Wise Up: Proverbs 24
Proverbs 24 (NIV)
Saying 20
1 Do not envy the wicked,
do not desire their company;
2 for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.
Saying 21
3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Saying 22
5 The wise prevail through great power,
and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
6 Surely you need guidance to wage war,
and victory is won through many advisers.
Saying 23
7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
Saying 24
8 Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.
Saying 25
10 If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength!
11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Saying 26
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 27
15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Saying 28
17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.
Saying 29
19 Do not fret because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
Saying 30
21 Fear the Lord and the king, my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—
would you use your lips to mislead?
29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”
30 I went past the field of a sluggard,
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
“By wisdom a house is built…by knowledge the rooms are filled with rare and precious treasures.” Vs3-4
There is so much pressure for women in this age and culture to continually decorate or redecorate our homes in the newest, Pinterest-approved style. I am guilty of constantly thinking of what to buy to improve my home. However, it’s become so clear to me that no matter what I add to my home to make it look nice, there will always be something else to change or buy. This verse reminds me that my goal as a wife and mom should foremost be to fill my home with treasures of spiritual blessing- the peace of God, knowledge of Him, expressions of His love for eachother in every room of our home. I want my home to be established on Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. Lord, let this be the priority of my heart. All the decor is just an added blessing.
Kat, you are a very wise woman and a true blessing to all who know you. Thank you for this comment. It means a lot to me.
I agree Kat. I have experienced the desperate need for God’s Wisdom in my home and how good is it to find His help. I have also sought Him for understanding. It helps so much to understand where someone is coming from and what they are actually needing. So glad we have our Abba to help.
Verse 27 and 30-34 reinforce the “early bird gets the worm” concept and the results of not taking care of things when they should be done. Procrastination is an Ungodly characteristic and should always be avoided or a price will have to be paid. I pray that God will help me always take care of business at the earliest possible times.
Verse 26. An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
How precious are honest words in these days of growing deception.