15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. 16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. 18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. 20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
We have here seven contrasted effects of behavior. We will look at the good first.
We have good understanding, prudent behavior, a faithful ambassador, a good listener, an obedient worker, one who uses wisdom in who he associates with, and our righteous will lead to rewards.
Then we have sinners who will have hard time in accomplishing goals, a fool who sets himself up to fail, a lair who cannot be believed, one who does not listen instruction,ones who just cannot remove themselves from evil, Those who ban together to cause trouble will be destroyed, and those who are evil are always finding themselves just getting in to more trouble.
These two groups of people are basically the difference between good and bad. We see both kinds in world today but with the way society is now we see more bad than we do good. The righteous today needs to live a daily life where when we are just walking down the street our presence lets the joy of salvation rub off on everybody we pass.