A Proverb a Day (11:4)

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death (NASB).

Riches won't help on the day of judgment, but right living is a safeguard against death (NLT).

Wealth accumulated on the backs of the poor and innocent is assumed to mark the abuser for judgment (10:2), but in this verse any kind of wealth is declared worthless to deliver in the day of wrath.  This is more than a simple "you can't take it with you" saying.  In some strange twist of thought, a person deceives himself into believing his success on earth will guarantee safety in the judgment to come.  The sage knows better.  Why would a person's bottom line count for anything to the one who regards the nations as a drop in the bucket or dust on the scale? 

On the other hand, righteousness (really the theme of 11:4-9), is a safeguard in the day of judgment.  Perhaps in this context "righteousness" may even carry the more specialized meaning of "mercy" (Waltke), and contrast the better use of financial profit to help the unfortunate--a clear indication one is walking in the fear of Yahweh. 

My wife teaches in an inner city high school.  The other day she wore a larger-than-normal piece of jewelry to school (of no great value believe me).  One of her students remarked. "Oh, Mrs. Trainer, bling-bling."  Well, this is slang for any kind of extravagant jewelry and the statement one is try to make by wearing it.  Though it was not Linda's intention, she drew out a values response in the culture of her school.  Big jewelry, clothing, shoes, and cars are the essence of life, glorified in song and cultural ritual to a place far above education.  Woe be to the student who sells his future for a few trinkets.  Woe be to the cultural gods whose icons inform such an eternally damning way of life.  God is not impressed by bling-bling. 

Comments

[Deb]

New to me! Never heard the slang bling-bling--but don't think I have any items that would illicit that response anyway!

[jon]

Straight from the urban dictionary:

Bling: Jamaican slang that has been adopted by some African American rappers and inserted into popular culture. The term "Bling Bling" refers to the imaginary "sound" that is produced from light reflected by a diamond. See The Silvertones "Bling Bling Christmas" for the earliest known usage of the slang.

[jon]

Another interesting article here. Always happy to be on the cutting edge...I think.

[Scott M]

Good afternoon my fellow sheltered suburbanites. It's time for today's lesson in our continuing series, "Hip-Hop Slang 101."

Please translate the following statement:
"Yo shorty, I ain't trippin, but that bling is off the hizzle, fa shizzle! Imagetmewannadem!"

Weekly Vocabulary List:
Shorty = (n) female, woman, girl
Trippin = (v) flirting, acting strangely, acting irrationally
Bling = (n) jewelry that shines on sight, usually large or of high value
Off the hizzle = (adj) excellent, of remarkable quality, or worthy of praise (Slang Synonyms = off the hook, off the heezy, off the chain)
Fa shizzle = "for sure", certainly, (Slang Synonym = fa sho, fa sheezy)
Imagetmewannadem! = I'm going to get me one of them

Answer: "Hello girl, I don't mean to be too forward, but that piece of sparkling jewelry is certainly nice. I'm planning to purchase one for myself."

For extra credit, come up with your own sentence incorporating as many of today's vocabulary words as possible.

Tune in next time to learn such exciting new terms as dubs, gat, strappin, boo, crunk, and true dat!

[jon]

I bet my good wife could have gotten that! I'll have to ask her for a good sentence. Nice one, Scott.

[Joel]

Scott, how could you reveal such cultural illiteracy as not to have "Hip-Hop Slang 187" instead of "101"?!

[Scott M]

I wanted to start off with the elementary stuff... for the slow kids. :-)

[Scott M]

(Oops... didn't mean to hit post)
When you all graduate from Hip-Hop Slang 101 to Hip-Hop Slang 187, we'll explore the advanced vocabulary of Gangsta Rap and all its cultural implications. Required reading will include the works of Dr. Dre, Notorious BIG, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Tupac (not to be confused with TULIP... wrong post).

All students will be required to submit an essay on the cultural significance of the number 187 throughout Gangsta Hip-Hoppery. I'll give you a hint... if you're an undercover cop, you best stay strapped, cause every gangsta in the hood's down to pull out his gat and pop a cap, yo.

Didn't this start off as a post on Proverbs? Have we lost our minds?! :-)

[Jay-Z]

fo shizzle