Proverbs 19

1 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.
|
2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
nor to be hasty and miss the way.
|
3 A man’s own folly ruins his life,
yet his heart rages against the LORD.
|
4 Wealth brings many friends,
but a poor man’s friend deserts him.
|
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who pours out lies will not go free.
|
6 Many curry favor with a ruler,
and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.
|
7 A poor man is shunned by all his relatives—
how much more do his friends avoid him!
Though he pursues them with pleading,
they are nowhere to be found.
|
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
he who cherishes understanding prospers.
|
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who pours out lies will perish.
|
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—
how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
|
11 A man’s wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
|
12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
|
13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
|
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
|
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless man goes hungry.
|
16 He who obeys instructions guards his life,
but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.
|
17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward him for what he has done.
|
18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to his death.
|
19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty;
if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
|
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
and in the end you will be wise.
|
21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
|
22 What a man desires is unfailing love;
better to be poor than a liar.
|
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life:
Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
|
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he will not even bring it back to his mouth!
|
25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
|
26 He who robs his father and drives out his mother
is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
|
27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
|
28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
|
29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.

|

Which Would You Rather Be?

Poor and blameless?
or
foolish and perverse?
|
A false witness?
or
a giver of gifts?
|
Wise and a lover of his own soul?
or
A liar who is doomed to perish?
|
To the endure the wrath of God?
or
To earn God’s sweet favor?
|
To have a quarrelsome wife?
or
To have prudent and wise wife?
|
Lazy, tired, and hungry?
or
Obedient and Alive?
|
Kind and a lender to the Lord
or
always paying a price for being mad?
|
Always following your plans?
or
Listening to God’s prevailing purpose?
|
Poor?
or
A liar?
|
Lazy with your hand in the cookie jar?
or
content and untouched by trouble?
|
Enjoying an EVIL GULP because you are wicked?
or
A listener of God’s advice and a follower of knowledge?

|

You Must Pick One

Praise God for the power of choice that He gives us! Without choice, our lives would be meaningless and very dull. But Jesus knew that, so He gave us free will to be able to decide the right way to go. Proverbs 19 is filled with options. Either we can honor God and go one way, or, we can do our own thing and stray away from Him. Which would you rather do?
|
Prayer
Lord, thank you so much for giving me the power to choose. You in Your wisdom, have allowed me to pick the right way, and while I have the freedom to go anywhere I want, I have made the personal decision to follow you. You have the Words of life and point to the Way of life. Lead me in Your Way everlasting, and I will follow you all of the days of my life. I love you dearly, my Savior and my God. AMEN