Prudent Choices

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Devotions: Proverbs 19

A poor man with integrity is better than a fool of perverse speech. It’s wrong to lack knowledge, and hurry leads to error. Mortals rage against YHWH when their own folly brings them ruin. Wealth attracts new friends, while the poor are deserted. False witnesses will be punished; liars will perish. Many seek the favor of the generous; everyone is friend to a gift-giver. A poor man is hated by his own brothers—and even more by his former friends: he seeks them with words, but cannot keep them near. Seeking wisdom is the essence of self-care; prosperity comes to one who cherishes understanding. It is unfitting for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes. Good sense makes a man slow to anger; to overlook an offense brings glory. Royal wrath is a lion’s roar; a king’s favor is morning dew. A foolish son ruins his father, and a wife’s quarreling is like a continual dripping in his ear. House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is God’s gift. Slothfulness brings coma; idleness brings starvation. Keeping commandments preserves life; despising scripture brings death. Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the Lord, and He will repay! Discipline your son while you can, or you set him up for destruction and yourself for sorrow. A man of great wrath will pay a terrible price, and if you deliver him, you’ll have to do it again and again. Heed advice; accept instruction—and gain wisdom for the future. Man makes many plans; but only God’s purpose will be accomplished. God values loyalty, and He favors a poor man ahead of a liar. Fear of YHWH leads to life; fear God, and you need fear nothing else—you can rest satisfied, unvisited by harm. A sluggard is so lazy he won’t even feed himself. Chastise a scoffer and the simple learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding and he will gain in knowledge. Shameful is a son who does violence to his father or chases away his mother. Stop learning, and immediately you begin to stray. Poor witnesses mock justice; wicked mouths devour iniquity. Scoffers face condemnation; fools will be flogged.