need to understand that the Proverbs are not unconditional promises, but rather they are maxims (truisms) which describe the way things generally turn out in God’s world. Those who act wisely by earning money through hard work, by avoiding debt, and by carefully saving will generally prosper. Those who are lazy and overextend themselves with debt will generally suffer poverty. There will, however, be exceptions to the rule. Some fools are rich through gambling or an inheritance. Some wise people