but he who hates correction is stupid.
2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but the LORD condemns a crafty man.
3 A man cannot be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4 A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay 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 speech of the upright rescues them.
7 Wicked men are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8 A man is praised according to his wisdom,
but men with warped minds are despised
9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 He who works his land will have abundant food,
but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
12 The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,
but the root of the righteous flourishes.
13 An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
but a righteous man escapes trouble.
14 From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things
as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
Questions to consider:
- Contrast the (a) intentions and (b) ends of the (a) wicked and (b) righteous person.
- In what areas of life are these contrasts evident?
- Do you you notice any themes? What?
Possibilities for prayer:
Again we see many comparisons between the wicked and the righteous (and my hunch is we’ll continue to see lots more!). It’s been made pretty clear that we want to find ourselves sitting in the camp of the righteous if we want to be pleasing God and seeing good things coming into our lives. Let’s ask God first for an increase in our desire to be righteous, and then for the wisdom to make it happen.
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