Do we listen, says Solomon? Do we really, really listen – or just pay polite attention? Do we listen but not hear? Perhaps we fail to grasp the wisdom and significance of what has been said, and so soon forget it. Might we be over-confident and have a tendency to scorn advice, especially if it comes from a parent or some other older person?

Why don’t we listen? Could it be that the person imparting the advice is not important enough to impress us? A classic mistake of managers trying to solve a problem is to ignore the opinions of shop-floor operative, who may well have valuable insights into the situation and money-saving production ideas.

Why does the scorner need a rebuke anyway? Is it because he got it wrong the first time, because he failed to listen to the original instructions? Establishing effective communication and helping people to do the job right first time is an important task for any manager.

The way we speak is crucially important. We use words to communicate -- to discuss, negotiate, make deals, persuade and make impressions on other people, for better or worse. However, the mechanism of speech is so miraculous and almost automatic that we tend to take it for granted, and may fail to exercise proper control. As a result, it is very easy to choose and use words very carelessly, to our detriment socially and financially. Some people, however, pay great attention to their speech, work hard on their vocabulary, and are eloquent, diplomatic and persuasive as a result.

How good is your vocabulary? How persuasive a person are you? If you associate with someone who does speaks effectively, what can you learn from them? Can you analyze some of their techniques and adapt them for your own use? In important situations, such as meetings and interviews, do you mentally rehearse the things you want to say and take time to find the most appropriate ways to phrase them, like the "sound bites" of successful politicians?

Churchill said that jaw, jaw is better than war, war, but the evil and treacherous person has an appetite for force and violence to achieve his ends rather than patiently discuss and negotiate.

The thread continues. A secure establishment has a guard on the gate to inspect and control the traffic seeking to enter. Some vehicles will be allowed to go in, but others will be turned away. With the mouth, it is the other way around, and we need a mental guard on duty to monitor the words that try to escape. Those that are appropriate should be allowed to leave, but those that might stir up trouble and even put our lives in danger must be turned back. How carefully do we weigh the possible emotional impact of our words before we utter them?

To open wide the lips may imply a lack of discretion. Careless, un-guarded, comments that reveals financially sensitive information, for example, can cost a business dearly.

Opening wide the lips may also suggests a loud voice and shouting, which tends to happen when people get angry and lose control. Verbal abuse and angry bullying undermine morale and drag an enterprise down.

As Solomon says, many people have desires but do nothing to satisfy them. Many people have great ideas for inventions, but are too lazy to turn them into reality. They are idle dreamers. They never turn their desires into realistic goals and practical plans.

According to Napoleon Hill, all significant achievement does begin with a desire. But that desire must become a definite purpose -- which in turn must become a detailed plan of action. That plan must then be put into deliberate and diligent action, step by step, day by day, persistently pushing forward towards the goal.

The theme of resolute character continues. Righteousness, Solomon reminds us again, does pay off. It actually protects us from evil and many problems that might otherwise beset us. This is a very powerful and reassuring statement.

Sooner or later the wicked man is caught out and exposed. Greed is the bait of the confidence trickster.

How easily and how often are we deceived by appearances and image, by genial rogues and smiling con-men? People who sell prestige cars learn not to pre-judge prospects walking in off the street by their clothes or the way they speak, because the rich are not always ostentatious in dress or cultured in their speech.

All the world is a stage, said Shakespeare, and all the men and women merely players. People are acting, keeping up appearances, pretending to be what they are not, for all sorts of reasons. Are we conscious of these charades being played out all around us?

If we are in some position of authority, how does that affect the way people treat us, and how honest are they being with us? How easily impressed and duped are we? How perceptive are we of the hidden motives behind people’s actions, even our own?

The thread continues. Here is one very good reason why the wealthy man in the previous proverb might want to pretend to be poor – the simple fact that he may live in fear of robbery, even kidnapping, a worry the poor man does not have.

Do you crave fame and fortune? Are you prepared to pay the price that may be demanded of you? Do you ever consider the side-effects of attaining your goals? Do your goals need to be modified? Have you thought through the possible consequences of your plans?

The McDonald brothers sold out the franchise rights to their restaurants to Ray Krock because they were content with their current life-style and thought the hassle of building a nation- and world-wide enterprise was just not worth the candle.

"Let your light shine before men," says Jesus to those who would walk with God, "that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven"(Matthew 5:16). Righteousness is love in action and should manifest itself in good deeds. No wonder James says: "I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe there is one God! Even the demons believe that – and shudder" (James 2:18-19).

The evil actions and bad example of the wicked shine out of the media every day for all the world to see, but not for much longer. Their lamp shall be extinguished, when the time is right.

Pride comes from within, says Jesus, out of the human heart, along with envy, slander, adultery, murder and much more (Mark 7:21-22) -- and it is the fundamental cause of quarrels, says Solomon.

When there is a problem, for example, the proud man makes a snap judgment, and adopts a firm inflexible position that he then fights to defend, because having to climb down and admit error would bruise his pride.

The wise man realizes that his understanding of the situation is incomplete and avoids argument by having the humility to listen to the ideas of other people, and work with them to understand the true nature of the problem and find the most sensible solution. His goal is to solve the problem rather than trying to impress other people.

A wise person who builds up a business, or diligently saves and invests his money for the future, acquires important habits and attitudes along the way, such as frugality, thrift, diligence, patience and persistence. As a result, he values what he has accumulated and protect it very carefully – and so continues to prosper even more.

The experience of the foolish person, on the other hand, may be summed up in sayings such as "Easy come, easy go!" and "A fool and his money are soon parted!"

There are many kinds of wealth. If we have been blessed with good health, for example, do we value it and take good care of it, or do we diminish it by self-indulgent actions? How carefully do we spend the 24 hours of time that are given to us each day? How much of it do we squander?

The positive emotion that accompanies worthwhile accomplishment and experiences sustains our health, says Solomon, but discouragement and despondency can kill us. More old people die in January than December because the anticipation of another Christmas excites them, and literally extends their lives by a few weeks or months.

The message may be – Live your life, whatever your age, and never stop planning and pushing to make hopes and dreams a reality. Plant trees, even though you may never see them mature.

Psychologists have found that the pursuit of projects that are appropriate to our present abilities and experience is the key to happiness and fulfillment in life. What goals do you have? What interesting projects, no matter how small, could you plan and begin?

Here is another big-picture reminder that the central focus of our lives should be righteousness, and entrance to the Kingdom of God and eternal life. At that time, the willfully wicked will be destroyed, and the righteous will be rewarded for their good works.

Speaking of such rewards, Jesus says: "When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:4). Prayer will also be rewarded (verse 6).

In another place, Jesus explains that he is the one who will give our those rewards, and he will do so at the time of his return: "The Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he as done" (Matthew 16:26-27).

Perhaps the literal truth of this proverb is best illustrated by the dramatic variations in life expectancy, general health and prosperity amongst the nations of the world. For some reason, in some countries education has been much more highly valued over the centuries, and creative visionaries have established public schools and college systems in order to make the teachings of the wise freely available to any and all interested individuals.

The provision of clean water, efficient sewage disposal systems and the discovery of antiseptics have done more to eradicate infectious diseases than any wonder drug. Amazingly, however, such provisions are still not in place in many parts of the world, even though basic hygiene procedures such as quarantine and the burial of human waste were taught by Moses several thousand years ago. The contributions to the preservation and improvement of public health by wise men such as Louis Pasteur and Edward Chadwick are described in detail in biology textbooks.

As we grow up, the realization slowly dawns, sooner or later, that some people are much more successful than others -- and especially us, perhaps! How do they do it? Inspirational books, such as Dale Carnegie’s "How to Win Friends and Influence People" and Anthony Robbins "Awaken the Giant Within" point out the importance of understanding how such successful individuals think and feel and direct their lives – and, in particular, of making them models for our own improvement.

Solomon’s message may be that we can all take charge of our lives and change them -- if we want to. We can wise up -- if we want to. We can be much more effective and successful – if we really want to. Is it time to drop out of the University of Hard Knocks, and enroll instead with the wise? Do we understand what we are doing with our lives?

As the world changes, our existing knowledge and skills may become outdated and inadequate and no longer up to the job, like a carpenter’s tool that has lost its finely honed edge. Highly effective people, says Stephen Covey, continually "sharpen the saw"-- by reading and study, listening to tapes, and by taking training programs.

Before starting a project, the shrewd person takes time to research the situation thoroughly, consult other people, and then develop a detailed, practical plan of action that can hardly fail to succeed. He likes to be well informed, and is too wise to start from scratch and waste his time re-inventing the wheel. The fool, on the other hand, because he suffers from an overdose of simple-minded self-confidence, rushes ignorantly and enthusiastically into trouble.

An ambassador is a messenger for a nation, and must be trustworthy in every way, above bribery and self-seeking, able to communicate accurately and diplomatically, and resolve conflicts before they get out of control.

In some situations, good character and effective communications skills are more highly valued and far better rewarded than mere technical knowledge. Presidents and prime-ministers, for example, appoint press officers, and corporations have trusted spokesmen who can be relied on to communicate accurately and diplomatically with the media.

Are you building a reputation for clear communication and diplomacy -- or do you sometimes stir up trouble instead by rash words and unwise actions? How carefully do you plan and control your contributions to meetings and discussions? Can you be trusted with special assignments? How faithful a messenger is your mouth and the words it utters for the thoughts and intents of your heart?

Ignorance is a basic cause of poverty – and is sometimes a self-imposed by people who refuse instruction. Why are some people crushed and consumed by poverty, when others take every opportunity they can to learn, develop their talents, generally improve themselves, make a mark in the world, and even achieve positions of honor?

Ignorance can be infectious, like a disease, and it is still endemic in some backward societies where many parents simply refuse to let their children go to school and be educated.

Notice that poverty sometimes comes to someone who is not poor to begin with – and with it the shame of having let it happen when it was avoidable. Perhaps because of pride, and by foolishly refusing to accept instruction and correction, such a person can be brought to bankruptcy. Are you creating financial risk for yourself by acting hastily, without full information and good advice? Are you in proper control of your finances, or are you living beyond your means, and abusing credit? Do you know how to draw up and then operate a budget? Some people never learn, says Solomon.

Accomplishing desires -- identifying and achieving worthwhile goals that are appropriate to our current levels of knowledge, skill and experience -- is the basis of enduring happiness, say psychologists, as we have seen.

The foolish person, however, achieves very little of value because of his character defects – such as ignorance, impatience, laziness and lack of persistence. To become successful he has to wake up to his weaknesses, overcome them, and actually become a better person. Such a suggestion may well be abomination to him, however.

One important way to learn the principles of success is from the people you mix with. However, personal development guru Jack Black finds that the ambition and belief of many people he tries to help are severely limited, initially at least, by the mediocre aspirations of their friends and family.

Solomon’s message is that it is possible for us to change our lives, and become far and away more successful than we ever dreamed. To do so, however, we need the courage to make changes, to avoid foolish and negative individuals, and walk instead with the wise.

What can you learn from wise and successful people with whom you work? Do you ever ask them for ideas and advice on your own career? A convenient way to walk with wise men is by reading their autobiographies, and listening to educational and inspirational tapes.

Evil of all kinds exists in this world, just as surely as germs exist in filth and muck, and it pursues people who indulge in sinful, perverted and wicked practices. Once infected, says Solomon, evil pursues them and they find it hard to escape. It can also be contagious if we mix with the wrong company.

Contrary to popular belief, the righteous find deeper pleasure and more satisfaction in life than the wicked. Surveys have shown that this even extends to the bedroom.

The foolish man spends all he earns, and then borrows more on the credit card. The wise man, on the other hand, is self-disciplined and frugal, and saves and invests for the future, making every effort to provide security for his children and even an inheritance for his grandchildren. How well do we plan and control our finances? Could we benefit from impartial professional advice on investing? If so, where is the best place to get it from without being ripped off?

Many wicked people have amassed great fortunes, and lived in opulent luxury on the profits of exploitation, oppression and even murder, as if they owned the earth itself and also its inhabitants. To such individuals James says: "Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you!" Their fate is sealed, and their punishment awaits, apparently. It is interesting that many mansions of the once-wealthy are now occupied by charitable trusts and educational institutions.

This little verse is quite obscure, but the essence of it seems to concern poor people and great potential going to waste. A surface meaning might be that prosperity of a nation improves when the poor farmers and peasants have intelligent and enlightened leadership available to organize and coordinate their efforts, and set up effective marketing systems for their produce. It has been said that in some poor countries, a larger proportion of the food that is actually produced is eaten by vermin than by the people -- or simply allowed to rot and perish because of inefficient distribution methods.

It has often been said that the greatest resource of any nation is its people – human potential. Although foolish leaders throughout the centuries have often regarded the poor as an ignorant and ineducable mass, visionaries, such as Solomon, have tried to draw attention to the amazing intelligence and creative genius that resides, ready and waiting to be developed, in the heart of every human being.

Do you have "fallow ground" – personal gifts and abilities that lie idle, uncultivated and unproductive for no good reason? If you run a business, do you have under-exploited assets? Could your staff become better skilled and more competent with suitable training?

Many in our modern society, cursed as it is with juvenile crime, would reverse this proverb, suggesting that it is he who spares the rod who loves his son. According to Solomon, the wisest person who ever lived, such people are simply and seriously wrong, so perhaps it is not surprising that so many of our children are dangerously volatile, rude, foul mouthed and violent -- and classified by their schools as "disturbed" and as having "special educational needs".

Society, it seems, has lurched from one extreme to the another -- from the harsh, angry and abusive beatings of a century or so ago, to the soft and sentimental permissiveness that has undermined recent generations of children. James Dobson, at least, in his "Dare to Discipline" program, seems to have rediscovered the wise and loving middle way described by Solomon.

This proverb, which wraps a spiritual truth inside an otherwise untrue assertion, after the manner of a Buddhist koan, is an example of the riddles or dark sayings Solomon refers to in the very first chapter.

Man apparently has a spiritual stomach as well as a physical one. No matter how much the wicked person titillates his taste buds and stuffs himself with the most exotic and costly food and drink, the spiritual stomach may remain achingly empty.

Soul hunger, which is typified by physical hunger, is only satisfied when we worship God by loving, serving and helping other people and making a worthwhile contribution to the world. The whiles and ways of the wicked, however, do not and cannot satisfy the hunger they feel in their hearts. Their spiritual belly remains empty.