is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment,
but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.
17 A man tormented by the guilt of murder
will be a fugitive till death;
let no one support him.
18 He whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.
19 He who works his land will have abundant food,
but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 A faithful man will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good—
yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 A stingy man is eager to get rich
and is unaware that poverty awaits him.
23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.
24 He who robs his father or mother
and says, "It's not wrong"—
he is partner to him who destroys.
25 A greedy man stirs up dissension,
but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26 He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
Questions to consider:
- In which part of these proverbs (and those from yesterday’s passage) do you see divine justice revealed?
- Find the metaphors. What do they mean?
- Memorize a proverb?
Possibilities for prayer:
Verse 19 seems to suggest that practicality is not a bad thing in our lives. In fact, if given the choice between pursuing “fantasies” and making practical life decisions, this verse makes pretty clear what the end results of our labors will be. It’s true that dreaming can be a lot more fun than “working the fields” or doing the more practical things in life, but fun is not always better. Let’s ask God for the diligence and perseverance to do the right thing, the wise thing, and for a greater understanding of what that might mean in our lives.
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