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 the book of
Proverbs, chapters 25 through 29. Chapter 25.
These also are Proverbs of Solomon, which the
men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied. It is
the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the
glory of kings is to search out a matter. As
the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away
the draws from silver, and it will go to the
silversmith for jewelry. Take away the wicked
from before the king, and his throne will be
established in righteousness. Do not exalt yourself
in the presence of the king, and do not stand
in the place of the great. For it is better that
he say to you, Come up here, than that you should
be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom
your eyes have seen. Do not go hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor
has put you to shame? Debate your case with your
neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another,
lest he who hears it expose your shame, and your
reputation be ruined. A word fitly spoken is
like apples of gold, in settings of silver, like
an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold
is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. Like the
cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful
messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes
the soul of his masters. Whoever falsely boasts
of giving is like clouds and wind without rain.
By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, and
a gentle tongue breaks a bone. Have you found
honey? Eat only as much as you need, lest you
be filled with it and vomit. Seldom set foot
in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary
of you and hate you. A man who bears false witness
against his neighbor is like a club, a sword,
and a sharp arrow. Confidence is an unfaithful
man in time of trouble, is like a bad tooth and
a foot out of joint, like one who takes away
a garment in cold weather and like vinegar on
soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
and the Lord will reward you. The north wind
brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue and
angry countenance. It is better to dwell in a
corner of a housetop than in a house shared with
a contentious woman. As cold water to a weary
soul so is good news from a far country. A righteous
man who falters before the wicked is like a murky
spring in a polluted well. It is not good to
eat much honey. So to seek one's own glory is
not glory. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
is like a city broken down without walls. Chapter
26 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, so
honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a flitting
sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without
cause shall not alight. A whip for the horse,
a brittle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's
back. Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according
to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Like
the legs of the lame that hang limp is a proverb
in the mouth of fools. Like one who binds a stone
in a sling is he who gives honor to a fool. Like
a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard,
is a proverb in the mouth of fools. The great
God who formed everything gives the fool his
hire and the transgressor his wages. As a dog
returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his
folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him. The
lazy man says there is a lion in the road. A
fierce lion is in the streets. As a door turns
on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed.
The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl. It
wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. The
lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven
men who can answer sensibly. He who passes by
and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like
one who takes a dog by the ears. Like a madman
who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the
man who deceives his neighbor and says, I was
only joking. Where there is no wood, the fire
goes out, and where there is no tail -bearer,
strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals,
and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to
kindled strife. The words of a tail -bearer are
like tasty trifles, and they go down into the
inmost body. Fervent lips with a wicked heart
are like earthen ware covered with silver dross.
He who hates disguises it with his lips, and
lays up deceit within himself, When he speaks
kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven
abominations in his heart. Though his hatred
is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be
revealed before the assembly. Whoever digs a
pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone
will have it rolled back on him. A lying tongue
hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering
mouth works ruin. Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Let another man praise you, and not your own
mouth, a stranger, and not your own lips. A stone
is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's wrath
is heavier than both of them. Wrath is cruel,
and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand
before jealousy? Open rebuke is better than love
carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds
of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy... are
deceitful. A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb,
but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man
who wanders from his place. Ointment and perfume
delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's
friend gives delight by hearty counsel. Do not
forsake your own friend or your father's friend,
nor go to your brother's house in the day of
your calamity. Better is a neighbor nearby than
a brother far away. My son, be wise, and make
your heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches
me. A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself.
The simple pass on and are punished. Take the
garment of him who is surety for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he is surety for a
seductress. He who blesses his friend with a
loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will
be counted a curse to him. A continual dripping
on a very rainy day, and a contentious woman,
are alike. Whoever restrains her restrains the
wind, and grasps oil with his right hand. As
iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance
of his friend. Whoever keeps the fig tree will
eat its fruit, so he who waits on his master
will be honored. As in water, face reflects face,
so a man's heart reveals the man. Hell and destruction
are never full, so the eyes of man are never
satisfied. The refining pot is for silver and
a furnace for gold, and a man is valued by what
others say of him. Though you grind a fool in
a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks
and attend to your herds, for riches are not
forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.
When the hay is removed and a tender grass shows
itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered
in, the lambs will provide your clothing, and
the goats the price of a field. You shall have
enough goat's milk for your food, for the food
of your household, and the nourishment of your
maidservants. Chapter 28 The wicked flee when
no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as
a lion. Because of the transgression of a land,
many are its princes, but by a man of understanding
and knowledge, Right will be prolonged. A poor
man who oppresses the poor is like a driving
rain which leaves no food. Those who forsake
the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the
law contend with them. Evil men do not understand
justice, but those who seek the Lord understand
all. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son. But
a companion of gluttons shames his father. One
who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
gathers it for him who will pity the poor. One
who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer, is an abomination. Whoever causes
the upright to go astray in an evil way, he himself
will fall into his own pit, but the blameless
will inherit good. The rich man is wise in his
own eyes, but the poor who has understanding
searches him out. When the righteous rejoice,
there is great glory, but when the wicked arise,
men hide themselves. He who covers his sins will
not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes
them will have mercy. Happy is the man who is
always reverent, but he who hardens his heart
will fall into calamity. like a roaring lion
and a charging bear is a wicked ruler over poor
people a ruler who lacks understanding is a great
oppressor but he who hates covetousness will
prolong his days a man burdened with bloodshed
will flee into a pit let no one help him whoever
walks blamelessly will be saved but he who is
perverse in his ways will suddenly fall he who
tills his land will have plenty of bread but
he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough.
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but
he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
To show partiality is not good, because for a
piece of bread a man will transgress. A man with
an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not
consider that poverty will come upon him. He
who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
than he who flatters with the tongue. Whoever
robs his father or his mother and says it is
no transgression, the same is companion to a
destroyer. He who is of a proud heart stirs up
strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be
prospered. He who trusts in his own heart is
a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he
who hides his eyes will have many curses. When
the wicked arise, men hide themselves, but when
they perish, The righteous increase. Chapter
29 He who is often rebuked and hardens his neck
will suddenly be destroyed, and that without
remedy. When the righteous are in authority,
the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules,
the people groan. Whoever loves wisdom makes
his father rejoice, but a companion of harlots
wastes his wealth. The king establishes the land
by justice, but he who receives bribes overthrows
it. A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a
net for his feet. By transgression an evil man
is snared, but the righteous sings and rejoices.
The righteous considers the cause of the poor,
but the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn
away wrath. If a wise man contends with a foolish
man, whether the fool rages or laughs, there
is no peace. The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
but the upright seek his well -being. A fool
vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds
them back. If a ruler pays attention to lies,
all his servants become wicked. The poor man
and the oppressor have this in common. The Lord
gives light to the eyes of both. The king who
judges the poor with truth, his throne will be
established forever. The rod and rebuke give
wisdom. but a child left to himself brings shame
to his mother. When the wicked are multiplied,
transgression increases, but the righteous will
see their fault. Correct your son, and he will
give you rest. Yes, he will give delight to your
soul. Where there is no revelation, the people
cast off restraint, but happy is he who keeps
the law. A servant will not be corrected by mere
words, for though he understands, he will not
respond. do you see a man hasty in his words
there is more hope for a fool than for him he
who pampers his servant from childhood will have
him as a son in the end an angry man stirs up
strife and a furious man abounds in transgression
a man's pride will bring him low but the humble
in spirit will retain honor whoever is a partner
with a thief hates his own life he swears to
tell the truth but reveals nothing The fear of
man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the
Lord shall be safe. Many seek the ruler's favor,
but justice for man comes from the Lord. An unjust
man is an abomination to the righteous, and he
who is upright in the way is an abomination to
the wicked. God bless you and have a great day.