Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from Proverbs chapters
13 through 15. Chapter 13 A wise son heeds his
father's instruction, but a scoffer does not
listen to rebuke. A man shall eat well by the
fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful
feeds on violence. He who guards his mouth preserves
his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall
have destruction. The soul of a lazy man desires
and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent
shall be made rich. A righteous man hates lying,
but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner. There's
one who makes himself rich yet has nothing, and
one who makes himself poor yet has great riches.
The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but
the poor does not hear rebuke. The light of the
righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked
will be put out. By pride comes nothing but strife,
but with the well -advised is wisdom. Wealth
gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but
he who gathers by labor will increase. Hope deferred
makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes
it is a tree of life. He who despises the word
will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment
will be rewarded. The law of the wise is a fountain
of life to turn one away from the snares of death.
Good understanding gains favor, but the way of
the unfaithful is hard. Every prudent man acts
with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a
faithful ambassador brings health. Poverty and
shame will come to him who disdains correction.
but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.
A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, but
it is an abomination to fools to depart from
evil. He who walks with wise men will be wise,
but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous good
shall be repaid. A good man leaves an inheritance
to his children's children, but the wealth of
the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Much
food is in the fallow ground of the poor. and
for lack of justice there is waste. He who spares
his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines
him promptly. The righteous eats to the satisfying
of his soul, but the stomach of the wicked shall
be in want. Chapter 14 The wise woman builds
her house, but the foolish pulls it down with
her hands. He who walks in his uprightness fears
the Lord, but he who is perverse in his ways
despises him. In the mouth of a fool is a rod
of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve
them. Where no oxen are, the trough is clean,
but much increase comes by the strength of an
ox. A faithful witness does not lie, but a false
witness will utter lies. A scoffer seeks wisdom
and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to
him who understands. Go from the presence of
a foolish man when you do not perceive in him
the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent
is to understand his way, but the folly of fools
is deceit. Fools mock at sin, but among the upright
there is favor. The heart knows its own bitterness,
and a stranger does not share its joy. The house
of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent
of the upright will flourish. There is a way
that seems right to a man, but its end is the
way of death. Even in laughter the heart may
sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief. The
backslider in heart will be filled with his own
ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above.
The simple believes every word, but the prudent
considers well his steps. A wise man fears and
departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self
-confident. A quick -tempered man acts foolishly,
and a man of wicked intentions is hated. The
simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned
with knowledge. The evil will bow before the
good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
but the rich has many friends. He who despises
his neighbor sins, but he who has mercy on the
poor, happy is he. Do they not go astray who
devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those
who devise good. In all labor there is profit,
but idle chatter leads only to poverty. The crown
of the wise is their riches. but the foolishness
of fools is folly. A true witness delivers souls,
but a deceitful witness speaks lies. In the fear
of the Lord there is strong confidence, and his
children will have a place of refuge. The fear
of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one
away from the snares of death. In a multitude
of people is a king's honor, but in the lack
of people is the downfall of a prince. He who
is slow to wrath has great understanding, but
he who is impulsive exalts folly. a sound heart
is life to the body but envy is rottenness to
the bones he who oppresses the poor reproaches
his maker but he who honors him has mercy on
the needy the wicked is banished in his wickedness
but the righteous has a refuge in his death wisdom
rests in the heart of him who has understanding
but what is in the heart of fools is made known
righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach
to any people the king's favor is toward a wise
servant but his wrath is against him who causes
shame chapter 15 a soft answer turns away wrath
but a harsh word stirs up anger the tongue of
the wise uses knowledge rightly but the mouth
of fools pours forth foolishness the eyes of
the lord are in every place keeping watch on
the evil and the good a wholesome tongue is a
tree of life but perverseness in it breaks the
spirit a fool despises his father's instruction
but he who receives correction is prudent in
the house of the righteous there is much treasure
but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble the
lips of the wise disperse knowledge but the heart
of the fool does not do so the sacrifice of the
wicked is an abomination to the lord but the
prayer of the upright is his delight the way
of the wicked is an abomination to the lord but
he loves him who follows righteousness. Harsh
discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and
he who hates correction will die. Hell and destruction
are before the Lord, so how much more the hearts
of the sons of men. A scoffer does not love one
who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise.
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but
by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
The heart of him who has understanding seeks
knowledge. but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he
who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with trouble. Better is a
dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted calf
with hatred. A wrathful man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger allays contention.
The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
but the way of the upright is a highway. A wise
son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises
his mother. Folly is joy to him who is destitute
of discernment, but a man of understanding walks
uprightly. Without counsel plans go awry, but
in the multitude of counselors they are established.
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and
a word spoken in due season how good it is. The
way of life winds upward for the wise, that he
may turn away from hell below. The Lord will
destroy the house of the proud but he will establish
the boundary of the widow. The thoughts of the
wicked are an abomination to the Lord but the
words of the pure are pleasant. He who is greedy
for gain troubles his own house but he who hates
bribes will live. The heart of the righteous
studies how to answer but the mouth of the wicked
pours forth evil. The Lord is far from the wicked
but he hears the prayer of the righteous. The
light of the eyes rejoices the heart. and a good
report makes the bones healthy. The ear that
hears the rebukes of life will abide among the
wise. He who disdains instruction despises his
own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
and before honor is humility. I hope you enjoyed
today's reading as much as I did. and I look
forward to seeing you again tomorrow to continue
on our journey. God bless you and have a great
day.