Jo’s Place

Proverbs 21 part 1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water, directed by the Lord; he guides it, wherever he pleases. People may be right, in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased, when we do what is right and just, ….than when we offer him sacrifices. Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin. Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Wealth, that is created by a lying tongue, is a vanishing mist, and a deadly trap.* The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just. The guilty walk a crooked path; but the innocent travel a straight road. It’s better to live alone, in the corner of an attic, than with a quarrelsome wife, in a lovely home. Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. If you punish a mocker, even the simpleminded become wise; but if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser. The Righteous One* knows what is goin...

Proverbs 20 part 2 You can get security from someone, who guarantees a stranger’s debt. You can get a deposit from him, if he does it for foreigners.* Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel, in the mouth of the thief. Plans succeed through good counsel; so, don’t go to war without wise advice. A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers. If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out, in total darkness. An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end. Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord, to handle the matter. The Lord detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales. The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Don’t trap yourself, by making a rash promise to God, and then only later consider the cost. A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat, then runs his threshing wheel over them. The Lord’s light penetrates the human spi...

Proverbs 20 part 1  Wine produces mockers; and alcohol leads to brawling. Those led astray, by drinking, cannot be wise. The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life. Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. Those too lazy, to plow in the right season, will have no food at the harvest. Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out. Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one, who is truly reliable? The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children, when they follow their parents. When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, and distinguishing the bad from the good. Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”? False weights or unequal measures*—the Lord detests double standards, of every kind. Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right, or whether it is not. Ears, to hear, a...

Proverbs 19 part 2 Lazy people sleep soundly, but their idleness leaves them hungry. Keep the commandments and keep your life; despise them and it leads you to death. If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you! Discipline your children, while there is hope. Otherwise, you will ruin their lives. Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again. Get all the advice and instruction you can, so that you will be wise for the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. Fear of the Lord leads to life; It brings security and protection from harm. Lazy people take food in their hand, but don’t even lift it to their mouth. If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will not learn a lesson; but if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser. Children, who mistreat their father or chase away their mother, are a...

Proverbs 19 part 1 Better to be poor and honest, than to be dishonest and a fool. Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; and haste makes mistakes. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness, and then, they are angry at the Lord. Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away. A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape. Many seek favors from a ruler. Everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts! The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone. To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; and people who cherish understanding will prosper. A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed. It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury, …or for a slave to rule over princes! Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass. A foolish chi...