Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the LORD will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them.  Proverbs 22:22-23 

How does God feel about the poor and the afflicted?  What kind of safeguard does God have against those who would treat these people with disregard?  How does God protect these two groups from being expolited by the unscrupulous actions of others?  That is what today's proverb is about. 

This proverb begins with a warning against robbing the poor or crushing the afflicted at the gate.  The gate was the place where financial transactions took place in Israel.  It was the "Wall Street" of their society.  Because this is where the "movers and shakers" of their culture would meet to transact major business, it was also the place God commanded that the poor and the afflicted be given honest and fair treatment. 

The Lord warns against robbing from them and afflicting them.  The word rob is the Hebrew word "gazal" which means to take something by force or to seize something from another because they cannot resist.  Here God is protecting the poor and afflicted because they would not have the kind of business savvy or representation to protect themselves.  The poor are those who a low or small in matters of importance in society.  The word for poor is used to describe the lame, those who were defeated in a military engagement, or someone who is so weak that they are languishing before others.  They cannot rise up to defend themsleves in the gate.  They can barely care for themselves.  Thus they are easy prey to those who want to abuse and steal. 

The Lord also warns against crushing the affllicted.  The afflicted are those suffering in a state of poverty, oppression, or misery.  They are in serious want - and biblically are those whose only hope is in the deliverance and grace of God.  They are easy pickings for the ungodly and unprincipled.  To crush them is to beat them down and oppress them.  Again, their sad state of affairs makes them unable to stop those who would use their power and position to take advantage of their poverty. 

The warning God gives those with power and authority in the gate is to refrain from treating these people badly.  But if someone at the gate would proceed in acting unjustly, we have a picture that should cause us to shrink back in terror.  God says that He Himself will plead their cause.  The poor and afflicted have no representation - or do they?  God said that He would be their representative.  He would "plead their case.  This word "plead" is a legal term.  It means that God Himself will rise up and argue their lawsuit.  The word is "riyb" and it means to strive and contend in a lawsuit or legal case.

Imagine someone among the poor and afflicted - trying to muster up enough strength to stand in the gate and argue their case.  They have no ability to do this - and some in the crowd would even begin to laugh as they haltingly began their defense.  Yet, as they stood humiliated in that setting suddenly a noise would be heard - a mighty rushing of wind from heaven - and all present would begin to tremble as the mighty presence of God descended into the area of the gate.  The Lord, manifesting Himself as a mighty angel, suddenly appears at the proceeding.  All shrink back from His glory and majesty - as they realize that God Himself has come to argue the cause of the afflicted and needy one.  The prosecutor falls on his face and becomes speechless in the presence of God.  Then God proceeds to take up the case of this one so frail and helpless.  But God not only pleads their case with a passion and wisdom that causes all to fall silent.  He also does something that terrifies everyone in the court-setting of the gate. 

Proverbs 22:23 tells us that God will "take the life of those who rob them."  The phrase "take the life," is literally in the Hebrew "rob the soul."  God promises to rob the soul of those who would rob the poor and afflicted.  Our scene now resumes with God finishing His arguments and brilliantly defending the poor and afflicted in the gate.  Then He turns to the one who so arrogantly thought he could rob the poor and crush the afflicted.  He reaches out a hand toward this one and tears his soul from his body.  Robbed of his very soul, the arrogant one falls lifeless to the ground.  All gasp in horror as they watch this fool careen toward the ground with a thud.  His lifeless, soul-less body now a monument to God's judgment upon those who would abuse the poor.

This is what God promises to those who abuse the poor and afflicted ones.  This is what He says will come to those who live their lives for the sordid gain they can gather from the weakest among us.  Some may read this and mock, saying that they've seen the wealthy and powerful do this many times without retribution from God, but know this - their day is coming.  This proverb is a promise from God - so you can know that one day it is going to happen.  May you be ready by being one who loves and is gracious and compassionate towards the poor.  

Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. Proverbs 3:34

How does God respond to those who scoff at Him?  The first half of our proverb for today reveals that to us - then shares some very wonderful news with us about how the Lord responds to those who are afflicted. 

God is a God of grace and mercy - but He is not happy with those who mock and scoff at Him and His Word.  Here in Proverbs 3:34 we find a strong statement about how God reacts to the ones who are scoffing at Him.  We read that God responds with scoffing toward them.  The "scoffer" is one who mocks God.  He derides the Lord and holds Him in utter contempt - even boasting against the Lord.  What God promises to these who mock Him is mocking in return.  The difference here is that the human who is insane enough to mock God, does nothing to God by His mocking.  He is powerless to have any affect on God's glory or anything to do with God.  On the other hand - God's mocking and utter contempt comes with an eternity of consequences - literally!  The mocker who thinks himself so powerful has less effect than a flea has as it crashes into an aircraft carrier as it speeds through the ocean.  So the one hurt by these actions is the mocker himself - whose mocking is only storing up wrath for himself when God ultimately comes to humble the arrogant.

The promise though is not just scoffing to the scoffer - but also grace to the afflicted.  The word afflicted here is the Hebrew word "anaw" which has a much wider range than just the afflicted.  It means one who is poor, oppressed, afflicted, and humble.  This "afflicted one" is not proud, haughty, self-advancing, or self-assertive when it comes to standing before God.  He is humble.  He puts himself intentionally in a low and meek position.  He does not view himself in comparison to men - either presently or in the past.  He takes a good look at God and does the only wise thing a man can do - he chooses humility.  One Hebrew commentary even suggests the idea of affliction here is that of self-affliction.  He sees who he truly is in the sight of God - and chooses to humble himself in the dust before a God whose glory and majesty dwarfs him in a way that cannot be expressed in human language.    Yet this humbling of himself is what makes him a candidate for God's grace.  God looks at this humilty and desires to bless him.  This is nothing more than the promise in James, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  That is pretty much what the writer is saying to us here.  May God see us remove ourselves from among the scoffers - and align ourselves with every haste to the ones who humble themselves and give God glory!

If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked. Proverbs 29:12

This proverb reminds us that when we are in a position of authority - often what we want to hear is what we are going to hear.  That is why it is so important for rulers, both religious and secular, learn to shun falsehood, lies, and deception in the counsel that they receive.  For, as this proverb says if they listen to this kind of thing - all that they will hear in the future is this type of counsel.  The end of such a swing in the opinion brought to this leader will be that all his subordinates will become wicked.

To "pay attention" to falsehood here means to listen with an intent to obey or heed the advice given.  It has the idea that as the falsehood is offered, rather than reject it, the ruler listens closely and does so with a desire to obey.  This means that the ruler's heart has a predisposition to what is false rather than what is true.  The Word of God says that a godly ruler winnows the wicked from his presence - and makes sure that falsehood will not be spoken to him as advice.

The worst aspect of this ruler's choice to pay attention to falsehood is the affect it has on his ministers.  They will become wicked.  Such a ruler tends to not appreciate men who will tell him the truth.  To be such a man means that you will speak the truth - even if the ruler to whom you speak it becomes angry and doesn't want to hear it.  Such was Daniel - before he was thrown into the lion's den.  Such were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego before they were cast into the firey furnace.  The king only retracted his actions and his words after he had witnessed God's miraculous deliverance of these men.  Only in the case of David do we see a man who is willing to hear the truth - even if it meant a humbling of himself in repentance for his sin. 

We need to pray daily that our leaders will be men who value truth rather than falsehood.  Included in this prayer is that they will heed biblical truth when it is directly related to legislation that is pending.  Such is the case when it comes specifically to both the abortion issue as well as laws concerning sexuality, decency, and morality.  Too often over the last 30+ years our elected officials, including our president, have not even considered the Bible when making such decisions.  Outside of President Reagan, most of the pro-abortion Republicans have been paper tigers who spoke boldly but carried no stick whatsoever.  We've watch laws concerning public decency become nothing more than the latest retreat from biblical morality.  It has been disheartening to see issues of heterosexual morality, marriage, and now homosexuality made while completely ignoring the counsel of Scripture.  In fact I would have to say that currently one would find themselves shouted down and called the most horrible names to even assert strongly a biblical stance on these issues.  It is almost as if these issues are non-issues any longer.  They are definitely not the front-burner issues that they should be.  We think the greatest issue is the economy - and yet God WILL NOT bless our economy as long as we continue to abort 4000 babies a day and condone as an acceptable sexual lifestyle what He calls an abomination.  We need a president and a Congress who once again listen to and value the truth.  Until we do - not only will they be making wrong decision after wrong decision, but they will also be surrounded by more and more aids who are wicked - because their bosses listen to falsehood.

Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people. Proverbs 28:15

Oppression of the poor by a wicked ruler - that sounds like a modern day headline in one of our newpapers - or in a report that we would read online.  Unfortunately oppression has been going on every since the fall of man - and the beginning of politics.  When the sinfulness of man combined with the treachery of politics - it was not going to be long before men learned how to oppress the poor and helpless for their own benefit.

We read in today's proverb that a wicked ruler over a poor people is like a roaring lion or a rushing bear.  A roaring lion scares the other animals in the forest.  The lion roars to establish his territory and his authority.  Thus when a wicked ruler acts like a roaring lion - he is establishing that he has the power and authority over the poor ones he is oppressing.  We've seen it again and again in history.  The powerful oppress and dominate the poor - even resorting to attacking them with the army to establish their power.  They will use the secret police to kidnap them and torture them to silence anyone's opposition and threat to their power.  It is a sad thing to see - but unfortunately it will continue until the day that Jesus Christ comes to establish a  kingdom based upon justice and righteousness. 

Those who dare to stand against such a wicked ruler will find themselves quickly attacked and often silenced for good.  They may be thrown into prison - or summarily executed for their boldness to oppose the ruler - or threaten their absolute stranglehold on power.  However it is done, the poor quickly learn to hide any desire for freedom and justice, because these things can cost them their lives.  This is why it is so vital for those who have the freedom to choose their leaders, to choose wise and godly ones.  To do otherwise will cost us far more than just a wrongly cast vote - it could cost us our freedoms - and in some severe cases - even our lives.

The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his. Proverbs 14:14

Too often some religious words have been used in such a way that they are either now devoid of meaning - or they have become so cluttered with misunderstanding that they mean little to us now.  Such is the word, "backslider" in our religious vocabulary.  We've heard the term screamed shrilly at us - or have attributed the word to back woods preachers who use it to scare the faithful to the altar when revival services are in town.  This is a loss for the church because this word is used as a warning to us - not with a piercing scream of a preacher trying to make a point - but with the gentle yet strong urgings of wisdom who only desires to prevent us from walking in a foolish way that will cost us far more than we are willing to pay in the end.

The backslider in heart - is a phrase that speaks of someone who has turned away.  The word actually comes from the Hebrew word, "sug" which means to turn away or to turn ones back.  The idea with this word is that someone is turning from an accepted or expected path or commitment.  They are crossing a boundary line, and in the process are being disloyal in the process.  Here we also get the idea that this is not just an isolated decision - but something that has been chosen enough times to where a heart has been set in a direction.  The backslider in heart is the one whose heart commitment to the Lord has turned badly in the wrong direction.  He has decided to walk away from his commitment to the Lord - and now his decisions are betraying his faith. 

What is fascinating about this proverb is that we read that the backslider in heart, "will have his fill of his own ways.  The idea here is that this person who is turning from the Lord and from His Word - is going to be filled to the point of misery with his own ways.  He is not going to be happy with this development.  He will be miserable.  The proverb states that the good man will be satisfied with his ways.  The good, godly man will find the lifestyle and the direction of his life and choices are very satisfying.  But the backslider in heart is going to be full.  But the fullness that he will have will be a fullness of regret, a fullness of problems, and a fullness that is very unpleasant. 

Imagine with me a meal that you've eaten.  But what has happened at this meal is that you have eaten to the point of being miserable.  As you sit and are now sickened by the mere thought of food - you groan over being full of your own over eating.  That is truly a horrible feeling when it happens.  What the proverb here is trying to describe is a lifestyle that is overflowing with regretable decisions that were not in accord with the Scriptures.  The consequences that begin building up are awful.  This man looks at them and thinks how he is full of the consequences of his own ways.  What proverbs says elsewhere is that he groans at his latter end.  When everything comes to roost - he finds that he is groaning under years of bad decisions - just wishing that he had done something different.  For this man there is little more than regret over the choices he has made.  These were choices that glorified his flesh and did not honor God.  Filled to the full with these choices and the myriad of horrific consequences they have brought on - he can only sigh and steel himself for the tidal wave of problems and difficulty he is about to face. 

Think about this . . . that when you turn from God you are setting a course for misery.  You may not see it right away - but know that your backsliding from God and from His Word are going to have a very steep price to pay.  You may decieve yourself that such a price will never come, but the truth is that as you make choice after choice to ignore and even defy God - you are storing up misery for yourself.  That misery IS coming.  And when it comes all you will be able to do is groan under the weight of it.  Filled with your own ways - you will finally learn that satisfaction comes as we embrace God and embrace the good He desires for us in our lives. 

Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. Proverbs 4:14-16

Consider with me for a moment how many films glorify wicked men.  There are hundreds of films that take a wicked man and glorify his life by romanicizing the things he did - and not really showing us the heart behind his actions.  His riches and power are shown to us - his stuff is paraded before our eyes - but his end is often kept from us.  The father in Proverbs wants to warn his son against following the lifestyle that these men lived.  He does so by giving us a far more accurate description of how these evil men live and make choices. 

Good advice is not to ENTER the path of the wicked.  If we do not ever start on the path and lifestyle of the wicked - we will not have to worry about being a wicked or evil man.  I know that sounds like "University of Duh" information, but how often do we want to just dabble - or walk a few steps in that way and then come back?  The path mentioned here is from the Hebrew word "orah" and it describes the path of an individual or the course of their life.  This word is used often to describe the characteristics of their lifestyle - whether they are good or evil, righteous or wicked.  This means that we are not just looking at the supposed rewards this wicked man receives during his lifetime - but we are gazing deeper into the way that he lives.

The second word that is used here to describe the wicked man's choices is again one that speaks of his entire lifestyle.  The second word is "derek" which means the way that he walks.  This word speaks more to his daily choices - that lead towards a lifestyle.  The warning here is not to "proceed" in the same daily choices that evil men make.  To "proceed" here means to go straight on, to advance forward.  It speaks of following a straight path that involves a way of understanding or the direction that comes from the heart.  The father is warning his son that choices lead somewhere - that as a wise man said - thoughts lead to choices - and choices to habits - and habits to a lifestyle - and a lifestyle to a destiny.  Don't allow the reasoning that fills the minds of evil men - to fill your mind. 

The father's counsel is clear in verse 15 - avoid it - don't pass by it - and turn away from it and pass on.  Avoid it means to leave it alone and neglect it.  Do not pass by it means to set your life in such a way that you do not go in a direction that would come near it.  The father knew that these were important things to do, but that there still would be times when his son would come into contact with it.  That is why he also added the command to turn from it and pass on.  This would cover those times - and remind the son that he should not linger thinking about an evil path - but move quickly from it.

Finally, the father reminds his son that evil men love their evil - and want to influence others to walk in the same way they do.  He lets his son know that these men lose sleep if they are not able to do their evil.  They love not only doing their evil, but helping others stumble in the same way.  Romans 1 speaks of the perversion of humanity by sin in these same terms at the end of chapter one when it uses these words.  ". . . and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." (Romans 1:32)

These are the ways of wicked and evil men.  They have existed in the world ever since the fall - and will continue to exist until Christ comes again.  Wise fathers need to warn their sons against such men - and against the paths they take in life. 

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. Proverbs 28:12

The Bible does not know anything about a political environment where issues of godliness and righteousness are not considered.  Since God is sovereign over all things - He is also sovereign over all political entities.  So, even though our worldly wisdom counsels us never to mix politics and religion - God knows no such artificial division.

Our proverb today tells us that when the righteous triumph, there is great glory.  When godly men rule a nation according to God's ways and laws - that nation will be blessed.  We read in the psalms that the nation is truly blessed whose God is the Lord.  Too many consider the righteous ruling to be an oppressive thing.  Yet we see that it is not godly men who oppress but sinful ones.  Sin brings bondage and injustice to a society - whereas godliness brings justice and truth to bear on all that happens there.  Solomon gave a godly judgment when the two women were fighting over whether the child was there child or not.  But in the end, it was not pure justice that let Solomon know the truth - it was which woman was willing to show mercy.  Godly rulers will know both how to administer justice and how to show great mercy. 

But when the wicked rise in power - men hide themselves.  Consider the history of the despots who have ruled over the affairs of men.  Godless men make the populace fear for their lives.  They are terrified of a man who knows nothing except his own immediate self-interest.  They cringe when his mode of justice knows little beyond swift and terrifying judgment.  Very seldom is there mercy manifest.  Consider Daniel and his judgment for praying to God rather than to the king.  For his supposed crime he was thrown into a lion's den.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were cast into a firey furnace because they refused to worship the image of the king.  These men were not shown mercy - but were judged swiftly without it. 

Over time who segments of the population hide from the king - terrified not just of his justice, but of his anger.  There were wicked kings who killed men for being sad in their presence.  Others were murdered because the king either did not like them - or thought that they might be an adversary in the future - whether it was true or not.  They hide themselves because a wicked king or ruler is untrustworthy in his judgment.  They don't know what might come next - or who might be killed for just looking a little suspicious. 

The wise man desires a righteous man to triumph.  Such a man is far easier to understand - because his decisions will be made on the basis of justice and righteousness.  He will judge based upon truth - and it is truth that does not change.  You see it again and again in the books of Kings and Chronicles.  It is far better to have a righteous king who speaks, lives, and judges according to the truth - than it is to have a wicked king who will ultimately rule on his own authority alone.

The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.   Proverbs 21:10

Have you ever considered the thoughts and desires of a very wicked man - who seems to truly consider nothing other than himself.  I realize that theologically we all are wicked and we all are consumed by our own selfishness.  Yet God in His mercy has blessed us with societal restraints and parental restraints - and even conscience-driven restraints that keep us from fully manifesting our wickedness.  But there are those who whether by searing their conscience as with a hot iron - or by giving themselves to every wicked impulse of their hearts - have unlocked the depths of wickedness in their hearts like no one else.  They may be the mass murderers or the wicked rulers of a nation - or just someone who seems to not have an ounce of mercy in their being.  Whatever it is - it is truly terrifying to think what it is that brings someone to that level of having their wicked desires rule their thinking and their heart.

The wicked man has a soul that desires evil.  That means he desires it at the level of his mind in his thinking, at the level of his will in how he chooses to live his life, and in his emotions in that he truly delights in evil and in what is contrary to God's Word.  It should be no shock to us then to see that his neighbor finds no favor whatsoever in his eyes.  He has no proclivity to show grace and favor to anyone except himself.  Ultimately his desire is for himself and what he wants.  If it looks like he is showing favor - it is only because that is what will get him what he wants in the end. 

Wisdom realizes that we need to shun evil - and have nothing to do with it.  The reason that this is so is because evil will never be neutral in our lives.  If we give in to it, evil will seek to expand its influence in our hearts and minds - and ultimately will work its ways in our wills.  You cannot choose to do evil and have evil be sequestered to only that area of your life.  Evil will expand - evil will grow - and left undealt with - it will eventually dominate our lives.  This proverb should be sufficient to remind us that this is true.  That the wicked man's appetite for evil will end with there being no favor for anyone or anything except that which will support the expansion of evil in his doings.  Steer clear of evil - reject it - hate it - that is the course of the wise.

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor. Proverbs 18:12

Humility is the thing - therefore embrace humility!  When you are not humble, you are headed for trouble - for afflication, for a fracture or a breach in some way.  God says that He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble in the book of James.  Here that truth is reiterated - just in a little more terrifying way.

When a man's heart is haughty - bad things are going to happen.  The word "haughty" here is the Hebew word "gabah" which means to be high, exalted, or arrogant.  This word is used of thing like a high tree or vine - but it is also used of Almighty God.  Here it does not have the meaning of arrogant - but simply someone high and exalted - and rightly so.  But when a man takes on this attitude and this demeanor, he is headed for trouble. 

God says that right before destruction comes upon a man his heart is this way - haughty and lifted up - full of himself.  Such a heart condition does not mean that he is right on the verge of destruction.  That would be a misinterpretation of this proverb.  What it is saying is that right before God brings destruction upon a man - he will be haughty.  Consider the king, Belshazzar from Babylonian times.  He was very arrogant - so arrogant that during a big party he had the cups and bowls brought in from God's Temple - and he and his party guests drank their wine out of them.  As they did, they praised the God's of silver and gold.  This was about as arrogant as someone could get.  But Belshazzar did not know that this would be the last banquet he would ever hold.  It would be the last party he would ever host.  That night a hand from God came and wrote on the wall of the room where he was having his wicked shindig.  The message on that wall told him that in the midst of his arrogance God had rendered final judgment upon him.  He had been put in the balances of God's justice and righteousness - and had been found wanting.  Because of his arrogance and pride he was going to have his kingdom handed over the Medes and the Persians.  Suddenly Belshazzar's arrogance was confronted - but not with opportunity for repentance.  He was confronted with destruction.  That night his defenses were breached, his captiol city captured, and he himself was slain in the onslaught that ensued.  He had nothing with which to defend himself.  All he had was his last moments of arrogance and pride - oh, and terror as the breech came. 

Reject haughtiness and thinking highly of yourself.  It is a trap of monumental proportion.  It was the sin for which the devil himself was judged when he was the annointed angerl that led the praises of heaven itself.  This sin is deadly above all others - therefore utterly abandon it and embrace god-honoring humility instead.  This proverb does tell us that before honor - there is humility.  Since I am writing this a week before Christmas, I will use the ultimate example of humility to illustrate this truth.  Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.  He has ever been with the Father and the Spirit and is God of very God.  As such He actually deserves the praise of all creation for all eternity.  Yet He chose to obey His Father and be born as a baby in Bethlehem.  He left the glories of heaven and took on the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.  He became the God-man.  As such He humbled Himself infinitely.  He did not demand honor and glory and praise - which we all due Him.  He chose instead a path of obedience, humility, and eventually humiliation as He bore the sin of the world on the cross of Calvary.  Being found in form as a man he humbled Himself and became obedient unto death - even that awful death on the cross.  Here is someone who deserves honor and respect - praise and adoration - yet He chooses humility.  As a result we read in latter verses in Philippians 2 the following words - also a fulfillment of this very proverb.

"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11, NASB)

There it is in what God did through and for His Son.  Jesus chose to humble Himself - and before the honor God gave Him - was that marvellous attitude and practice of humility.  God raised Jesus from the lowest place to the highest!  God will honor those who embrace obedient humility to Him.  Therefore wisdom is this . . . it is embracing humility and obedience to God in all that we do.  That is the very best way of knowing that God will honor you in due time - as you continue to embrace a self-effacing, god-glorifying, Christlike humility and obedience to Him.

The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright. Proverbs 21:8

How do you know whther you are dealing with someone who is criminal and crooked in his ways - or whether you are dealing with a man who is pure in his motives and ways?  Here is an excellent question.  I am sure that many a man who has been conned would love to know the answer to this question.  That is what we will learn today as we open the book of Proverbs to verse 8 of chapter 21.

First we see the "guilty man."  What Solomon is describing to us though is the way of this man - the roads he takes and the lifestyle that is developed as a result.  This man is described to us as the guilty man.  The word used here for this designation is the Hebrew word, "vazar."  This word means a man who lacks innocence.  He is guilty because his behavior and choices reject God's law and ways.  In this regard he is a criminal - because his consistent choice is to break the law.  Solomon tells us that such a man is "crooked."  Crooked here is "haphak" which refers to someone who is very perverse and devious.  This guy is constantly perverting this - being devious - and lacking in honesty.  He is filled with a dishonesty that makes you wonder about his integrity.  

Note this when trying to determine whether someone is godly or ungodly in their dealings.  If you catch them making statements that are being twisted and fundamentally dishonest - most likely you are dealing with someone who is crooked and should be avoided at all costs.  You are going to pay dearly if you continue to do business and allow this man into your life.  The best thing you could do is cut and run.

The other man - the godly one - is pure.  The word here means someone who is clean - like pure water or pure oil.  This man is a godly man - and his godliness is verified by the honestly and integrity with which he speaks and acts.  This man's conduct is described as "upright."  This is the word "yashar" which means something that is straight, just, and right.  This word usually refers to things in an ethical and emotional sense.  These are men who are very concerned with being right in the eyes of the Lord.  They want a godly integrity in their dealings with others.  They do not want to deceive or to mislead. 

Wisdom tells us to be mindful of the character of those with whom we deal in life.  It is not enough that a good offer is on the table - or that someone is offering the best price.  We need to know that a man is also placing good character on the table as well.  Then we know whether we are dealing with a thief or not.  See behind the offers and see into their lives or the "way" that they live.  Do this and you will be much less likely to be caught in the schemes and the deception of the ungodly.