19-20 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

21-23 An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”  Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you. The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.

24 A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?

25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. Proverbs 20:19-25 New International Version (New American Standard link)

Why is it that waiting can be one of life's hardest things to do? People often rush to do something, and then have regrets later. It can happen in buying something, making a house or career move, or even getting married! Verse 25 showed it can happen in a religious sense too. There's a tragic story in the Old Testament of a man who made such a hasty rash vow. We read: “Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: 'If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph  from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering'.” (Judges 11:30-31) And then vs 34 says: “When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.”

The lesson surely is that we ought to think well before we speak and not make hasty promises or decisions. What are some other ways in which hasty words are harmful according to vs 19-20.

People who are quick to gossip and never think about who their words might harm, as well as those who are quick to blame their parents for their situation and utter curses. The writer says that such people should be avoided. But it's not only hasty words we need to be careful of, what are some other areas in life where patience is the better option? (vs 21-23)

Being in a rush to get an inheritance will more often than not lead to some bitterness later. One can think of the story Jesus told of 'the prodigal son' who took his inheritance early, but quickly squandered it all. If he had waited some years he would probably have grown wiser. The same is true of 'wanting to get back' at someone. When bitterness and thoughts of revenge spur people on it inevitably leads to rash actions and more damage. Far better to leave such things in God's hands and let Him deal with the wrongdoer. Psalm 37:7-8 is a good principle for life where it says: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.” The Lord also hates it when people are dishonest (and have differing weights) and He will deal with them in His time.

Do you think vs 24 is a possible reason why we should learn to seek and wait for God's guidance rather than making hasty decisions and rushing in to ‘sort things out’ as we think needs to be done.

It's a tricky verse to interpret. The Contemporary English Version translates it as “How can we know what will happen to us when the Lord alone decides?” That seems to capture something of what the writer of Proverbs had in mind. We so often can't make sense of some situations we find ourselves in and we don't even always understand why we do certain things. That should make us more ready to look to God for guidance and help rather than to rush into hasty actions or say hasty words. As Psalm 37 said, it's good “to be still before the Lord, and to wait patiently for Him.” Jesus assured His disciples that God is a heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers. Be patient and trust in Him at all times.