Through My Bible Yr 03 – October 08

¹⁴ “It’s no good! It’s no good!” says the buyer,
but then he goes away and brags.
¹⁵ There is gold, and there are many gems, ^[1]
but lips that have knowledge are a precious vessel.
¹⁶ Take the garment from someone who guarantees a loan for a stranger.
Hold on to it when he offers it as collateral for a foreigner.
¹⁷ Food gained dishonestly tastes sweet to a person,
but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
¹⁸ Plans are strengthened by obtaining advice,
so do not wage war without consultation.
¹⁹ A person who goes around spreading gossip reveals secrets,
so do not associate with anyone whose lips are always open.
²⁰ The person who curses his father and his mother—
his lamp will be snuffed out in total darkness.
²¹ An inheritance easily obtained ^[2] in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
²² Do not say, “I’ll get even with you!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will rescue you.
²³ Differing weights are disgusting ^[3] to the Lord,
and dishonest scales are not good.
²⁴ The steps a man takes come from the Lord,
so how can anyone understand his own way?
²⁵ A person falls into a trap if he pledges something to God impulsively
and considers his pledge only later.
²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked.
He rolls the threshing wheel over them.
²⁷ A man’s spirit is the lamp of the Lord.
It illuminates the depths of his heart.
²⁸ Mercy and truth protect a king,
and he maintains his throne with mercy.
²⁹ The splendor of young men is their strength,
but the majesty of old men is their gray hair.
³⁰ Wounds and bruises scrub away evil,
and a beating scrubs the depths of the heart.

Proverbs 21

¹ A king’s heart is like streams of water in the hand of the Lord.
He directs it wherever he desires.
² In a person’s own eyes all his ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the motives of the heart.
³ Practicing righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the Lord than a sacrifice.
⁴ Haughty eyes and an arrogant heart,
the unplowed field ^[4] of the wicked, produce sin.
⁵ The plans of a hard worker lead to abundance,
but everyone in a hurry rushes toward scarcity.
⁶ Piling up treasure by a lying tongue
    is a vanishing vapor for those who seek death.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
⁸ A guilty person’s way is very crooked,
but the conduct of a pure person is straight.
⁹ Better to live on the corner of a roof
    than in a house shared with a nagging wife.
¹⁰ The soul of a wicked person craves evil.
He does not look on his neighbor with mercy.
¹¹ When a scoffer is punished, an undisciplined person becomes wise,
and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.
¹² The Righteous One ^[5] carefully watches the house of the wicked.
He throws the wicked down to ruin.
¹³ Whoever shuts his ear to the cries of the poor—
he too will cry out and not be answered.
¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe slipped into the pocket soothes fury.
¹⁵ It is a joy for a righteous person to practice justice,
but destruction waits for those who practice evil.
¹⁶ A person who wanders from the way of understanding
    will rest in the company of departed spirits.
¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will be poor.
Whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the treacherous make a payment for the upright.
¹⁹ Better to live in an arid region
    than with a nagging, ill-tempered wife.
²⁰ Good food and olive oil are stored up in the dwellings of the wise,
but a foolish person devours everything he has.
²¹ A person who pursues righteousness and mercy
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
²² A wise man can climb up to a city full of warriors
and pull down the strong defenses in which they trust.
²³ The person who guards his mouth and his tongue
    guards himself from troubles.
²⁴ The contemptuous, insolent person—“Scoffer” is his name—
    behaves with overflowing arrogance.
²⁵ A lazy person’s craving will kill him,
because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long he craves something more,
but a righteous person gives and does not hold back.
²⁷ A sacrifice offered by wicked people is an abomination. ^[6]
How much more when they bring it with evil intent!
²⁸ A lying witness will perish,
but a man who listens will keep speaking forever. ^[7]
29 A wicked person puts on a bold front,
but an upright person gives thought to ^[8] his way.
³⁰ There is no wisdom, no cleverness, and no advice
    that can stand up against the Lord.
³¹ A horse is made ready for a day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Proverbs 22

¹ A good name is worth more than great wealth.
Respect is worth more than silver and gold.
² Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the maker of them all.
³ A sensible person sees trouble and hides,
but the naïve keep going and pay the penalty.
⁴ The outcome of humility and of the fear of the Lord
    is wealth, honor, and life.
⁵ Thorns and traps are on the road followed by the crooked.
Whoever guards his soul ^[9] will stay far away from them.
⁶ Dedicate ^[10] a child to the way he should go,
and even when he becomes old, he will not turn away from it.
⁷ A rich person rules over poor people,
and a borrower is a slave to a lender.
⁸ Whoever sows injustice reaps trouble,
and the rod that inflicts his fury will be destroyed.
⁹ A generous person will be blessed,
because he gives some of his food to the poor.
¹⁰ Drive away a scoffer, and conflict leaves.
Quarrels and insults cease.
¹¹ A person who loves a pure heart and whose lips are gracious
    will have a king as his friend.
¹² The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge.
He overturns the words of a treacherous person.
¹³ A lazy person says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be murdered in the streets!”
¹⁴ The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit.
The man who is under the Lord’s wrath will fall there.
¹⁵ Foolishness is bound tightly to a child’s heart.
A rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
¹⁶ Whoever oppresses the poor to become great,
and whoever gives gifts to the rich—
both are sure to suffer loss.

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 20:15 The identity of these gems is uncertain. Rubies and red coral are among the suggestions.
2. Proverbs 20:21 The translation easily obtained is an alternate Hebrew reading. The main Hebrew reading is gotten by greed.
3. Proverbs 20:23 Or repulsive or an abomination
4. Proverbs 21:4 Or lamp. The meaning of the word and the point of comparison are unclear.
5. Proverbs 21:12 Or righteous one
6. Proverbs 21:27 Or a disgusting thing
7. Proverbs 21:28 The line is cryptic. Another suggestion is one who listens to him will perish forever.
8. Proverbs 21:29 The translation follows an alternate Hebrew reading. The main Hebrew reading is establishes.
9. Proverbs 22:5 Or his life
10. Proverbs 22:6 Or consecrate. The Hebrew word used here is not one of the usual words for teaching or training, but it is the same word used for dedicating a temple. It adds the connotation of entrusting the child to the Lord, as Hannah did.