1) You don’t work, you shouldn’t expect to eat.
”The slacker does not plow during planting season, at harvest time he looks and there is nothing” (Prov 20:4)
”Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes and you’ll have enough to eat” (v. 13).
2) You may be tempted, but do not retaliate.
”Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will rescue you” (v. 22).
When I read that Scripture, I read “wait.” Sometimes you have to wait a long time, but better that than to get retaliation.
3) Discipline of evil leads to corrections (a hard verse)
”Lashes and wounds purge away evil, and beatings cleanse the innermost parts” (v. 30).
There is no context here at all that would lead to believe that this is parental discipline. Rather, it is clearly about discipline a ruler might need to bring. Advice to a “king” or ruler is discussed 5x times in this chapter (v. 2, 8,18,26,28). And if it’s any more clear the very next verse is also about a “king’s heart” (Prov 21:1).
So what is being disciplined? Evil. Many countries have whipping or caning or other forms of physical discipline of criminals. It typicall was a one time event to deal with a crime. In ancient times jails and prisons were not the norm—physical discipline was used.
