Proverbs 11:22

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

” Thank God You’re pretty.” That’s what people tell you when you’re good looking but stupid acting. It’s a waste. Thankfully, my wife is both pretty and smart, so I don’t have this problem.

Regardless how you interpret the proverb, there are a few possible ways to interpret “discretion.” It can mean that taste, as in physical taste. I really doubt this proverb is talking about what a woman likes to eat…

It can also mean ethical judgement. That’s a possibility. A woman who lacks ethical judgement could certainly be a problem. According to the NET bible, here it probably means that she has no moral sensibility – she is unchaste. She will use her beauty to get things wrongly, she will put her beauty to use, but for all the wrong things.

Kind of like girls who use their looks to get free drinks in a bar. Or to get out of a speeding ticket. Because they don’t understand how to live, their beauty is a waste. Kind of like putting a ring in a pig’s snout. When all the pig is going to do is to dig the gold ring into the dirt and slop he eats, the ring will not be put to good use. It won’t bring any value anything.

You might say that putting a gold ring in a pig’s snout could actually lower the value of the gold. If everyone started putting gold ring’s in pigs noses, I imagine the value would go down. Can you also say that women who use their beauty to get things inappropriately, devalue women. I realize I might take some heat from that, but that doesn’t make me wrong…:)

The point, for all you women, how do you use your beauty? Are you using it to get stuff? Are you using it to woo? Are you using it for other immoral acts? If, so perhaps it would be a good idea to use your beauty for other purposes.

In fact this rings true for men as well. Men, don’t use your good looks to get things from women. Using your looks for things just isn’t a good idea. It’s better to live a Proverbious life, and let you life speak for you.

I guess the main point is, don’t try to make up for deficits in your character with your looks. If you do, it’s just a waste. We all still know that you’re a pig on the inside.