If you are wise, you will consider the consequences of your decisions and actions. You will ask, “What about afterward?”
The afterward of strong drink (v. 1) is not pleasant, and the afterward of starting trouble (v. 2) could be dangerous. Better to stop the trouble at the beginning (v. 3).
Sleep is essential to good health, but the afterward of too much sleep is poverty (vv. 4, 13). A crooked business deal may be profitable financially, but you will not enjoy the aftertaste (v. 17). You may enjoy getting your inheritance now, but afterward it may do you more harm than good (v. 21). Remember what happened to the prodigal son (Luke 15:11ff.).
Rash promises have an afterward of regret (verse 25; Eccles. 5:1–7), but loving discipline has an afterward of reform. Ponder Hebrews 12:3–11, and especially note v. 11.
Lazy People
The book of Proverbs has nothing good to say about laziness. Even the feeble ants are more diligent than the sluggard (6:6–11)! It is shameful to sleep when there is work to do (10:4–5; 24:30–34). One of these days, the lazy person will be forced to work (10:24) to get something to eat (19:15). Lazy people can think up many excuses not to work (20:4; 22:13; 26:13–16), and nothing anybody says will do them any good.
