If you have been foolish in exalting yourself Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth. For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.   Proverbs 30:32-33

Pride, anger, and plotting evil are all very foolish endeavors.  They may go a while without any kind of retaliating incident, but they are the kind of actions that store up trouble in the end.  That is what this proverb proverb wawar us about today.

There is no mincing words at the beginning of this proverb.  We are told that things like exalting ourselves or plotting evil are "foolish" things to do.  In fact this proverb is trying to warn us about the consequences of these actions.  This is done in the classic "if/then" fashion that we are used to seeing in the book of Proverbs.  Therefore we are being warned that if we engage in pride or plotting evil - bad things are on the horizon for us. 

The actions we are warned against here are twofold.  First we have the sin of exalting ourselves.  God values humility - and opposes the proud and those who would exalt themselves in the eyes of others.  I knew of an educator who put himself up for awards in the educational system in which he worked.  He genuinely thought he was worthy of the honor that these awards offered.  The problem was that because he "exalted himself" in this way, he was seen as a joke among his fellow educators.  Elsewhere in Proverbs we read that we need to let another praise us - and not our own lips.  To speak in praise of self - is to speak foolish words of pride that, according to Scripture, goes before a fall.  The second action we are warned against is that of plotting evil against another.  We all know of the end of those who do this.  Either they are caught in the process and shamed - or - they succeed in their plotting and it only causes them to become further corrupt.  Whichever way this goes it is a foolish endeavor that often takes this lives of the ones who give themselves to such overt evil.

What God warns against though is that these things in and of themsleves cause a churning of anger that will end in further strife.  Two examples are given to reminds us ot this.  The first is the churning of butter.  When milk is put into a butter churn it is a liquid.  But after you spend time churning that butter over and over again - it eventually turns to butter.  The second example is that of pressing someones nose.  The idea here is that of not just pressing down on a nose - but twisting it violently.  This, we are told, will produce blood.  Both of these things are undeniable truths.  You do these things - and the results are destined to follow. 

The reason these two examples are given is because God wants us to know that the churning of anger will produce strife.  When I first read this I fully understood how the churning of anger in plotting evil would produce strife.  Consider someone who churns with their anger inside of them - and they submit themselves to their anger to the point to where they begin actively plotting evil against the one with whom they are angry.  The plot unfolds - and the evil is done.  The result WILL be strife.  The one against whom the plot was carried out will become very angry - and strife between these two will last a very long time.  The one I was a little confused about is the practice of someone exalted themselves.  How does that produce anger and strife?  Then it became clear to me that when someone exalts themselves - others around them resent it.  They resent it because it is the natural desire of fallen man to be exalted.  So the anger comes when they exalt themsleves - and I react because deep down - I think I should have been exalted.  When this happens - I will begin to go out of my way (even subconsciously) to show how the person who exalted themselves does not deserve to be exalted.  Another response is to have a resentment against this person because I despise the fact that they have exalted themselves. 

God promises that these kind of actions are going to produce strife.  They will reveal the one guilty of them is a fool - and eventually their lives are going to be surrounded by problems that come from anger being churned up in themselves and others.  Jesus promised blessing, not the proud and self-exalting ones, but rather to peacemakers - and to those who humble themselves in the sight of God.  The lives that seek peace and the blessing and exalting of others will have far more peace and joy than the fools who only think of themselves.

It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.  Proverbs 16:19

Humility is something to be embraced by God's people.  It is not usually considered a great thing because often to be humble means that you will not be on the top rung of things.  Here where Solomon tells us it would be better to be humble in spirit with the lowly that truth comes out.  The humble man is the one who is to embrace a low social position.  The humble man does not seek great things for himself.  The sense of this Hebrew word is that one is not only humble, but they are also meek (strength under control) and they are contrite (they know their sin and greive over it.  The humble also associate with a group most people would shun - the lowly.  The lowly are those who are poor, afflicted, and usually crying out for help to the Lord.  These people are often absued by the rich and by oppressive leaders.  When you associate with such people, it means that you most likely will not be among the movers and shakers of society.  Yet it is better to be here among the lowest of the low than to be with those who suffer from pride.  Something that will prove helpful in understanding the second part of this proverb is the reality that the humble are not seeking advancement for themselves.  They serve God and look to Him for their advancement and their victories. 

We are warned that it is better to be with the lowly and to be humble with them - than to divide the spoil with the proud.  The proud (Hebrew word "ge'eh") are not just proud and haughty - they are those whose pride is bringing the Lord Himself to a point of desiring to judge them.  Granted, they are getting the spoil - which meant money and things - but at what cost?  The idea of spoil means that they are fighting or warring against another.  The spoil was what was left over after they had wiped out their enemies.  The proud conquer their opposition, and then rise up and take their stuff afterwards.  Their advancement does not come by trusting the Lord - but by dominating and destroying their competition.  They leave in their wake a large number of people who are either ruined or are so dominated that they surrender what is theirs to their conquerors.  True, they may have a lot of money, a lot of stuff, and victories to their credit - but they also have God as their adversary.  God watches all this and burns with anger - responding to their pride and arrogance by promising a recompense that may not come today - but it is surely coming.  When you consider this, seeing that even though they have victories and spoils, they come at far too high a price, the judgment of God - you also see why it is better to be with the humble and even oppressed than with this crew who are one day going to face the wrath of God.

The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces. Proverbs 30:28

What is the exceeding wisdom that the lizard has for us?  We are told of four animals here - all who demonstrate wisdom by their existance and practics.  We come now to the fourth and final animal - the lizard.  What does he have to teach us?

First we read that the lizard is not the most intimidating of animals in the world.  He can be grasped with the hands.  His natural defenses are not very effective.  Thus he is able to be caught and grasped with a human hand.  The lizard is not given a great deal of weapons at his disposal.  The lizard spoken of here is usually the common ones that you seek on the walls in homes.  He has no sharp claws or teeth - and the ones mentioned here have no venomous bite or sting to deliver.  Yet we are told that he is in the palaces of the king.  

The lesson for us is an interesting one.  Though we may feel weak and defenseless, we can still be in high places.  The lizard teaches us though that if we are to be in such places, we will need to be humble and come in such a way as is fitting for our situation.  If the lizard were to come to the king's palace and seek to knock down the door - he would be a fool.  If he decided to battle his way into his presence with his great strength - he would be deluding himself.  If he decided he would come showing his comeliness and beauty - he would be blind to the fact that he is a lizard.  The lizard uses none of these tactics.  Instead he is humble and comes quietly.  He remains on the wall and chooses not to be boisterous and draw attention to himself.  Because this is how he comes - he can be in the presence of the king.

The lizard teaches us that great strength can be had in something as inauspicious as humility.  God says that He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  There is something about a humble man that can disarm even a king.  Therefore if we want to be received and come even to a king's palace - we need to learn humility.  With the humble comes great favor.  Jesus told us that when we come to a banquet we should not seek the place of honor - and take a seat next to our host.  That would be coming in pride and arrogance - stating that we are viewed highly in our own mind.  The warning was that when our host comes, he would see us in such a proud position and completely overlook us.  When he would see someone far more humble taking a seat beneath himself - the host would invite him to sit where we are.  At that point we would be humiliated and have to go to the very last seat in the sight of all those present.  Instead we should adopt the attitude of the lizard.  Jesus said that we should take the lowest place at the table.  Then when our host sees us taking such a humble place, he would request for us a better seat - and we would be honored before all at the banquet.  This is where our Lord told us that God opposes the proud, but honors the humble. 

Exceedingly wise is the lizard, who embraces humility.  Wise indeed he is to come quietly and without fanfare.  Thus he is in king's palaces.  Wise also is the man who in life chooses to humble himself, not just to be exalted, but who truly sees himself humbly.  We are counselled to humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and he will exalt you (James 4:10).  So be wise - be like a lizard - humble yourself - and be blessed by the Lord.

This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wrong." Proverbs 30:20

One of the worst aspects of sexual sin is the way that is blinds us to the truth.  Here we have a proverb dealing with the women who commits adultery.  Her way is to indulge her sin as one would sit down to a big meal - then wipe her mouth afterwards and boldly state that she has done nothing wrong.  She is completely blind and arrogantly unmoved by her actions and by the Word of God which proclaims them wicked.

We are living in the days of sin that looks just like this.  We have those who live openly in their sin - and argue that such a lifestyle choice is not sin.  God has proclaimed that adultery is sin - and that commandment from the time of Moses still stands this day without having been weakened in the slightest.  Some might protest that Jesus forgave the woman caught in the very act of adultery.  I would agree - but would add that after he gave her the most gracious forgiveness, He also stated to her that she should go her way and SIN NO MORE.  When He gave her grace - it was the grace of God that teaches us NOT TO SIN.  It was not grace that condoned sin.  And just in case some have forgotten the rest of the gospel - He eventually bore her sin to calvary's cross and paid the full measure of God's wrath for it. 

When a society begins to weaken its moral stances on adultery and sexual sin, it is preparing that society for horrible consequences.  When that lax morality reaches the point where adulterous women and men are allowed to embrace their wickedness while openly proclaiming that they've done nothing wrong - such a society is at the breaking point.  It cannot stand much longer because its very foundations are crumbling to the ground. 

Please pray for the United States - praying for revival in the church and awakening among the lost.  We've abandoned our moral underpinnings handed down to us from our forefathers.  We need for God to first revive His church so that we will once again hold fast to biblical morals - regardless of what is currently morally in style in our nation.  Unless this work of revival happens among us first, there will be no awakening among the lost.  We must put our moral house in order - dealing with our sexual sins.  Then we will have the moral authority to speak to our nation - to pray for our nation - and to witness the people of our nation return to the Lord and to the sanity of sexual morality.  May God have mercy on us - and revive and restore us in this most desperate of days.

A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. Proverbs 27:15-16

Here is a proverb concerning contentious women and the problems that come from them.  First we read that the contetious woman is compared to a constant dripping on a day of steady rain.  Thus we see that such a thing is a constant annoyance.  This is someone who will bother us greatly.  That drip, drip, drip that we hear will wear on us over time and drive us crazy.  Such is the contentious woman.  But understanding the word "contentious" is very important for us to grasp what Solomon is saying. 

The "contentious" woman is the woman who is involved with strife and dissension.  This is the Hebrew word, "madon" which refers to a quarrel or dispute that gets out of hand quickly.  Once started, it cannot be stopped.  These are the kind of disputes that create barriers between people.  According to Psalm 80:6 an evil heart is the source of these contentions and bitter arguments.  These things come from someone with a hot temper and are very difficult to contain.  Thus we see that the "contentious woman" is not someone who disagrees with us, but rather someone who vehemently disagrees and who takes that disagreement to the level of fighting and quarreling.  This fighting is not a normal disagreement, but becomes something that can separate people for long periods of time as bitterness and resentment seethe because of the fighting.  

Too often I have heard of this proverb used to disrespect a woman who respectfully disagrees with her husband.  The contentious woman is anything BUT respectful - she is fiesty and cantankerous.  She is itching for a fight - and when given the slightest reason to enter one - does so with both feet firmly set in the middle of it.  It is not sinful for a woman to disagree with someone - even her husband or a person in authority.  That is not what this proverb is about.  It is about a woman who is ready to fight, and quarrel, and do so disgustingly.  The next verse says that trying to restrain such a woman and her venom is like trying to restrain wind or grasp oil and hold it.  It is impossible to do so, because such things cannot be done.  Thus, when we come upon such a woman, we should avoid her and keep ourselves clear from her path.  She is a dangerous woman - whose actions will prove very destructive in the end.  Rather than trying to restrain and hold her back, we need to withdraw from her and avoid her at all costs.

What we should remember as we read this is that God places great value on a woman who has a quiet and gentle spirit.  This is what God desires - so when a woman goes the opposite direction, it is not only against what He wants, but it places an example before other women that is not only lacking, but it encourages them to behavior that is completely outside of what God desires in a Godly lady.  May the Lord give us grace to see such godly women raised up in our fellowships - women whose testimony only makes the gospel of Jesus Christ more attractive and beautiful - like He has made them.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.  Proverbs 26:12

There is a great deal of difference between a positive self-image and an arrogant one.  Today's world places too much emphasis on this - to the point where we have men and women who do not have an adequate amount of self-deprecation in their personalities.  We've raised a generation that feels better about itself more than any other - but this has not led to good things.  Instead it has led to one of the most arrogant and foolish generations in American history.

When a man is "wise in his own eyes," he is conceited and arrogant.  A man wise in his own eyes thinks he is a genius when he is not.  He considers himself far too brilliant in his own estimation, which leads him to think far too highly of his own thoughts, ideas, and opinions.  A wise man is one who learns to see things from God's perspective - not from his own fallen one.  Since the fall of man into sin - and the ongoing choice in every generation to seemingly plumb new depths of that fall - wisdom is something that comes only as we learn to question our own fallen assumptions and turn to God and His Word for true wisdom.  The more we do this, the wiser we become.  But the opposite it true as well.  The less we turn to God and choose instead to trust our own natural, fallen assumptions, the more foolish we become.

The man wise in his own eyes is fixed on himself and his own views and opinions.  To turn him from them is not an easy task - some consider it almost impossible.  He sees himself as the end-all, be-all of wisdom and understanding - and will argue with others about it until he is blue in the face.  Considering all that God has to say about the fool - it is pretty amazing that God holds out more hope for the fool than for this man. 

The admonition of Scripture on this is clear.  Do not be wise in your own eyes.  Fear the Lord and turn from evil.  That is the counsel that God offers to us when it comes to the how we view ourselves and our own wisdom in life.  To do otherwise is to mire ourselves in a pit of self-centered, foolish, and self-indulgent thought.  The end of which is to so bury us under the weight of our own stupidity and selfishness that we cannot dig ourselves out.

He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction.
Proverbs 17:19

There are those in this world who love rebellion - whether against God or against "the man."  These people, because of this rebellious bent, also love strife.  Theiy love a good fight where they can quarrel with others and contend with anyone who holds an opinion other than theirs.  This kind of insolent, arrogant attitude brings such a one into multiple situations where they fight and where violence is almost certainly to break out eventually.  I remember a friend of my youth - who just loved to fight, whether it was with words or fists.  This happened weekend after weekend as he would drink and party.  One weekend he went too far and was shot a couple of times at a bar where he had previously picked another fight.  Fortunately for him he was not killed in the incident.  But this is what the proverb is trying to get us to see. 

The second part of the proverb here is a Hebraism.  It speaks of the one who "raises his door."  The habit of the Jews was to make the front door of their compound very low to the ground so that no one could get in without permission.  They also would intentionally not make their doors ornate - so as to draw attention to themselves - and unintentionally draw the attention of thieves or those who would seek to plunder their homes and compounds.  Over time this practice eventually came to speak of someone who was ostentatious and filled with pride.  Those to "raise their door" came to mean those who act with excessive pride and arrogance.  We are warned that doing this is dangerous and destructive.  When we live with such excessive pride and arrogance - even one that fights with everyone - and that loves sin - we are setting ourselves up for destruction.

The wise man is a peace-maker, not a fighter.  He is one who loves righteousness, peace, and humility.  True, these things will not make him stick out - won't make him noticed by the standards of men.  Yet, for the believer, this is not a good thing - to try to be noticed by men.  We want God to be the One who promotes and gives us favor with others.  The favor we crave and desire is not that of men (which often means we will have to love sinning as they do).  We crave with an ever-increasing intensity the favor of God!  And that kind of promotion does not draw the attention of men unduly - as does arrogant self-promotion does.

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless. Proverbs 14:16

Why is it wise to be cautious in our choices and decisions in life?  It is because we live in a world that has fallen.  I know that those of you who read this regularly in these posts may think that I emphasize this too often, but I fear that we do not fully grasp at times what mankind's rebellion against God has wrought in this world. 

Today's proverb tells us that a wise man fears.  That is the literal translation of the word "cautious" here.  It refers to the fact that the wise man fears God.  He fears God becasue he reads of God's Word - God's glory, power, majesty, and holiness - and he fears displeasing and dishonoring Him.  Wisdom tells us to fear God's displeasure.  Wisdom also tells us that there is a way that is evil. 

Here is where we run into some very serious worldview problems with the world and its philosophies.  The majority of worldviews do not take into account the fall of man into sin and the subsequent ruin of this world.  They consider man's basic nature as good.  As a result you will hear people tell others to, "Just trust what is in your heart."  That is not wise or good advice.  What is in our hearts is rebellion toward God and a bent toward sin.  We will choose with an astounding regularity contrary to God's ways.  This is because there is within us a bent toward selfishness - and a bent away from God.  The wise man knows this - and as a result is cautious - and does fear making decisions and choices that run contrary to God's Word.  This is the place he turns for wisdom - to the Word - because it gives us an objective revelation of Who God is and what He has said.  Thus he takes time in making those decisions to check for God's will and favor in things.

The fool though is said to be arrogant and careless.  He is arrogant because he thinks he does not need anything to make wise decisions.  He doesn't need anyone to tell him what to do - especially a "God" Who knows all things.  He considers the Bible to be an ancient document that has no bearing on his life or his decisions.  His arrogance is manifest by how he views himself - as just fine and having NO need of refinement - let alone a fundamental change in who he is or how he makes decisons.  Therefore he is careless - he does not care about God, about God's Word, about God's will.  He will make his own way.  His favorite verse is an interesting rendition of Proverbs 3:4-5.  It goes something like this, "Trust in yourself, and lean heavily on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge yourself and what you want.  Forge your own path - make it what you want." 

These two paths definitely diverge from one another.  One heads toward God and sees God's Word as a road map and a guide for decisions - for life itself.  The other sees nothing but self and a pursuit of what the world says is valuable.  Even in instances where the world is not used as the standard - this one turns to his own desires and his own ways.  Correspondingly, one path leads to destruction and misery - the other to life and life abundantly.  

A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, He will not go to the wise. Proverbs 15:12

Why is it that even when there is wise and godly counsel available, people do not take advantage of it?  A southern saying that I heard a while back may help us on this situation.  The reason a scoffer does not go to a wise man is the same reason a criminal does not hang out with the police. 

The proverb here tells us that a scoffer does not love someone who corrects or reproves him.  The scoffer is the one who mocks the things of God.  He makes fun of God's commandments and laws - and derides God Himself.  He does this because he does not believe and because in his infinite arrogance he prefers his limited little pea-brain's ability to think - rather than the mind of the infinite God as it is revealed in the pages of Scripture.  But he is not content to just reject the things of God - he scoffs at them - and seeks to get others to reject them as well.  He is the "anti-evangelist" if you will - or at least an evangelist for his own foolish thinking. 

What is fascinating about the scoffer is that we read that he doesn't love anyone who reproves him.  He is filled with pride and arrogance and therefore always thinks that he is right.  In his own mind he is irreproveable - beyond correction.  In this way it is only fitting that the one who thinks there is no God would consider his own wisdom and counsel very god-like.  He is a god unto himself - and resents it when someone would deign to question his omniscience. 

There is a consequence to this arrogant man's rejection of reproof.  As a result of it, he will not go to the wise.  He rejects them - and their much needed counsel.  This is a sad state of affairs because they could greatly use wise counsel.  Thus this arrogant scoffer will remain a law unto himself - an island of self-sought, self-taught, self-exalting wisdom - that is nothing more than foolishness and arrogance disguising itself as sage counsel. 

This is why the wise man needs to embrace and welcome correction and reproof.  Please do not misunderstand me - these things are seldom pleasant when they come.  In fact they can be very difficult to hear as they are spoken to us.  That is why I am grateful that Scripture tells me that discipline is not pleasant, but painful when it arrives.  But I am also counselled in James and in Hebrews that when received it will bear fruit - creating a harvest of righteousness, truth, wisdom, and understanding when I welcome it and learn from it.  Remember that the next time God in His love allows correction and rebuke to come into your life.  Don't be like the scoffing fool who does not love the ones who reprove him.  Be like the godly man who turns his ear to wise and godly rebuke.  It will help open our ear to wisdom itself, and will bless us by turning us from unwise, arrogant, and unprofitable ways.

There is a kind of man who curses his father And does not bless his mother. There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness. There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance. There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords And his jaw teeth like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men. Proverbs 30:11-14

Today's proverb is a four verse description of the hateful, wicked man.  The way this passage refers to this is with the phrase, "There is a kind."  The word "kind" is actually the Hebrew word for generation.  When you have a generation of people who are like this - you have a very difficult time coming upon the earth.  It is an interesting list of things that make for a wicked generation.

Verse 11 describes the first godless characteristic - which is having graceless, ungrateful children who dishonor their parents.  This generation curses their fathers and does not bless their mothers.  They disobey the one commandment with a promise - Honor your father and mother.  The bedrock of any generation is their ability to learn from their parents.  When the family goes awry there will be a basic disfunction and rebellion that will pervade the entire structure of the society.  The basic unit for passing on wisdom is the family.  Proverbs makes it clear again and again in the first 9 chapters of this book that it is through a father and mother that wisdom flows to the next generation.  So, when they have basic disdain for their parents that wisdom is lost to an entire generation.  We watched this in the late 1950's and 60's as almost an entire generation cast off the morals and the wisdom of their parents and decided to start their own revolution.  They decided that their's would be a generation of love and peace.  They tuned out on drugs, turned their ears from hearing and honoring their parents, and did whatever they wanted.  It was a disastrous generation - and those who embraced this kind of lifestyle and living continue to wreak havoc on society today. 

The second godless characteristic of this generation is that they are pure in their own eyes.  The Bible considered this particular sin one that is very damaging.  Those who consider themselves pure in their own eyes are blind to the truth that they are fallen and sinful.  They will justify themselves no matter who disgusting and disobedient their behavior becomes.  It is as if they are deaf to anything God says - and decide that whatever their flesh wants is true and good.  Those who fall into this trap will find themselves hopelessly bound in their sin and wickedness - and will only be delivered by the sovereign goodness of God as He draws them and illumines them to truth that is outside of themselves.  The Word tells us that even though they are pure in their own eyes, they are still unwashed from their filthiness.  Just because we decide we are going to redefine sin in our own minds does not mean that we are not guilty of it in God's sight.  No matter how many times the world tries to redefine sin, God's Word stands as ultimate and absolute truth.  When the wicked disobey God's Word - and decide that their own thinking is what defines pure - they still wind up standing before God as sinners.  But the world in which they live is upside down - and as such it is a difficult place for believers and those who desire to lead holy lives to live. 

The third evil characteristic is that they are arrogant.  This is described as having "lofty" eyes.  This simply means that they look down upon everyone else.  They consider themselves awesome and wonderful, while everyone else is lower than them.  This makes them arrogant.  Arrogance is defined in the Bible as primarily a sin agaisnt God.  Psalm 119:21 speaks of the arrogant as those who wander from God's commandments.  They ignore and look down upon God Himself - and therefore think far higher of themselves and what they want to do than they do of the commandments of God.  Proverbs says this makes them embrace sin and be careless (Prov 14:16) as well as those who stir up strife (Prov 28:25).  An arrogant heart ultimately disregards God.  Such a generation will exalt their own thinking and reasoning above God's.  If anyone tries to instruct them or correct them - up will go their eyes and eyelids as they look down on the poor fool who has decided to oppose their perfect wisdom.  Problem is the fool is the one whose eyelids are lifted in arrogance against God and against those who walk in His wisdom.

Disregard for parents, purity in our own eyes, and arrogance will lead to a society where gentility is gone.  The last of these four evil characteristics is that this generation is one where their mouths are out of control.  Their teeth are like swords - their jaw teeth are like knives - to devour the needy and afflicted among men.  They have no regard for the poor and needy.  They only see them as someone to exploit for their own ends.  There is a complete lack of civility because there was never other characteristics built into their lives to encourage it.  They do not regard parents - who would have taught them obedience and selflessness.  They do not see anything as sin - because they justify their own actions - and would even justify treating the afflicted and needy badly.  Finally, they are arrogant - and view all others as beneath themselves.  This makes it far easier to have little or no conscience at all as long as they get what they want in the end. 

There is a generation that lives this way.  Before you think I am going to refer to a specific generation - think about what the Bible says about the heart condition of mankind.  This is actually what happens in every generation of men.  It happens because of the fall of man into sin.  It happens because we are in rebellion against God - and want to do our own thing.  The generation of which Solomon speaks is any generation from the fall to the end of the age.  Unless God intervenes with the gospel and the saving of mankind by His grace - we would all eventually gravitate in these four directions.  These verses teach us wisdom by helping us to understand where the sinful nature and the flesh will take us.  If anything these verses should make us very open to running to God for his grace and His transformation.  Because if we don't - this is most likely what life will look like.  A world filled with a disregard for parents, filth being called purity, arrogance, and a society filled with harmful and vicious words.  This is a generation to be avoided at all costs.  But the only way out is through the gospel of Jesus Christ - and the regeneration in Him that changes us from the inside out.