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 chapter
16 through 22. Chapter 16 The preparations of
the heart belong to man, but the answer of the
tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man
are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs
the spirits. Commit your works to the Lord, and
your thoughts will be established. The Lord has
made all for himself, yes, even the wicked, for
the day of doom. Everyone proud in heart is an
abomination to the Lord. Though they join forces,
none will go unpunished. In mercy and truth,
atonement is provided for iniquity, and by the
fear of the Lord one departs from evil. When
a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his
enemies to be at peace with him. Better is a
little with righteousness than vast revenues
without justice. A man's heart plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps. Divination is
on the lips of the king. His mouth must not transgress
in judgment. Honest weights and scales are the
Lord's. All the weights in the bag are his work.
It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
for a throne is established by righteousness.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and
they love him who speaks what is right. As messengers
of death is the king's wrath, but a wise man
will appease it. In the light of the king's face
is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the
latter rain. How much better to get wisdom than
gold, and to get understanding is to be chosen
rather than silver. The highway of the upright
is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way
preserves his soul. Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to
be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to
divide the spoil with the proud. He who heeds
the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts
in the Lord, happy is he. The wise in heart will
be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips
increases learning. Understanding is a wellspring
of life to him who has it, but the correction
of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teaches
his mouth and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant
words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the
soul and health to the bones. There is a way
that seems right to a man, but its end is the
way of death. The person who labors, labors for
himself, for his hungry mouth drives him on.
An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his
lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows
strife, and a whisperer separates the best of
friends. A violent man entices his neighbor and
leads him in a way that is not good. He winks
his eye to devise perverse things. He purses
his lips and brings about evil. The silver -haired
head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the
way of righteousness. He who is slow to anger
is better than the mighty, and he who rules his
spirit than he who takes a city. The lot is cast
into the lap, but its every decision is from
the Lord. Chapter 17 Better is a dry morsel with
quietness than a house full of feasting with
strife. A wise servant will rule over a son who
causes shame, and will share an inheritance among
the brothers. The refining pot is for silver
and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests
the hearts. An evildoer gives heed to false lips.
A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
He who mocks the poor reproaches his maker. He
who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Children's children are the crown of old men,
and the glory of children is their father. Excellent
speech is not becoming to a fool, much less lying
lips to a prince. A present is a precious stone
in the eyes of its possessor. Wherever he turns,
he prospers. He who covers a transgression seeks
love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.
Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than
a hundred blows on a fool. An evil man seeks
only rebellion, therefore a cruel messenger will
be sent against him. Let a man meet a bear robbed
of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil will not
depart from his house. The beginning of strife
is like releasing water Therefore stop contention
before a quarrel starts. He who justifies the
wicked and he who condemns the just, both of
them alike are an abomination to the Lord. Why
is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price
of wisdom, since he has no heart for it? A friend
loves at all times, and a brother is born for
adversity. A man devoid of understanding shakes
hands in a pledge and becomes surety for his
friend. He who loves transgression loves strife,
and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, and
he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.
He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy. A merry
heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit
dries the bones. A wicked man accepts a bribe
behind the back to pervert the ways of justice.
Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the
earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him. Also to punish
the righteous is not good, nor to strike princes
for their uprightness. He who has knowledge spares
his words, and a man of understanding is of a
calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when
he holds his peace. When he shuts his lips, he
is considered perceptive. Chapter 18 A man who
isolates himself seeks his own desire. He rages
against all wise judgment. A fool has no delight
in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.
When the wicked comes, contempt comes also, and
with dishonor comes reproach. The words of a
man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of
wisdom is a flowing brook. It is not good to
show partiality to the wicked, or to overthrow
the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips enter
into contention and his mouth calls for blows.
A fool's mouth is his destruction and his lips
are the snare of his soul. The words of a tale
-bearer are like tasty trifles and they go down
into the inmost body. He who is slothful in his
work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous
run to it and are safe. The rich man's wealth
is his strong city and like a high wall in his
own esteem. Before destruction the heart of a
man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
He who answers a matter before he hears it, it
is folly and shame to him. The spirit of a man
will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear
a broken spirit? The heart of the prudent acquires
knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him
before great men. The first one to plead his
cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and
examines him. Casting lots causes contentions
to cease and keeps the mighty apart. A brother
offended is harder to win than a strong city,
and contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit
of his mouth. From the produce of his lips he
shall be filled. Death and life are in the power
of the tongue, and those who love it will eat
its fruit. He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord. The poor man
uses entreaties, but the rich answers roughly.
A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than
a brother. Better is the poor who walks in his
integrity than one who is perverse in his lips
and is a fool. Also it is not good for a soul
to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens
with his feet. The foolishness of a man twists
his way. and his heart frets against the Lord.
Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated
from his friend. A false witness will not go
unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.
Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every
man is a friend to one who gives gifts. All the
brothers of the poor hate him. How much more
do his friends go far from him? He may pursue
them with words, yet they abandon him. He who
gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps
understanding will find good. A false witness
will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies
shall perish. Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
much less for a servant to rule over princes.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
and his glory is to overlook a transgression.
The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass. A foolish
son is the ruin of his father, and the contentions
of a wife are a continual dripping. Houses and
riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a
prudent wife is from the Lord. Laziness casts
one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will
suffer hunger. He who keeps the commandment keeps
his soul, but he who is careless of his ways
will die. He who has pity on the poor lends to
the Lord, and he will pay back what he has given.
Chasing your son while there is hope, and do
not set your heart on his destruction. A man
of great wrath will suffer punishment, for if
you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that
you may be wise in your latter days. There are
many plans in a man's heart. Nevertheless, the
Lord's counsel, that will stand. What is desired
in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better
than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and he who has it will abide in satisfaction.
He will not be visited with evil. A lazy man
buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so
much as bring it to his mouth again. Strike his
coffer, and the simple will become weary. Rebuke
one who has understanding, and he will discern
knowledge. He who mistreats his father and chases
away his mother is a son who causes shame and
brings reproach. Cease listening to instruction,
my son, and you will stray from the words of
knowledge. A disreputable witness scorns justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
Judgments are prepared for scoffers and beatings
for the backs of fools. The lazy man will not
plow because of winter, he will beg during harvest
and have nothing. Counsel in the heart of man
is like deep water, but a man of understanding
will draw it out. Most men will proclaim each
his own goodness, but who can find a faithful
man? The righteous man walks in his integrity,
his children are blessed after him. A king who
sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil
with his eyes. Who can say, I have made my heart
clean, I am pure from my sin? Diverse weights
and diverse measures, they are both alike an
abomination to the Lord. Even a child is known
by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and
right. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the
Lord has made them both. Do not love sleep, lest
you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you
will be satisfied with bread. It is good for
nothing, cries the buyer, but when he has gone
his way, then he boasts. There is gold and a
multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge
are a precious jewel. Take the garment of one
who is surety for a stranger, and hold it as
a pledge when it is for a seductress. Bread gained
by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his
mouth will be filled with gravel. Plans are established
by counsel. By wise counsel wage war. He who
goes about as a tale -bearer reveals secrets.
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters
with his lips. Whoever curses his father or his
mother, his lamp will be put out into deep darkness.
An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
will not be blessed at the end. Do not say, I
will recompense evil. Wait for the Lord, and
He will save you. Diverse weights are an abomination
to the Lord, and dishonest scales are not good.
A man's steps are of the Lord. How then can a
man understand his own way? It is a snare for
a man to devote rashly something as holy. and
afterward to reconsider his vows. A wise king
sifts out the wicked and brings the threshing
wheel over them. The spirit of a man is the lamp
of the Lord, searching all the inner depth of
his heart. Mercy and truth preserve the king,
and by loving kindness he upholds his throne.
The glory of young men is their strength, and
the splendor of old men is their gray head. Blows
that hurt cleanse away evil, as do stripes the
inner depth of the heart. Chapter 21 The king's
heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers
of water, he turns it wherever he wishes. Every
way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the
Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and
justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing
of the wicked are sin. The plans of the diligent
lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone
who is hasty surely to poverty. Getting treasures
by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of
those who seek death. The violence of the wicked
will destroy them because they refuse to do justice.
The way of a guilty man is perverse, but as for
the pure, his work is right. Better to dwell
in a corner of a housetop than in a house shared
with a contentious woman. The soul of the wicked
desires evil. His neighbor finds no favor in
his eyes. When the scoffer is punished, the simple
is made wise, but when the wise is instructed,
he receives knowledge. The righteous God wisely
considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing
the wicked for their wickedness. Whoever shuts
his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry
himself and not be heard. A gift in secret pacifies
anger, and a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.
It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction
will come to the workers of iniquity. A man who
wanders from the way of understanding will rest
in the assembly of the dead. He who loves pleasure
will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil
will not be rich. The wicked shall be a ransom
for the righteous and the unfaithful for the
upright. Better to dwell in the wilderness than
with a contentious and angry woman. There is
desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of
the wise, but a foolish man squanders it. He
who follows righteousness and mercy finds life,
righteousness, and honor. A wise man scales the
city of the mighty and brings down the trusted
stronghold. Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
keeps his soul from troubles. A proud and haughty
man, Scoffer is his name, he acts with arrogant
pride. The desire of the lazy man kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily
all day long, but the righteous gives and does
not spare. The sacrifice of the wicked is an
abomination, how much more when he brings it
with wicked intent. A false witness shall perish,
but the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
A wicked man hardens his face, but as for the
upright, he establishes his way. There is no
wisdom or understanding or counsel against the
Lord. The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but deliverance is of the Lord. The rich and
the poor have this in common. The Lord is the
maker of them all. A prudent man foresees evil
and hides himself, but the simple pass on and
are punished. By humility and the fear of the
Lord are riches and honor and life. Thorns and
snares are in the way of the perverse. He who
guards his soul will be far from them. Train
up a child in the way he should go, and when
he is old he will not depart from it. The rich
rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant
to the lender. He who sows iniquity will reap
sorrow, and the rod of his anger will fail. He
who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he
gives of his bread to the poor. Cast out the
scoffer, and contention will leave. Yes, strife
and reproach will cease. He who loves purity
of heart and has grace on his lips, the king
will be his friend. The eyes of the Lord preserve
knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the
faithless. The lazy man says, There is a lion
outside. I shall be slain in the streets. The
mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit. He who
is abhorred by the Lord will fall there. Foolishness
is bound up in the heart of a child. The rod
of correction will drive it far from him. He
who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
and he who gives to the rich will surely come
to poverty. Incline your ear and hear the words
of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within
you. Let them all be fixed upon your lips, so
that your trust may be in the Lord. I have instructed
you today, even you. Have I not written to you
excellent things of counsels and knowledge, that
I may make you know the certainty of the words
of truth, that you may answer words of truth
to those who send to you? Do not rob the poor
because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted
at the gate. For the Lord will plead their cause
and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
Make no friendship with an angry man, and with
a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways
and set a snare for your soul. Do not be one
of those who shakes hands in a pledge, one of
those who is surety for debts. If you have nothing
with which to pay, why should he take away your
bed from under you? Do not remove the ancient
landmark which your fathers have set. Do you
see a man who excels in his work? He will stand
before kings. He will not stand before unknown
men.