Wisdom for the Day - Standing Strong

Send us Fan Mail Evil Failures 8  A person who plans evil      will get a reputation as a troublemaker. 9  The schemes of a fool are sinful;      everyone detests a mocker. 10   If you fail under pressure,      your strength is too small. Verses 8 and 9 compare the plans of a fool, a rebel, and a mocker. Proverbs has already made it clear that all these plans are sinful and deserve punishment. Ver...

Send us Fan Mail War Advisor   5  The wise are mightier than the strong,[a]      and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. 6  So don’t go to war without wise guidance;      victory depends on having many advisers. 7  Wisdom is too lofty for fools.      Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say. The first proverb praises a man of wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom gives him powe...

Send us Fan Mail Envy The Wise  1 Don’t envy evil people      or desire their company. 2  For their hearts plot violence,      and their words always stir up trouble. 3  A house is built by wisdom      and becomes strong through good sense. 4  Through knowledge its rooms are filled      with all sorts of precious riches and valuables. Verses 1 and 2 warn us not to be jealous of evil people. Why wo...

Send us Fan Mail Drunk Sailor  34  You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,      clinging to a swaying mast. 35  And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it.      I didn’t even know it when they beat me up.  When will I wake up      so I can look for another drink?” Verse 34 When the drinker drinks too much alcohol, he feels like someone on a ship. The drinker cannot walk in a straig...

Send us Fan Mail Wine Viper  31  Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,      how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. 32  For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;      it stings like a viper. 33  You will see hallucinations,      and you will say crazy things. Not a whole lot of explaining to do with these verses. People who get drunk regularly may experience DT’s (Deli...

Send us Fan Mail Avoid Hussies 28  She hides and waits like a robber,      eager to make more men unfaithful. 29  Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?      Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?      Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30  It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,      trying out new drinks. In the first proverb, "she" refers to a prost...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Parents 25  So give your father and mother joy!      May she who gave you birth be happy. 26  O my son, give me your heart.      May your eyes take delight in following my ways. 27  A prostitute is a dangerous trap;      a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well. Verses 25-26 The son must be careful about sex. Some women sell sex. They are like a deep...

Send us Fan Mail Truth Bomb 22  Listen to your father, who gave you life,      and don’t despise your mother when she is old. 23  Get the truth and never sell it;      also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment. 24  The father of godly children has cause for joy.      What a pleasure to have children who are wise. Verses 22 If the son loves his parents, then he should listen to them. He should...

Send us Fan Mail Wise and Sober  19  My child, listen and be wise:      Keep your heart on the right course. 20  Do not carouse with drunkards      or feast with gluttons, 21  for they are on their way to poverty,      and too much sleep clothes them in rags. Verses 19-21 The father warns his son. The son must not be greedy for food. And he must not be a drunk. This is because greedy people and dr...

Send us Fan Mail Childs Reward 15  My child, if your heart is wise,      my own heart will rejoice! 16  Everything in me will celebrate      when you speak what is right. 17  Don’t envy sinners,      but always continue to fear the Lord. 18  You will be rewarded for this;      your hope will not be disappointed. Verses 15-16 But you will be glad if your child learns to be wise. You will be especia...

Send us Fan Mail Spare and Spoil 13 Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death Sometimes you need to punish a child with a smack. A smack will not kill your child. But a smack will teach him the right way to behave. And your child will learn how to live wisely. Your punishment now may save your child from a mu...

Send us Fan Mail Strong Knowledge  10  Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;      don’t take the land of defenseless orphans. 11  For their Redeemer is strong;      he himself will bring their charges against you. 12  Commit yourself to instruction;      listen carefully to words of knowledge. We’ve come across the first proverb before: Don’t move the boundary marker. G...

Send us Fan Mail Stingy Peeps 6  Don’t eat with people who are stingy;      don’t desire their delicacies. 7  They are always thinking about how much it costs.[a]      “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it. 8 You will throw up what little you’ve eaten,      and your compliments will be wasted. 9   Don’t waste your breath on fools,      for they will despise the wisest advice. Verses 6-...

Send us Fan Mail Blink Twice 4  Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.      Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5  In the blink of an eye wealth disappears,      for it will sprout wings      and fly away like an eagle. Verses 4-5 The Book of Proverbs encourages us to work hard. But some people work too hard, because they want to become wealthy. These people suffer because they use all their...

Send us Fan Mail Fat Cakes 1 While dining with a ruler,      pay attention to what is put before you. 2  If you are a big eater,      put a knife to your throat; 3  don’t desire all the delicacies,      for he might be trying to trick you. Verses 1-3 A ruler does not invite you so that you can taste his fine food. He invites you because he wants to discuss serious matters with you. You should not...

Send us Fan Mail Cheat the King  28  Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers      set up by previous generations. 29  Do you see any truly competent workers?      They will serve kings      rather than working for ordinary people. The first proverb warns against moving boundary markers. Moving a marker would cheat someone out of their land, which is like stealing—a violati...

Send us Fan Mail For A Hamburger Today 24  Don’t befriend angry people      or associate with hot-tempered people, 25  or you will learn to be like them      and endanger your soul. 26  Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt      or put up security for someone else. 27  If you can’t pay it,      even your bed will be snatched from under you. Verses 24 - 25 Anger causes many problems. Anger...

Send us Fan Mail Rob or Defend 22  Don’t rob the poor just because you can,      or exploit the needy in court. 23  For the Lord is their defender.      He will ruin anyone who ruins them. The two verses in Proverbs combine into one clear message: Don’t take advantage of the weak and powerless. While the poor are mentioned specifically, this also includes widows, orphans, and immigrants. Verse 23...

Send us Fan Mail Hey You- Yes, YOU!  19   I am teaching you today—yes, you—      so you will trust in the Lord. 20  I have written thirty sayings for you,      filled with advice and knowledge. 21  In this way, you may know the truth      and take an accurate report to those who sent you. Verses 19-21 Wise lessons are valuable. And they are important. We need to study these lessons. We should lear...

Send us Fan Mail Oppressive Lips  16  A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor      or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. 17  Listen to the words of the wise;      apply your heart to my instruction. 18  For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart      and always ready on your lips.  Verse 16 reminds us that God cares for the poor and powerless, and He will stand agai...

Send us Fan Mail Lions and Women  13  The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!      If I go outside, I might be killed!” 14  The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;      those who make the Lord angry will fall into it. 15  A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,      but physical discipline will drive it far away. Verse 13 When Solomon writes about the lazy man, he usu...

Send us Fan Mail Mock and Quarrel 10  Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.      Quarrels and insults will disappear. 11  Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech      will have the king as a friend. 12  The Lord preserves those with knowledge,      but he ruins the plans of the treacherous. Verse 10 People who cause trouble by their evil words do not deserve a welcome. Such people m...

Send us Fan Mail Poor Planting 7  Just as the rich rule the poor,      so the borrower is servant to the lender. 8  Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,      and their reign of terror will come to an end. 9  Blessed are those who are generous,      because they feed the poor. Verse 7 Solomon collected 3000 wise lessons (proverbs) (1 Kings 4:32). This section contains over 400 proverbs...

Send us Fan Mail Humble or Corrupt  4  True humility and fear of the Lord      lead to riches, honor, and long life. 5  Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;      whoever values life will avoid it. 6  Direct your children onto the right path,      and when they are older, they will not leave it. Verse 4 God is greater than we are. Therefore, we must be humble. The wise person respects Go...

Send us Fan Mail Rich and Poor 1 Choose a good reputation over great riches;      being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. 2  The rich and poor have this in common:      The Lord made them both. 3  A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.      The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Verse 1 Wisdom is more valuable than wealth (Proverbs 8:10). Othe...