Esther 7:10 ( NKJV ) reads as follows:
"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided."
Psalm 7:14, 15 ( NKJV ) read as follows:
"Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made."
Proverbs 26:17-28 ( NKJV ) read as follows:
"He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, 'I was only joking!' Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body. Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covered with silver dross. He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
Proverbs 28:10 ( NKJV ) reads as follows:
"Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he himself will fall into his own pit; but the blameless will inherit good."
Ecclesiastes 10:8 ( NKJV ) reads as follows:
"He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent."
The word, "backfire," is defined as follows:
"n. 1 A fire built to check an advancing forest or prairie fire by creating a barren area in its path. 2 Premature explosion in the cylinder of an internal-combustion engine. 3 An explosion in the back part of a gun. -v.i. -fired, -firing 1 To set or use a backfire. 2 To explode in a backfire. 3 To have consequences contrary to those desired: The plan to raise revenue by increasing the sales tax backfired when sales dropped off." [ See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 76. ]
In the context of the above-given verses from the Holy Bible ( including Proverbs 26:27, as underlined above ), the lesson we learn is that the plans of the wicked will backfire ( see sense 3 of the verb-intransitive form of the above-given definition ). For example, we see from Esther 7:10 that Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Moreover, in the specific context of Proverbs 26:17-28, we see a list of sins of the tongue, some of which are described as follows: "meddles in a quarrel not his own" ( recall verse 17 ), "the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, 'I was only joking!'" ( recall verse 19 ), and "where there is no talebearer, strife ceases" ( recall verse 20 ), for example. Furthermore, verse 27 is not simply a change of subject: it serves as a warning against committing sins of the tongue. We have been warned by God ( see Psalm 119:65-72, 142, 151, Ecclesiastes 12:13, John 17:17, 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 ( especially verse 11, for example ), and 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, for example ) concerning those who would practice wickedness.
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>
