In The Word
Read: Proverbs 11:14-12:28
14 Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in an abundance of counselors there is victory.
15 One who is a guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it,
But one who hates being a guarantor is secure.
16 A gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.
17 A merciful person does himself good,
But the cruel person does himself harm.
18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
But one who sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 One who is steadfast in righteousness attains life,
But one who pursues evil attains his own death.
20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21 Be assured, the evil person will not go unpunished,
But the descendants of the righteous will be rescued.
22 As a ring of gold in a pig’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in poverty.
25 A generous person will be prosperous,
And one who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.
26 One who withholds grain, the people will curse him,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 One who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But one who seeks evil, evil will come to him.
28 One who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 One who troubles his own house will inherit wind,
And the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And one who is wise gains souls.
31 If the righteous will be repaid on the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
12 One who loves discipline loves knowledge,
But one who hates rebuke is stupid.
2 A good person will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a person who devises evil.
3 A person will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood,
But the mouth of the upright will rescue them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A person will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse mind will be despised.
9 Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A righteous person has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 One who works his land will have plenty of bread,
But one who pursues worthless things lacks sense.
12 The wicked person desires the plunder of evil people,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A person will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,
And the deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a person who listens to advice is wise.
16 A fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent person conceals dishonor.
17 One who declares truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will endure forever,
But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 No harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A prudent person conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy hand will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
But a good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 A lazy person does not roast his prey,
But the precious possession of a person is diligence.
28 In the way of righteousness there is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Many people today don’t consider the consequences of their choices. Most make choices for immediate gratification without considering the long term loss in their lives. Many verses in our reading today give us examples of the choices we can make each day, good or evil, and their effects on our lives.
Proverbs 11:17-19 gives us wisdom on a few of these choices. Will I be merciful which will bring “good” to my life, or cruel which will bring harm? Will my wicked ways bring deceptive return, a sham of a life, or will my righteousness bring true reward? Will I choose to live righteously, which will give me abundant life, or an evil life that will bring death?
All through our readings in Proverbs, we see the differences in choices leading to life and death. For many years I’ve chosen to read Proverbs every day. Because it has thirty-one chapters, Proverbs makes a good monthly read, one chapter a day. I cannot begin to tell you how many times the wisdom in this book has helped me make wise choices concerning life, relationships, and business. It will contrast the knowledge you receive from this world. Sometimes the worldly “wisdom” we receive directly contradicts what we see in the book of Proverbs, but time and time again it has helped me make good choices that led to great consequences! If you find yourself lacking wisdom for this life, do as I’ve done and begin to study this wisdom book we call Proverbs. I promise it brings new life!