Posted on 08/11/2014 8:51:23 AM PDT by OneVike
Proverb 11 (NKJV)
The Folly of Wickedness
01 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,
00 But a just weight is His delight.
02 When pride comes, then comes shame;
00 But with the humble is wisdom.
03 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
00 But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
04 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
00 But righteousness delivers from death.
05 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,
00 But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
06 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
00 But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
07 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
00 And the hope of the unjust perishes.
08 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
00 And it comes to the wicked instead.
09 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
00 But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
00 And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
00 But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
00 But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
00 But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
00 But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer,
00 But one who hates being surety is secure.
16 A gracious woman retains honor,
00 But ruthless men retain riches.
17 The merciful man does good for his own soul,
00 But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 The wicked man does deceptive work,
00 But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to life,
00 So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
00 But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
00 But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,
00 So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
00 But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
00 And there is one who withholds more than is right,
25 The generous soul will be made rich,
00 And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,
00 But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
00 But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
00 But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
00 And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
00 And he who wins souls is wise.
31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,
00 How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
The purpose of Writing the book of Proverbs by Solomon is to reveal the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and Godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.
Without wisdom, knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, influenced by emotional feelings. Many highly educated people are in positions of power in the United States, but very few of those educated leaders have the wisdom needed to rule properly.
One can say that they have been educated well beyond their intelligence. A cursory look at the court system will prove my point that knowledge without wisdom will only lead to an immoral society that eventually crumbles from within. Judges are supposed to be above the fray, and immovable to emotions. Instead, the vast majority of judges today are Godless individuals who are vacant of wisdom. So their rulings are totally based upon emotional feelings.
We the people are to blame, because we ignored God's guidance in appointing our leaders. Instead of putting leaders full wisdom in power, we instead chose those who would scratch our itchy ears to lead us.
Along with my daily routine of reading the Bible, I try to read through the book of Proverbs once a Month. It's an easy task when you consider there are 31 Proverbs. So all you need to know is what day of the Month it is. In the Months that have less than 31 days, I just double so I can begin the next month with Proverb 1 on the first again.
04 My heart is severely pained within me,
00 And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 05 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
00 And horror has overwhelmed me. 06 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
00 I would fly away and be at rest. 07 Indeed, I would wander far off,
00 And remain in the wilderness.Selah 08 I would hasten my escape
00 From the windy storm and tempest."
09 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
00 For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls;
00 Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
11 Destruction is in its midst;
00 Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
00 Then I could bear it.
00 Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
00 Then I could hide from him.
13 But it was you, a man my equal,
00 My companion and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together,
00 And walked to the house of God in the throng.
15 Let death seize them;
00Let them go down alive into hell,
00For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
16 As for me, I will call upon God,
00 And the LORD shall save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
00 I will pray, and cry aloud,
00 And He shall hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
00 For there were many against me.
19 God will hear, and afflict them,
00 Even He who abides from of old.Selah
00 Because they do not change,
00 Therefore they do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
00 He has broken his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
00 But war was in his heart;
00 His words were softer than oil,
00 Yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
00 And He shall sustain you;
00 He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
00 Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
00 But I will trust in You.
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