⁹ Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

¹⁰ Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,^(I)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.^(J)

¹² There is a way that appears to be right,^(K)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(L)

¹³ Even in laughter^(M) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

¹⁴ The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,^(N)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.^(O)

¹⁵ The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps

The End of the Road

“You’ve reached the end of the road,” means that the journey is over.  The goal or the aim is accomplished or time has run out.  What is at the end of the road for all of us?  Isn’t that important.  A foolish person lives in the moment and gives no thought to the end of the road.  The way right now seems right.  We hear such people say, “How can something that feels so right be wrong?”  People who say this often have short-sightedness.  They see today and they do not see tomorrow. 

I keep a skull on my desk at school.  Morbid?  Not really.  It is a reality check.  This road will end.  Although it seemed that I walked the right path, how did I know?  Proverbs give me that vital health check.  It lets me know if I am on the way that leads to God and life or whether I am on a way that seemed good at the time, but lacks wisdom and leads to death.

Questions

1. Which verses highlight mankind’s destiny?
2. Where does the road that seems right to a man lead?
3. What kind of person actually thinks they’re on the right road but they are not on the path to life?
4. How does media sometimes reinforce a fool’s perspective?
5. How do Christians sometimes live shallow, foolish lives?  Is it possible that their shallow decisions lead to some kind of death?