THE WORD Proverbs 21:1–31 (The Living Bible) Just as water is turned into irrigation ditches, so the Lord directs the king’s thoughts. He turns them wherever he wants to. 2We can justify our every deed, but God looks at our motives. 3God is more pleased when we are just and fair than when we give him gifts. 4Pride, lust, and evil actions are all sin. 5Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty. 6Dishonest gain will never last, so why take the risk? 7Because the wicked are unfair, their violence boomerangs and destroys them. 8A man is known by his actions. An evil man lives an evil life; a good man lives a godly life. 9It is better to live in the corner of an attic than with a crabby woman in a lovely home. 10An evil man loves to harm others; being a good neighbor is out of his line. 11The wise man learns by listening; the simpleton can learn only by seeing scorners punished. 12God, the Righteous One, knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked and will bring the wicked to judgment. 13He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need. 14An angry man is silenced by giving him a gift! 15A good man loves justice, but it is a calamity to evildoers. 16The man who strays away from common sense will end up dead! 17A man who loves pleasure becomes poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches! 18The wicked will finally lose; the righteous will finally win. 19Better to live in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining woman. 20The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets. 21The man who tries to be good, loving, and kind finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22The wise man conquers the strong man and levels his defenses. 23Keep your mouth closed and you’ll stay out of trouble. 24Mockers are proud, haughty, and arrogant. 25-26The lazy man longs for many things, but his hands refuse to work. He is greedy to get, while the godly love to give! 27God loathes the gifts of evil men, especially if they are trying to bribe him! 28No one believes a liar, but everyone respects the words of an honest man. 29An evil man is stubborn, but a godly man will reconsider. 30No one, regardless of how shrewd or well-advised he is, can stand against the Lord. 31Go ahead and prepare for the conflict, but victory comes from God. PEACE.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 02:45:14 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015