not fit for wisdom

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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not fit for wisdom

Proverbs 26:1-28 (JDV).

Proverbs 26:1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool.
Proverbs 26:2 Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.
Proverbs 26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.
Proverbs 26:4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness or you’ll be like him yourself.
Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand cuts off his feet and drinks violence.
Proverbs 26:7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp.
Proverbs 26:8 Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling.
Proverbs 26:9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard.
Proverbs 26:10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone.
Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, a fool repeats his foolishness.
Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a wise person in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 26:13 The idler says, “There’s a lion in the road — a lion in the public square!”
Proverbs 26:14 A door turns on its hinges, and an idler, on his bed.
Proverbs 26:15 The idler buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!
Proverbs 26:16 In his eyes, an idler is wiser than seven who can answer sensibly.
Proverbs 26:17 A person passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
Proverbs 26:18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,
Proverbs 26:19, so is the person who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
Proverbs 26:20 Without wood, fire goes out; without gossip, conflict dies down.
Proverbs 26:21 As charcoal for embers and wood for a fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
Proverbs 26:22 A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being.
Proverbs 26:23 Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel.
Proverbs 26:24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit.
Proverbs 26:25 When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart.
Proverbs 26:26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
Proverbs 26:27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone — it will come back on him.
Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

not fit for wisdom

Several of these proverbs explain that wise sayings are useless to an unwise person. It is as if these are warnings and instructions for those who might stumble upon some truth and attempt to utilize it without establishing a relationship with God first. Don’t try it. Go to the LORD and ask him to make you wise. Then, you will be equipped to act wisely.

LORD, transform us so that your instruction may be helpful to us.

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balance

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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balance

Proverbs 25:1-28 (JDV).

Proverbs 25:1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
Proverbs 25:3 As the heavens are high and the land is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.
Proverbs 25:4 Remove impurities from silver, and material will be produced for a silversmith.
Proverbs 25:5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Proverbs 25:6 Don’t boast about yourself before the king, and don’t stand in the place of the great;
Proverbs 25:7 because he should say to you, “Come up here!” than to demote you in plain view of a noble.
Proverbs 25:8 Don’t take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterward if your opponent humiliates you?
Proverbs 25:9 Make your case with your opponent without revealing another’s secret;
Proverbs 25:10 otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you, and you’ll never live it down.
Proverbs 25:11 A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.
Proverbs 25:12 A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.
Proverbs 25:13 To those who send him, a trustworthy envoy is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day; he refreshes the throat of his masters.
Proverbs 25:14 The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist is like clouds and wind without rain.
Proverbs 25:15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Proverbs 25:16 If you find honey, eat only what you need; otherwise, you’ll vomit from it.
Proverbs 25:17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house; otherwise, he’ll get sick of you and hate you.
Proverbs 25:18 A person giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Proverbs 25:19 Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.
Proverbs 25:20 Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day or pouring vinegar on soda.
Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
Proverbs 25:22 Because you will heap burning coals on his head, Yahveh will reward you.
Proverbs 25:23 The north wind produces rain, a backbiting tongue, and angry looks.
Proverbs 25:24 Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with an arguing wife.
Proverbs 25:25 Good news from a distant land is like cold water to a parched throat.
Proverbs 25:26 A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to overeat honey or to seek glory after glory.
Proverbs 25:28 A person who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.

balance

The balance of self-control is a theme that runs through this section of the text. A wise person knows how much is needed to obtain his goals and when to relent. Overdoing can do as much harm as doing nothing. Too much of even a good thing can become a bad thing.

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idler’s field

Posted on November 26, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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idler’s field

Proverbs 24:23-34 (JDV).

Proverbs 24:23 These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
Proverbs 24:24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent” — peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
Proverbs 24:25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a generous blessing will come to them.
Proverbs 24:26 He who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
Proverbs 24:27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterward, build your house.
Proverbs 24:28 Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
Proverbs 24:29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”
Proverbs 24:30 I went by the field of an idler and by the vineyard of one lacking sense.
Proverbs 24:31 Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
Proverbs 24:32 I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:
Proverbs 24:33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,
Proverbs 24:34 and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need, like a mugger.

Idler’s field

A trip to the idler’s field showed how destructive laziness can be. Those pesky weeds and thorns had destroyed the crops. The wall of protection was broken down, so it protected nothing. A life was ruined because of a lack of diligence. Forget building your house; focus on your field. Invest first, then you will have something to enjoy in that house.

Laziness comes in many forms. The worst kind of laziness is spiritual sloth. It destroys the field while people focus on worldly pursuits. A life lived as a spiritual idler produces a fruitless field.

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furnishing our houses

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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furnishing our houses

Proverbs 24:1-22 (JDV).

Proverbs 24:1 Don’t envy the evil or wish to be with them,
Proverbs 24:2 because their hearts plan violence, and their words stir up trouble.
Proverbs 24:3 A house is built by Wisdom, and it is established by understanding;
Proverbs 24:4 by knowledge, the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
Proverbs 24:5 A wise warrior is better than a strong one, and a man of knowledge than one of strength;
Proverbs 24:6 because you should wage war with sound guidance — victory comes with many counselors.
Proverbs 24:7 Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool; he does not open his mouth at the city gate.
Proverbs 24:8 The one who plots evil will be called a schemer.
Proverbs 24:9 A foolish scheme is a sin, and a mocker is detestable to people.
Proverbs 24:10 If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.
Proverbs 24:11 Rescue those being taken off to death and save those stumbling toward slaughter.
Proverbs 24:12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,” won’t he who weighs hearts consider it? Won’t he who protects your throat know? Won’t he repay a person according to his work?
Proverbs 24:13 Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;
Proverbs 24:14 realize that Wisdom is the same for your throat. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.
Proverbs 24:15 Don’t set an ambush, you wicked one, at the camp of the righteous man; don’t destroy his dwelling.
Proverbs 24:16 Though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
Proverbs 24:17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
Proverbs 24:18 or Yahveh will see, be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.
Proverbs 24:19 Don’t be agitated by evildoers, and don’t envy the wicked.
Proverbs 24:20 Because the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear Yahveh, as well as the king, and don’t associate with rebels,
Proverbs 24:22 because destruction will come suddenly from them; who knows what distress these two can bring?

furnishing our houses

Eleanor Chew writes, “Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge will build a house. A secure house, a house that will not be shaken or destroyed by the storms and trials around us. A house that cannot be challenged as it is on the solid Word of God. This house will be established and built on the proper foundation. Think of the illustration in the New Testament about the two houses, built on rock and sand.” (Maranatha Devotional, September 21, 2022).

In this proverb, the house analogy is carried a bit further. The house is not just established on a good foundation. Its rooms are filled with treasures because of the knowledge its owner possesses. It is safe from the storm but also exciting and attractive. A safe house can be empty and boring. A splendid house makes you appreciate its owner.

As believers, our job is to attract others to our Savior. How we build and furnish our lives matters.

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cravings

Posted on November 24, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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cravings

Proverbs 23:1-35 (JDV).

Proverbs 23:1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,
Proverbs 23:2 and put a knife to your neck if you have a hungry throat;
Proverbs 23:3 don’t desire his choice food, because that food is deceptive.
Proverbs 23:4 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; since you know better, stop doing that.
Proverbs 23:5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Proverbs 23:6 Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread, and don’t desire his choice food,
Proverbs 23:7 because like a hair in his throat, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you; but his heart is not with you.
Proverbs 23:8 You will vomit the little you’ve eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Proverbs 23:9 Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.
Proverbs 23:10 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker, and don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Proverbs 23:11 for their Redeemer is strong, and he will champion their cause against you.
Proverbs 23:12 Apply yourself to correction and listen to words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:13 Don’t withhold correction from a youth; if you punish him with a rod, he will not die.
Proverbs 23:14 Punish him with a rod, and you will rescue his throat from Sheol.
Proverbs 23:15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice.
Proverbs 23:16 My kidney will celebrate when your lips say what is right.
Proverbs 23:17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear Yahveh.
Proverbs 23:18 For then you will have a future, and your hope will not be dashed.
Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your heart straight on the right road.
Proverbs 23:20 Don’t associate with those who drink too much wine or with those who gorge themselves on meat.
Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe them in rags.
Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Proverbs 23:23 Buy — and do not sell — truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Proverbs 23:24 The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
Proverbs 23:25 Make your father and mother have joy and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.
Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my roads.
Proverbs 23:27 Because a prostitute is a deep pit, and a wayward woman is a narrow well;
Proverbs 23:28 indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber and increases the number of unfaithful people.
Proverbs 23:29 Who has tragedy? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?
Proverbs 23:30 Those who linger over wine; those who go looking for mixed wine.
Proverbs 23:31 Don’t gaze at wine because it is red, because it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly.
Proverbs 23:32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
Proverbs 23:33 Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say turned-around things.
Proverbs 23:34 You’ll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship’s mast.
Proverbs 23:35 “They hit me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn’t know it! When will I wake up? I’ll look for another drink.”

cravings

These proverbs highlight a number of cravings: desires that might become all-consuming. The message is to seek wisdom so that your desires do not destroy you. Be passionate about doing the right thing, and let the LORD take care of you.

Please, LORD, give us the wisdom to avoid the cravings that war within us.

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Don’t

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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Don’t

Proverbs 22:17-29 (JDV).

Proverbs 22:17 Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.
Proverbs 22:18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips.
Proverbs 22:19 I have instructed you today — even you — so that your confidence may be in Yahveh.
Proverbs 22:20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
Proverbs 22:21 to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you?
Proverbs 22:22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor, and don’t crush the oppressed at the city gate,
Proverbs 22:23 for Yahveh will champion their cause and will rob the throat of those who rob them.
Proverbs 22:24 Don’t make friends with an angry person, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one,
Proverbs 22:25 or you will learn his ways and entangle your throat in a snare.
Proverbs 22:26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans.
Proverbs 22:27 If you have nothing with which to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.
Proverbs 22:28 Don’t move an ancient boundary marker that your fathers set up.
Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.

Don’t

There are just some activities that a wise person does not take part in. THey harm others and they bring shame on those who do them. So don’t.

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gracious lips

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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gracious lips

Proverbs 22:1-16 (JDV).

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be preferred to great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:2 Rich and poor have this in common: Yahveh makes them all.
Proverbs 22:3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the morally naive keep going and are punished.
Proverbs 22:4 Humility, the fear of Yahveh, results in wealth, honor, and life.
Proverbs 22:5 There are thorns and snares on the road of the crooked; the one who guards his throat stays far from them.
Proverbs 22:6 Start a youth out on his road; even when he grows old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.
Proverbs 22:8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
Proverbs 22:9 A generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Proverbs 22:10 Drive out a mocker, and conflict goes too; then quarreling and dishonor will cease.
Proverbs 22:11 The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips — the king is his friend.
Proverbs 22:12 Yahveh’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
Proverbs 22:13 The idler says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”
Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit; a man cursed by Yahveh will fall into it.
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth; a rod of correction will separate it from him.
Proverbs 22:16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself and giving to the rich — both lead only to poverty.

gracious lips

Gracious lips — careful speech — is a quality that brings wise people good company. No matter who he is, a man with gracious lips will have the king as his friend. But ungracious lips (quarreling) is a curse upon those who have to endure it. Solomon urges his sons to stay away from men or women who cannot control their tongues. It is better to have fewer friends, than to have friends who are always tearing you apart by their words.

LORD, give us peaceful hearts and gracious lips.

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mouth guard

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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mouth guard

Proverbs 21:1-31 (JDV).

Proverbs 21:1 A king’s heart is like channeled water in Yahveh’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses.
Proverbs 21:2 All a person’s roads seem right to him, but Yahveh weighs hearts.
Proverbs 21:3 Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to Yahveh than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:4 The lamp that guides the wicked — haughty eyes and an arrogant heart — is sin.
Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.
Proverbs 21:6 Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a pursuit of death.
Proverbs 21:7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly.
Proverbs 21:8 A guilty one’s road is crooked, but the behavior of the innocent is upright.
Proverbs 21:9 Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with an arguing wife.
Proverbs 21:10 A wicked throat craves evil; he has no consideration for his neighbor.
Proverbs 21:11 When a mocker is punished, the morally naive become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires knowledge.
Proverbs 21:12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; he brings the wicked to ruin.
Proverbs 21:13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered.
Proverbs 21:14 A secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage.
Proverbs 21:15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to those who practice iniquity.
Proverbs 21:16 The person who strays from the road of prudence will come to rest in the assembly of the ghosts.
Proverbs 21:17 The one who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.
Proverbs 21:18 The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for the upright.
Proverbs 21:19 Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.
Proverbs 21:20 Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a fool consumes them.
Proverbs 21:21 The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Proverbs 21:22 A wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down its secure fortress.
Proverbs 21:23 The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his throat from troubles.
Proverbs 21:24 The arrogant and proud person, named “Mocker,” acts with excessive arrogance.
Proverbs 21:25 A idler’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work.
Proverbs 21:26 He is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back.
Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable — how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives!
Proverbs 21:28 A lying witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak successfully.
Proverbs 21:29 A wicked person puts on a bold face, but the upright one considers his road.
Proverbs 21:30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against Yahveh.
Proverbs 21:31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from Yahveh.

mouth guard

Your tongue and mouth reside close to your throat. The throat in Scripture is a metaphor for your whole physical life. Keeping the tonge and mouth guarded is a good idea. In fact, it can preserve your throat from being cut. The wrong word in the wrong place can be fatal.

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something to be proud of

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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something to be proud of

Proverbs 20:1-30 (JDV).

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker; beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray because of them is not wise.
Proverbs 20:2 A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers his throat.
Proverbs 20:3 Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.
Proverbs 20:4 The idler does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.
Proverbs 20:5 Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water; but a person of understanding draws it out.
Proverbs 20:6 Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy person?
Proverbs 20:7 A righteous person acts with integrity; his children who come after him will be fortunate.
Proverbs 20:8 A king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Proverbs 20:10 Differing weights and varying measures– both are detestable to Yahveh.
Proverbs 20:11 Even a young man is known by his actions — by whether his behavior is pure and upright.
Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye — Yahveh made them both.
Proverbs 20:13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.
Proverbs 20:14 “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.
Proverbs 20:15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.
Proverbs 20:16 Take his garment, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners.
Proverbs 20:17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.
Proverbs 20:18 Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance.
Proverbs 20:19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth.
Proverbs 20:20 Whoever curses his father or mother– his lamp will go out in deep darkness.
Proverbs 20:21 An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately.
Proverbs 20:22 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on Yahveh, and he will rescue you.
Proverbs 20:23 Differing weights are detestable to Yahveh, and dishonest scales are unfair.
Proverbs 20:24 Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by Yahveh, so how can anyone understand his own road?
Proverbs 20:25 It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows.
Proverbs 20:26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:27 The human breathing is like the lamp of the Yahveh, searching all his innermost parts.
Proverbs 20:28 Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne.
Proverbs 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair.
Proverbs 20:30 Lashes and wounds purge away evil, and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.

something to be proud of

When a man is young, he glories in his strength. When he gets older, the gray hairs mean the strength is not all there anymore, but hopefully it has been replaced by wisdom. At any time, when you can overlook it when something would ordinarily make you angry, that’s something to be proud of.

LORD, direct our hearts toward your glory.

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heart rage

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Jefferson Vann

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heart rage

Proverbs 19:1-29 (JDV).

Proverbs 19:1 Better a poor person who walks with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.
Proverbs 19:2 Also a throat’s hunger is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.
Proverbs 19:3 A person’s own foolishness diverts his road, yet his heart rages against Yahveh.
Proverbs 19:4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.
Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
Proverbs 19:6 Many seek a ruler’s favor, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.
Proverbs 19:7 All the brothers of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words, but they are not there.
Proverbs 19:8 The one who acquires good sense loves his throat; one who safeguards understanding finds success.
Proverbs 19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes.
Proverbs 19:10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool — how much less for a slave to rule over princes!
Proverbs 19:11 A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:12 A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a wife’s arguing is a constant dripping.
Proverbs 19:14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahveh.
Proverbs 19:15 Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy throat will go hungry.
Proverbs 19:16 The one who keeps commands preserves his throat; one who disregards his roads will die.
Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to Yahveh, and he will give a reward to the lender.
Proverbs 19:18 Correct your son while there is hope; don’t allow your throat to cause his death.
Proverbs 19:19 A person with intense anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.
Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a person’s heart, but Yahveh’s decree will prevail.
Proverbs 19:22 What is desirable in a person is his fidelity; better to be a poor person than a liar.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of Yahveh leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger.
Proverbs 19:24 The idler buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!
Proverbs 19:25 Strike a mocker, and the morally naive learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.
Proverbs 19:26 The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son.
Proverbs 19:27 If you stop listening to correction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 19:28 A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
Proverbs 19:29 Judgments are prepared for mockers and beatings for the backs of fools.

heart rage

When bitterness because of personal failures goes to the next level — the result is heart rage. It is not just blaming God for one’s problems, it is active enmity. Since such a person cannot actually harm God, he or she takes it out on anyone who is unfortunate enough to be caught in the path.

Wisdom warns us not to get caught up in foolish actions to begin with. If we stay on the right road, we will not have to face the consequences of being on the wrong road.

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