If thou hast done foolishly ... (Proverbs 30:32)
KJV Proverbs 30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in
lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon
thy mouth.
APB Proverbs
30:32 If you have been foolish* by exalting yourself Or if you have schemed**, put your hand on
your mouth.
*The verb ‘have been foolish’ is nabalta and
is the only occurrence of the Qal form of this verb (nabal II). The Piel
has the sense of ‘treat s.one disdainfully’ (Holladay). See Isa. 32:6-7 for an extended description of the nabal. Waltke
says, “Verse 32a presents the foolish situation of plotting one’s
self-exaltation through boasting.”
**The word ‘schemed’ (zamam) can mean ‘plan,
think’ and occurs 13x in the OT )Gen. 11:6,
Deut. 19:19, Ps. 17:3, Ps. 31:14, Ps. 37:12, Prov. 30:32, Prov. 31:16, Jer.
4:28, Jer. 51:12, Lam. 2:17, Zech. 1:6, Zech. 8:14, Zech. 8:15). NASB: plot evil;
ESV: devising evil; LEB: devised evil. It normally requires a complementary infinitive
(Gen. 11:6; Deut. 19:19) but may be
used with an implied infinitive to indicate evil planning when the wicked are
the subject (Psa. 37:12).
Both God and man are subjects. Both evil and good plans are the object. The
context here suggests that the plan or scheme in
view is at the least a foolish one involving speech.
Self-exaltation is foolish. Even Yahweh seeks the
exaltation of others -- Jesus did not exalt himself to High Priest but sought
the Father’s exaltation (Heb. 5).
Agur models humility in his opening lines, warns
against arrogance throughout (against parents - 30:11; in one’s own eyes -
30:13; of adulterous women - 30:20), and concludes with an implied admonition
to avoid the folly of self-exaltation.
Paying attention to the final phrase of the verse
adds an additional dimension to this proverb. It not only implicitly declares
self-exaltation foolish but it also wisdom’s advice on what to do if you have
been foolish: “Clap your hand over your mouth (lit. “hand to mouth”) signifies
“keep immediate and absolute silence” (Jdg. 18:19; Mic. 7:16; Job 21:5] and symbolizes respect for a superior (Job 40:3–5).” (Waltke, 500). Don’t
make it worse for yourself by continuing to talk. Stop talking. Lay your hand
on your mouth. Recognize your own foolishness and rectify it.
Yahweh, your perspective is that self-exaltation and
scheming are folly. Help me to see and so share your perspective.
Yahweh, you warn against making things worse. That
teaches me that wisdom may intersect folly’s path and prevent further folly. I
rejoice that Your wisdom is not just sufficient to keep from folly, but also to
redeem one after folly.
Yahweh, your desire is for us to avoid self-inflicted
public relations wounds. You are seeking the good of your sons here. This
testifies to your goodness, your wisdom, which are on display in every element
of your self-revelation, which is itself an act of goodness and wisdom. I bless
you this morning!
Father, I want to be a generation (30:11-14 KJV)
that keeps my eyes on you, and thus off myself and off of comparisons of self
to others. Uplifted eyes will never be self-exalting, but self-abasing,
Yahweh-exalting. Strengthen my awareness
that “all that a man has comes from above” (1 Cor. 4:7).
Yahweh, your point then is that if a person has
acted foolishly and aroused anger (v. 33), the first step to avoid making it
worse is to shut up. Though this verse doesn’t address the second step, it
would be to admit wrong and repent of the folly.
Kidner, 175, presses beyond the recommended action
to the implied attitude: “Humility [is] the undercurrent of this
chapter. [It] has already commended itself (directly or by contrast) as
reverence (1–9), restraint (10–17) and wonder (18–31).” Here humility shows
itself in recognizing its folly, restraining further folly, and so avoiding, as
the next verse shows, starting an unnecessary conflict.
Lord Yahweh, strengthen in me the humility that not
only avoids self-exaltation and foolish scheming, but also the humility that
recognizes foolishness after the fact, admits it, and acts to mitigate it.
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