The Nugget:
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
My Comment:
There are many different opinions about how to get to heaven. Different churches teach some very different ideas about how to be saved, or whether or not people can be sure in this life that they are saved. Individuals often have their own opinion. But as a memory verse teaching about the plan of salvation, the point of these two verses (Proverbs 14:12, 13) is that what we may believe may seem right to us, but though we may be very sincere, it is possible to be sincerely wrong. We can even make jokes about the matter, and suppose the subject is not important. But if we turn out to be wrong, our jokes and our disdain for the subject will be no laughing matter. To be certain we are right about these things, we must compare what we believe with what the Bible actually teaches. I suspect if people would start reading and studying their Bibles apart from denominational literature they might be very surprised by what they learn.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 665 for Proverbs 14:12-13.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 706 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Proverbs 14:12-13.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
Proverbs 14:12. is a way. Pr 12:15. 15:24. 16:12, 17, *#25. 30:12. Ps +*119:104. Is 53:6. Mt **7:13, 14. Lk 13:24. Ro 6:21. Ga 6:3. Ep *5:6. Ja *1:22. seemeth right. Pr 3:7. 25:8. Jg 17:6, 13. 21:25. 1 K 12:27-33. 14:7-11. 2 Ch 35:20-24. Lk *8:18. Jn 16:2. Ac 13:50. Ph 3:4-7. 1 T 1:13. Ja **1:26. the end. ver. 13. Pr 5:4, 11. 16:25. ways of death. Pr 16:25. Ps +*1:6. Je 21:8. Ro *6:21.
Proverbs 14:13. in laughter. T#479. Pr 5:4. 21:17. Jb 21:11-14. Ec 2:1, 2, 10, 11. 7:2-5, 6. 11:9, 10. Lk 6:25. *16:25. 1 C 10:7. Ep +2:3 (T#698). Ja 4:9. 1 P +4:7 (T#711). 2 P 2:13. Re 18:7, 8. is sorrowful. 1 S 25:36, 37. Ec 2:2. Da 5:1-6, 30. Am 6:3-7. Re 18:7, 8. the end. Pr 5:3, 4.
pro 14.12 there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the
ways of death. prov 14.15 the way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that heark
eneth unto counsel is wise. pro 16.25 there is a way that seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are ways of death. pro 30.12 there is a generation that are pure
in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
1.mt 7.13-14 enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; vs 14
because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it.
2. lk 13.24 strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, i say unto you, will seek
to enter in, and shall not be able.
3. rom 6.21 what fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?
for the end of those things is death.
4 gal 6.3 for if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
deceiveth himself.
5. eph 5.6 let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these things
cometh wrath of god upon the children of disobedience.
6. james 1.22 but be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your
own selves.
pro 14.13 even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is
heaviness. pro 5.4 but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
1. ec 2.12 then i looked on all the works that my hands had wrought ,and on the labour that i had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit,
and there was not profit under the sun.
2 ec 11. 9 rejoice, o young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days
of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things god will bring thee into judgment.
3. lk 16.25 but abraham said, son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivesdst
thy good tidings, and likewise lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou
are tormented.
4. james 4.9 be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to
mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
5. rev 18.7-8 how much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much
torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, i sit a queen, and am no
widow, and shall see no sorrow. vs 8 therefore shall her plagues come in one day,
death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for
strong is the lord god who judgeth her.