, we see that the heart of the just has good treasure, which the just man brings forth in his words. The heart of the wicked is worthless, so his words are worthless, too.

    Matthew Henry summarizes this proverb so well:

    “We are here taught how to value men, not by their wealth and preferment in the world, but by their virtue” (693).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 10:20.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    We'd love to hear from you!

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 10:7

    Proverbs 10:7

    Reputation and the Name We Leave Behind

    Commonplace –

    “The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot” (Proverbs 10:7).

    Proverbs 10:7 begins with saying “the memory of the just is blessed”. Does this mean the just person is remembering and has a blessed memory, because he was a just person and acted correctly? Or does this mean those who recall the just person do so with good thoughts, because he acted in righteous ways. In Proverbs 10:7, the word “memory” is rooted in the Hebrew word ‘zakar’, which is a verb. Therefore, the word memory in verse 10:7 means the act of remembering, recalling to mind.

    When we read the second part of verse 10:7, “but the name of the wicked shall rot”, the meaning of the word ‘memory’ is further clarified. In both parts of verse 10:7, Solomon speaks of the act of recalling people to mind. When people remember the just, they recall the memories with blessings; the memories people have of the righteous are good memories. By contrast, people do not recall the name of the wicked. Their reputation fades, and their name dies with them. (Unless of course, they were so evil and their acts so incredibly wicked that their name is referenced as a warning.)

    In his summary of Proverbs 10:7, Matthew Henry states,

    “Both the just and the wicked, when their days are fulfilled, must die. Between their bodies in the grave there is no visible difference; between the souls of the one and the other, in the world of spirits, there is a vast difference, and so there is, or ought to be, between their memories, which survive them” (691).

    Henry goes on to mention “blessed men leave behind them blessed memories”, which is a gift to their heirs. According to Henry, these future generations have a duty to the dead.

    “It is part of the duty of the survivors: Let the memory of the just be blessed, so the Jews read it, and observe it as a precept, not naming an eminently just man that is dead without adding, Let his memory be blessed. We must delight in making an honourable mention of good men that are gone, bless God for them, and for his gifts and graces that appeared in them, and especially be followers of them in that which is good“.

    The highest tribute to the dead is to recall their good deeds and follow their example. When the person was truly a good person, this is easily done, often without thinking about it. Whenever I recall my grandmothers (no disrespect to my grandfathers, but they died when I was young), it is always with good memories. I don’t have to search for good memories, those are the only memories I have of them. They were just such fantastic women: loving, kind, thoughtful, and the list goes on. Do you have someone in your life that you recall with great memories? What was it about them that make their memories so good?

    Works Cited

    “H2142 – Zakar”. BlueLetterBible.com, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2142/wlc/wlc/0-1/. Accessed 17 Dec 2025.

    “Proverbs 10:7”. Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/proverbs/10-.htm#google_vignette. Accessed 17 Dec 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 10:7.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    The Interlinear Bible, I Volume Edition. Jay P. Green, Sr. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 2020.

    We'd love to hear from you!

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Proverbs 10:6

    Proverbs 10:6

    Just Desserts

    Commonplace –

    “Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:6).

    In Proverbs 10:6, Solomon lays out the rewards for the just and the wicked. The just receive blessings, while the wicked receive violence. In his Commentary, Matthew Henry made the following comments related to Proverbs 10:6, and the rewards of the just and the wicked.

    “Here is, 1. The head of the just crowned with blessings, with the blessings both of God and man. Variety of blessings, abundance of blessings, shall descend from above, and visibly abide on the head of good men, real blessings; they shall not only be spoken well of, but done well to. Blessings shall be on there head as a coronet to adorn and dignify them and as a helmet to protect and secure them.

    2. The mouth of the wicked covered with violence. Their mouths will be stopped with shame for the violence which they have done; they shall not have a word to say in excuse for themselves (Job 5:16); their breath shall be stopped with the violence that shall be done to them, when their violent dealings shall return on their heads, shall be returned to their teeth” (691).

    I agree with the heart of Matthew Henry’s commentary. Yet, his words seem to suggest justice is served and man will reap his reward for his behavior on earth. This seems to echo the understanding of his time, which, in my understanding (definitely limited), is that if you are a ‘good’ person, God will bless you’, which, as he mentioned, involves others speaking well of you and good things being done to/for you.

    However, there are some people who seem to get away with their wickedness. After pondering this, it seems the only true test of this can come when you die. If you are a wolf in sheep’s clothing or people have a reason to like/need you, they will pay you tribute in life, which would make it seem as if you are receiving God’s blessings through man. A couple of fictional characters that fit this bill jump to mind: Scrooge and Lady Catherine De Bourgh. (At least with Scrooge, we see he changed by the end of the tale.) I am suggesting that it is really only when you die that people reveal their true feelings about you. Do you agree?

    Cross References from Biblehub.com:

    Psalm 1:1-3
    Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. / But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. / He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

    Matthew 5:3-12
    “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. / Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. …

    Psalm 112:1-3
    Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. / His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. / Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

    James 3:13-18
    Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. / But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. / Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. …

    Psalm 37:22-26
    Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed. / The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. / Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand. …

    Matthew 25:34-40
    Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. / For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ …

    Psalm 5:12
    For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with the shield of Your favor.

    Luke 6:20-23
    Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. / Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. / Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. …

    Psalm 24:4-5
    He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully. / He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from the God of his salvation.

    1 Peter 3:9-12
    Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. / For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. / He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. …

    Psalm 128:1-2
    A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways! / For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.

    Romans 12:14
    Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

    Psalm 84:11
    For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

    1 Corinthians 4:12-13
    We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; / when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

    Psalm 115:13-15
    He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike. / May the LORD give you increase, both you and your children. / May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

    Works Cited

    “Proverbs 10:6”. Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/proverbs/10-6.htm#google_vignette. Accessed 16 Dec 2025.

    Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 10:6.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    We'd love to hear from you!

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg