1 John5.13-21 (nkjv) marked up

1 John5.13-21 (nkjv)

¹³ These things I have written^(a.a.i) to you who believe^(p.a.p) in the name of the Son of God, that you may know^(p.a.s) that you have^(p.a.i) eternal life, and that you may continue to believe^(p.a.s) in the name of the Son of God.

¹⁴ Now this is^(p.i)  the confidence that we have^(p.a.i)  in Him, that if we ask^(p.m.s)  anything according to His will, He hears^(p.a.i)  us.

¹⁵ And if we know^(p.a.i) that He hears^(p.a.i) us, whatever we ask, ^(p.m.s) we know^(pf.a.i) that we have^(p.a.i) the petitions that we have asked^(pf.a.i) of Him.

¹⁶ If anyone sees^(a2.a.s)  his brother sinning^(p.a.p)  a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, ^(p.a.i) and He will give^(f.a.i) him life for those who commit sin^(p.a.p) not leading to death. There is^(p.a)  sin leading to death. I do not say^(p.a.i) that he should pray^(a.a.s) about that.

¹⁷ All unrighteousness is^(p.i) sin, and there is^(p.i) sin not leading to death.

¹⁸ We know^(p.a.i) that whoever is born^(p.p.p) of God does not sin^(p.a.i); but he who has been born^(a.p.) of God keeps^(p.a.i) himself, and the wicked one does not touch^(p.m.i) him.

¹⁹ We know^(pf.a.p) that we are^(p.i) of God, and the whole world lies^(p.m/pd.i) under the sway of the wicked one.

²⁰ And we know^(p.a.i) that the Son of God has come^(p.a.i) and has given^(pf.a.i) us an understanding, that we may know^(p.a.s) Him who is true; and we are^(p.i) in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is^(p.i) the true God and eternal life.

²¹ Little children, keep^(a.a.im) yourselves from idols. Amen.

Can I trust a translation?

What Bible Did Jesus Use?

by Dr. John Barnett

If you were put on the spot and hundreds of eyes and ears were on you and you were asked to give THE reason why you know the Bible is true—what would you say? That question is best answered by remembering what Jesus said in the same situation.
At that huge gathering, called the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus confidently told all the thousands who heard Him speak—that Heaven and Earth would pass away before any word of His Bible failed. Wow, He sure knew He had a Bible He could trust. Jesus didn't fear that there were any historical, moral, theological, and scientific inaccuracies in His Bible. He had a copy of the Book anyone can Trust!
But as we read Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus summed it up as simply this, HE believed God's Word and so should we:

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Have you ever looked down and wondered if you really held the same Bible Jesus had, the one God breathed out supernaturally by inspiration? And further, have you ever wondered if this one is okay, because it is a translation, and not the actual Hebrew or Greek words that God gave to those 40 plus men, who He used to write the Bible?
This is the Bible Jesus Used
The Septuagint was the first translation of the Hebrew Bible; and was made in the third century B.C. by Jewish scribes, who were direct descendents of those trained in Ezra's Great Synagogue of Jerusalem. They were complete experts in the text, being very well versed in Hebrew and Greek.
This translation became very popular among Jews in the first two centuries before Christ because many Jews in those days did not understand Hebrew. Their ancestors had left Israel centuries before, and generation after generation gradually lost the ability to read the Scriptures in Hebrew.
Many of the Jews in Jesus' day used the Septuagint as their Bible. Quite naturally, the early Christians also used the Septuagint in their meetings and for personal reading; and many of the New Testament apostles quoted it when they wrote the Gospels and Epistles in Greek. What is most fascinating is that the order of the books in the Septuagint is the same order in our Bibles today, and not like the Hebrew scrolls. So this means that:
Jesus Primarily Used a Translation
Jesus and the Apostles: studied, memorized, used, quoted, and read most often from the Bible of their day, the Septuagint. Since Matthew wrote primarily to convince the Jews that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed their promised Messiah, it follows as a matter of course that his Gospel is saturated with the Hebrew Scriptures. Yet, when Jesus quotes the Old Testament in Matthew, He uses the Hebrew text only 10% of the time, but the Greek LXX translation—90% of the time!
Amazingly, Jesus and Paul used the LXX as their primary Bible. It was just like the Bible each of us holds in our hands, not the original Hebrew Old Testament, but a translation of the Hebrew into Greek. But it was based on exactly the same original and inspired words, and reads just like the Bible we hold in our hands today.

For more from Discover the Book Ministries, please visit  discoverthebook.org 
and 
click here to listen to Dr. John Barnett at OnePlace.com.

Proverbs 14.15-24

6. Living in Wisdom (14.1-32)
     (a) Walking in Wisdom (14.1-7)
     (b) Not Walking by Sight (14..8-15) 
     (c) Contrasting Social Characterizations and Consequence (14.15-32) 
          1. Contrasting wisdom characterizations with ethical comportment  (vv. 15-18)
            2. Contrasting consequences of social comportment, using mostly ethical terms  (vv. 18-24) 
          3. Contrasting characterizations and consequences of life or death  (vv. 25-32)

 -----------------------
15                                                But
The simple                                the prudent
believes every word,              considers well his steps.     
 


----------------------
16                                              But
A wise man                             a fool
fears and                                 rages and
departs from evil,                  is self-confident.  
16a  fears...  Elsewhere in Proverbs yare in an affirmative, not negative, mood refers to "fear of the LORD" (see 1.7, 29; 2.5; 3.7; 8.13; 9.10; 10.27; 14.27; 15.16, 33; 16.6; 19.23; 22.4; 23.17; 24.21 [+ "king"]; 31.30) or its close equivalent, "to fear the commandment."   ---Waltke in NICOT
Heb “fears.” Since the holy name (Yahweh, translated “the Lord”) is not used, it probably does not here mean fear of the Lord, but of the consequences of actions.  ---NET Bible translation notes 
By contrast, the fool gets angry (mit agger) againt the LORD and/or those who fear him, as the antithetical parallel "fears the LOD" suggests.   ---Waltke in NICOT
16.b  rages...  The Hitpael of עָבַר (’avar, “to pass over”) means “to pass over the bounds of propriety; to act insolently” (BDB 720 s.v.; cf. ASV “beareth himself insolently”).  ---NET Bible translation notes
But הִתְעַבֵּר denotes everywhere nothing else than to fall into extreme anger, to become heated beyond measure, Pro_26:17 (cf. Pro_20:2), Deu_3:26, etc. Thus 16a and 16b are fully contrasted.  ---K&D
16.b  self-confident...  thinks he is secure, but is wrong...

17                                               And
A quick-tempered man         a man of wicked intentions
acts foolishly,                          is hated.  

 ---------------------18                                         But
The simple                          the prudent
inherit folly,                       are crowned with knowledge.  


19                                         And
The evil                               the wicked
will bow                              - - -
before the good,                at the gates of the righteous.  
19.a  will bow...  tn Many versions nuance the perfect tense verb שָׁחַח (shakhakh) as a characteristic perfect. But the proverb suggests that the reality lies in the future. So the verb is best classified as a prophetic perfect (cf. NASB, NIV, CEV, NLT): Ultimately the wicked will acknowledge and serve the righteous – a point the prophets make.  ---NET Bible translation notes
19.b  at the gates...  J. H. Greenstone suggests that this means that they are begging for favors (Proverbs, 154).  ---NET Bible study notes
--------------------
20                                                                 But
The poor man                                            the rich
is hated even by his own neighbor,      has many friends.  
20.a  hated...  Heb “hated.” The verse is just a statement of fact. The verbs “love” and “hate” must be seen in their connotations: The poor are rejected, avoided, shunned – that is, hated; but the rich are sought after, favored, embraced – that is, loved.  ---NET Bible translation notes

21                               But
He who                     he who
despises                    has mercy on
his neighbor            the poor,
sins;                          happy is he.  

--------------------
22 
Do they not go astray who devise evil? 
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.  
22.a  devise...  The verb חָרַשׁ (kharash) means (1) literally: “to cut in; to engrave; to plow,” describing the work of a craftsman; and (2) figuratively: “to devise,” describing the mental activity of planning evil (what will harm people) in the first colon, and planning good (what will benefit them) in the second colon.  ---NET Bible translation notes

23                               But
In all labor                idle chatter
there is                       leads only to
profit,                         poverty.  
23.a  labor...  The Hebrew term עֶצֶב (’etsev, “painful toil; labor”) is first used in scripture in Gen 3:19 to describe the effects of the Fall. The point here is that people should be more afraid of idle talk than of hard labor.  ---NET Bible translation notes
23.b  idle chatter...  Heb “word of lips.” This construct phrase features a genitive of source (“a word from the lips”) or a subjective genitive (“speaking a word”). Talk without work (which produces nothing) is contrasted with labor that produces something..  ---NET Bible translation notes
23.b  leads...  The term “brings” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.  ---NET Bible translation notes


24                               But
The crown                 the foolishness
of the wise                of fools
is their riches,          is folly.  
24.a  their riches...  C. H. Toy suggests that this line probably means that wealth is an ornament to those who use it well (Proverbs [ICC], 269). J. H. Greenstone suggests that it means that the wisdom of the wise, which is their crown of glory, constitutes their wealth (Proverbs, 155).  ---NET Bible translation notes

.

December 20015 Proverbs comments

As I read these verses it struck me as sounding very much like an "altar call," especially in light of verses 7-9. I am increasingly aware of how theological Proverbs is.
Proverbs 1.22-23
"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.

Proverbs 2.20-22
20 So you will walk in the way of good people,
and will keep on the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will reside in the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be torn away from it. [NET]
We really see the book of Deuteronomy shine through in the words "the land" and the warnings to Israel if they were treacherous (unfaithful to their Covenant). Note, that the righteous are also the good.
Lord, make me good and faithful to You.

Wisdom takes pleasure in integrity, generosity, and peace.
Lord, help Your heart to be my heart.
Proverbs 3.27-30
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,"
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety's sake.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.

Proverbs 4.14-17
"Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence."

I am struck by how consumed the wicked are in thinking about and doing wickedness.
Lord, give me that same intensity and preoccupation with You.

In the midst of all the focus on what NOT to do, here are some verses that rejoice in how to righteously fulfill these desires. Remember to do the do's. :o)
Proverbs 5.18-19
Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with the wife of your youth.
As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her ,,, satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.


Proverbs 6.23-25
"For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress.
Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids."

This chapter warns the son (and us) against debt, worthless men, immorality, and their dire consequences. Using the law as a guiding principle is presented as an effective deterrent.
Lord, make me a man of the book who meditates on and follows Your law day and night.

The impulsive and unwise decision of the naive/simple young man in this story had lasting consequences.
Lord, help me be intentional about doing good and thoughtful in my decisions.
Proverbs 7.22-23
"Immediately (or suddenly) he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
Till an arrow struck his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it would cost his life."


Wisdom is not some cryptic, unwilling secret whose design is to be difficult and odious. God desires to reward our efforts to understand His ways, and for us to be blessed by following them.
Lord, give me a heart that seeks You and your wisdom.
Proverbs 8.17-19
17 I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.

The contrasts between deceit and truth in these verses highlight the simple joy and healthily effects of truth telling.
Proverbs 12.17-20
17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

Even lawless men unknowingly accomplish what God had planned all along. That's one to sit and think about for a while.
Acts 2.23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.

Faithful and prudent are a good combination.
 Lord, help me to reflect Your faithfulness.
Proverbs 13.15-17
15 Good understanding gains favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But a faithful ambassador brings health.

July 2016 Proverbs

Proverbs 1.4-5
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.

A few things to note
1. There is an emphasis on one's "wisdom quotient" (how to think rightly) more than one's "wisdom repretoire" (fact memorization).
2. It is designed to benefit both the wise and morally naive which makes its study perfect for parents and children (regular or grand).
3. Verse seven grounds all this in one's relationship with the Lord.

Lord, help me grow in the understanding and application of Your ways.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

These first five verses of Proverbs two seem to lay a foundation for or expand on Jesus' words in Matthew 7.7 / Luke 11:9.

Proverbs 1.1-5
My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you, 
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.

These verses point to an initial attainment and ever deepening process of seeking, knocking, and asking that can result in a commitment to and comprehension of the Lord. May we never grow weary of this process.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

In Philippians 1.6 Paul expresses confidence "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" and Proverbs 3.11-12 reminds us to appreciate our Father's loving correction to help accomplish that at times.

Proverbs 3.11-12
My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

God, help me to desire to be confirmed to the image of your Son so much that I will value Your correction if I should need it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Proverbs 4.26-27 (net)
26 Make the path for your feet level,
so that all your ways may be established. 
27 Do not turn to the right or to the left;
turn yourself away from evil.

The first Hebrew word in 26, palac, is also translated "ponder" and "watch." We may limit our view of walking in God's way of wisdom to relatively thoughtless following of a set of commands. these proverbs seem to indicate a more proactive and comprehensive approach that includes, but goes beyond just following rules.

Lord, help me thoughtfully walk Your straight path.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Regrets. One of the themes of Proverbs is the connection between actions and eventual consequences. These verses are part of a series of potential consequences of being involved with an immoral woman.

Proverbs 5.12-14

12 And say: "How I have hated instruction,
And my heart despised correction!
13 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!
14 I was on the verge of total ruin,
In the midst of the assembly and congregation."

Lord, help me pay close attention to wisdom and understanding.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Proverbs 6.27-28
Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?
Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared? 
So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife;
Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

What makes us think that we are so clever or "bulletproof" that normall consequences will never effect us?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

As I read chapter seven I am struck by how the elaborate preparations that the immoral seductress made are compared to how totally how unprepared the naive simpleton was for this test of his character.

Lord, help me make preparations and be prepared to make choices follow You on the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 7.13-18
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an impudent face she said to him:
14 "I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Proverbs 8.32-33
"So now, children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise,
and do not neglect it."

After regaling the creation credentials and antiquities of Wisdom, this is the application. It's not enough to know and appreciate wisdom and then neglect to follow through with its prescriptions.

Lord, make me a doer of your wise Word.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

As Wisdom prepares her banquet, three types of people come into view. Two have hope.

Proverbs 9.4-9
THE SIMPLE
4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" 
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 
5 "Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
THE SCOFFER/WICKED
7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; 
THE WISE/JUST
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Lord, I want a teachable (God fearing) spirit that benefits from Wisdom's banquet.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

These four parallels contrast the way and end of the righteous and the eternal ends of the righteous and the wicked.

Proverbs 10.27-30
27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened. 
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked will perish. 
29 The way of the LORD is strength for the upright,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. 
30 The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

Lord, I want to walk in the fear of You, in hope of the end you have for me, and in your strength.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

These two sayings seem to work together to frame a section of chapter eleven. They highlight the prized qualities of honor and discretion.

Proverbs 11.16 & 22
16. A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
22. As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

Lord, help me have the discretion to seek honor over riches.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

The hearts of scoffers who stray from the way and refuse correction are open books to the God who sees all. It is futile for us to think we can fool God.

Proverbs 15.10-12
10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And he who hates correction will die.
11 Hell and Destruction are before the LORD;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. 
12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

Lord, search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me. Help me be tender and responsive to Your correction.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

This pair of sayings seems to support the "principles not promises" view of Proverbs. When your ways please the Lord there are inherent blessing, but when in a fallen world you find poverty, righteousness is better than riches.

Proverbs 16.7-8
7 When a man's ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.

Lord, help me treasure You and Your ways above all.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Proverbs 17.19-21 (NET)
19 The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression;
whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.
20 The one who has a perverse heart does not find good,
and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.
21 Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief,
and the father of a fool has no joy.

In this section of Proverbs that highlights a fool, we see heartbreaking traits of strife and proud ambition that bring trouble and shame.

Lord, help me pursue the peace and humility of Your way that will bring joy to my parents.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

A fool's mouth is busy getting him in trouble and his sloth reinforces with actions or inactions the trouble his mouth starts.

Proverbs 18.6-9
6 A fool's lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows. 
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul. 
8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
And they go down into the inmost body.
9 He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

Lord, may my words and actions be faithful to create peace and benefits for myself AND others,

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Most teachers can relate to the truth of these sayings. If I have taught your children, I probably know you better than you think.

Proverbs 20.6-7
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.

Lord, make me the man whose faithfulness to You makes him an unassuming blessing to his children and others around him.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

These sayings describe the downward spiral of the perverse man who abandons diligence for get rich quick schemes.

Proverbs 21.5-8
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue
Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice. 
8 The way of a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.

Lord, help my work to be pure and right.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Sometimes we are asked the hypothetical question, would you do this (usually some morally objectionable thing) for a million (or billion) dollars. Basically, we are being asked if we believe Prov. 22.1. And verse two seems to highlight the favor of God who is unimpressed by riches.

Proverbs 22.1-2
1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving (or good) favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common,
The LORD is the maker of them all.

Lord, help me value your esteem and favor more than unmeasurable material wealth.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

This saying, number nine of the first decalogue of the Thirty Wise Sayings, continues the theme of wealth. Just because you can feast at someone's table doesn't mean that they want you to or that you should.

Proverbs 23.6-8
Do not eat the bread of a miser,
Nor desire his delicacies;
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
"Eat and drink!" he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.
The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up,
And waste your pleasant words.

Lord, give me th discernment, contentment, and self-control to find my satisfaction and joy in You and Your way of righteousness and wisdom.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

While these proverbs have obvious applications in the judicial and public realms, I am also thinking about how they point out the need for personal discernment and kind but frank honesty. Experience and clear examples in Scripture show that the "good blessing" is often not immediate.

Proverbs 24.23-25
These things also belong to the wise:
It is not good to show partiality in judgment. 
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous,"
Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him.
But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them

Lord, give me the discernment, courage, and grace to be wise in this area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Proverbs 25.8-10
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.

So, maybe the "I'll see you in court" attitude is not always such a good instinct.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Proverbs 26.18-20
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 talebearer, strife ceases.

These verses are part of a set that describes people who like to stir up trouble. Their reckless tongues keep things stirred up and can do real damage.

Lord, help me be a thoughtful blessing with my tongue.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Bragging about prospects for what you are going to accomplish or even what you think you've done can be a mistake. Leave that to others

Proverbs 27.1-2
1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.

Lord, let all my praise be for You and my faith be in You alone.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

These sayings contrast the faithful, hard-working person with the "get rich quick" schemer. We are each on a path that it going somewhere.

Proverbs 28.18-20
18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Proverbs 29.8-11
8 Scoffers set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath. 
9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace. 
10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
But the upright seek his well-being.
11 A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.

These verses paint a picture of the self-controlled, peacemaking, wise person who is a thorn to the bloodthirsty and foolish much like Jesus was.

Lord, continue to confirm me to the image of your son.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

This set of Agur's sayings traces a progression of a person with no conscience as a youth, no sensibility of sin, haughtiness, and finally an opportunistic viciousness towards the defenseless.

Proverbs 30:11-14
There is a generation that curses its father,
And does not bless its mother. 
There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men.

Lord, give a sensitive, humble heart and eyes of compassion that see the poor as Christ does.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  

This classic section on the virtuous (or talented, capable) wife highlights the classic contrast between "good looks and a charming personality" and a hard working, God fearing woman. It seems that is a description to which men should aspire also.

Proverbs 31:30-31
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Lord, give me industries hands that serve you,