CONSIDER YOUR PATH

“A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he directeth his way.” (Proverbs 21:29)

A wicked man decides he is going to do a thing, and once decided, proceeds through to the end without respect to how the situation may have changed or be different than how he planned.  He pays no attention to the effects of his action on others.  You don't have to be wicked to be this way, you can just be dumb.

The upright directs his way.  Once he decides on a thing he proceeds but keeps aware of how the situation develops  and changes his course (or stops) if it becomes necessary.

TO FIGHT FOR WISDOM

(Proverbs 21:11)  “When the scorner is punished the simple is made wise:  and when the wise is instructed he receiveth knowledge.”

A scorner is someone who speaks words of disgust against something or someone else.  He disapproves, he belittles.  This is not a healthful situation and it is a good thing to correct it.  The scorner needs to be publicly told his words are damaging and not helpful.  Apparently when this happens the simple see the damaging words for what they are:  destructive, unhelpful words.  When they make this perception – that scorning is a damaging activity – they become wiser than they were.  Once someone has perceived this they have increased in wisdom.

Two things happen when you publicly stand against scorning:  A bad activity is stopped, and people are instructed toward wisdom.