Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 02

¹⁴ Without guidance people fall,
but in many advisors there is safety.
¹⁵ Guaranteeing a loan for a stranger leads to trouble,
but one who hates to shake hands ^[1] remains secure.
¹⁶ A gracious woman takes hold of honor,
but ruthless men take hold of riches. ^[2]
17 A merciful man benefits his own soul,
but a cruel man brings trouble on his own flesh.
¹⁸ A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but one who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.
¹⁹ Just as righteousness leads to life,
pursuing evil leads to death.
²⁰ Perverted hearts are disgusting to the Lord,
but his favor rests on those whose way has integrity.
²¹ Be sure of this: An evil person will not go unpunished,
but the children of the righteous will escape.
²² The beauty of a woman who lacks moral judgment
    is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
²³ The desire of the righteous leads only to good.
The hope of the wicked leads to fury.
²⁴ One person scatters his wealth, but it still increases.
Another hoards it unjustly, but this leads only to poverty.
²⁵ A person who spreads blessings will be enriched.
One who gives a refreshing drink will be refreshed.
²⁶ People curse the person who hoards grain,
but a blessing rests on the head of one who sells it.
²⁷ Whoever searches for good seeks favor,
but whoever pursues evil will find it.
²⁸ Whoever trusts his wealth will fall,
but righteous people will flourish like green plants.
²⁹ Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind,
and a stubborn fool will be a slave to a person with a wise heart.
³⁰ The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life,
and one who harvests souls is wise.
³¹ If a righteous person is paid back on earth,
how much more a wicked person or a sinner!

Proverbs 12

¹ A person who loves discipline loves knowledge,
but one who hates correction is stupid.
² A good person will obtain favor from the Lord,
but he will condemn a schemer.
³ A person cannot be made secure by wickedness,
but the roots of the righteous will never be uprooted.
⁴ A wife with strong character is a crown to her husband,
but one who brings shame is like rot in his bones.
⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouths of the upright will save them.
⁷ Wicked people are overthrown, and they are no more,
but the house of the righteous continues to stand.
⁸ A person is praised for the good sense that he speaks,
but a person with a twisted heart will be despised.
⁹ Better to be underestimated and have a servant
than to pretend to be wealthy and lack bread.
¹⁰ A righteous person understands the needs of his livestock,
but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
¹¹ A person who works his land will have enough food,
but whoever pursues fantasies lacks sense.
¹² A wicked man covets the fortress ^[3] of evil people,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
¹³ The rebellion on his lips is a trap for an evil person,
but a righteous person gets out of trouble.
¹⁴ From the fruit of his lips a person is filled with good,
and the labor of a person’s hands returns to him.
¹⁵ The way of a stubborn fool seems correct to him,
but whoever listens to advice is wise.
¹⁶ A stubborn fool immediately lets his annoyance be known,
but a sensible person overlooks an insult.
¹⁷ Whoever breathes the truth proclaims righteousness,
but a lying witness is deceitful.
¹⁸ Some people wield reckless words like the thrusts of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
¹⁹ Truthful lips are established forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
²⁰ Deceit lies in the heart of those who plot evil,
but for those who promote peace there will be joy.
²¹ No disaster will strike a righteous person,
but wicked people are filled with trouble.
²² Lying lips are disgusting to the Lord,
but those who act truthfully gain his favor.
²³ A man who is shrewd conceals his knowledge,
but the hearts of fools broadcast stupidity.
²⁴ Hardworking hands will rule,
but laziness results in forced labor. ^[4]
25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word brings him joy.
²⁶ A righteous person guides his neighbor, ^[5]
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
²⁷ A lazy person does not roast his game,
but a diligent person uses his wealth wisely.
²⁸ In the path of righteousness there is life,
and there is no death in following this path. ^[6]

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 11:15 Or make a deal
2. Proverbs 11:16 The Greek text has a longer double proverb here: A gracious woman takes hold of honor, ⎣and she who hates virtue sets up a throne for dishonor. The lazy become destitute,⎦ but ruthless men take hold of riches.
3. Proverbs 12:12 Or net. The verse is difficult and the meaning is uncertain.
4. Proverbs 12:24 Or leads to debtor’s prison
5. Proverbs 12:26 Or is cautious in friendship or works to learn about his friend
6. Proverbs 12:28 The translation follows the main Hebrew reading. A variant in some Hebrew manuscripts and the ancient versions reads and another path leads to death.