God Speaks
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Verse of the Day: Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. (Proverbs 22:17-19 NIV 2011)
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Reflection:
[Author’s note: While preparing to reflect on Proverbs 22-24, the author of this blog discovered that Proverbs 22:17-24:22 are sayings grouped in clusters called Thirty Sayings of the Wise. The following chapters and verses are taken from The One Year Pray for America Bible an edition of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 2019 by Tyndale House Publishers. The italics in the following selection is provided by this blogger to emphasize good attitudes and actions as opposed to foolish ones.]
Proverbs 22
Saying One
17. Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.
18. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.
19. I am teaching you today–yes, you–so you will trust in the LORD.
20. I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.
21. In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.
Saying Two
22. Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.
23. For the LORD is their defender. he will ruin anyone who ruins them.
Saying Three
24. Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,
25. or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.
Saying Four
26. Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.
27. If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.
Saying Five
28. Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.
Saying Six
29. Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
Proverbs 23
Saying Seven
1. While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.
2. If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;
3. don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.
Saying Eight
4. Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.
5. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
Saying Nine
6. Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.
7. They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.
8. You will throw up what little you have eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.
Saying Ten
9. Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
Saying Eleven
10. Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.
11. For their Redeemer is strong; He Himself will bring their charges against you.
Saying Twelve
12. Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
Saying Thirteen
13. Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them.
14. Physical discipline may well save them from death.
Saying Fourteen
15. My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!
16. Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.
Saying Fifteen
17. Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD.
18. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.
Saying Sixteen
19. My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.
20. Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,
21. for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.
Saying Seventeen
22. Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23. Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
24. The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.
25. So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.
Saying Eighteen
26. O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.
27. A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.
28. She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.
Saying Nineteen
29. Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30. It is the one who spends long hours in taverns, trying out new drinks.
31. Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
32. For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.
33. You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.
34. You will stagger like a sailor toss at sea, clinging to the mast.
35. And You will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t know when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?”
Proverbs 14
Saying Twenty
1. Don’t envy evil people or desire their company.
2. For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.
Saying Twenty-One
3. A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
Saying Twenty-Two
5. The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.
6. So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisors.
Saying Twenty-Three
7. Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among the leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.
Saying Twenty-Four
8. A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker.
9. The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.
Saying Twenty-Five
10. If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.
11. Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.
12. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and He sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
Saying Twenty-Six
13. My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14. In the same way wisdom is sweet to the soul. if you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.
Saying Twenty-Seven
15. Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live.
16. The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
Saying Twenty-Eight
17. Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.
18. For the LORD will be displeased with you and will turn His anger away from them.
Saying Twenty-Nine
19. Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked.
20. For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
Saying Thirty
21. My child, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t associate with rebels.
22. for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the LORD and the king?
More Sayings of the Wise
23. It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
24. A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
25. But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.
26. An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.
27. Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.
28. Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them.
29. And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”
30. I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one who had no common sense.
31. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.
32. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:
33. A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest–
34. then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
Consider the following questions regarding each Proverbs 22-24:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Proverbs 22
1. God watches out for the poor, needy, and disadvantaged and He will deal with their oppressors.
2. People need to be alert regarding the people with whom they associate.
Proverbs 23
1. God is like the parent who is greatly pleased when their child is wise and does what is right.
2. People (without the wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives) are prone to be foolish–lazy, drunken, promiscuous gluttons who wind up in poverty or death.
Proverbs 24
1. God wants to help and work on behalf of people who are (at least trying to be) diligent, kind, honest, innocent, godly and wise, if they will ask and trust Him.
2. People, generally, because of our sinful nature, tend to be lazy, uncaring, guilty, ungodly, and foolish. We need God’s help to take charge of our individual and sinful human natures.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Proverbs 22-24?
Dear Father in Heaven, I desire to be wise and represent You well. Help me to be prudent and alert to sense danger for myself and others so that we can avoid being harmed. Keep me humble and properly fearing You, whether that brings me wealth, honor, and long life or not. Help me to train the children in my care in Your ways. Help me not to be in debt, and to help others as well. May I use physical discipline only when necessary to teach a child the consequences of their foolish rebellion. Help me to start children on the right path of following Jesus and receiving eternal life through Him. Gracious and Holy LORD God, please help me not to let eating, drinking, laziness, my work, my pleasures, or my own opinions become idols in my life, pulling me away from You. Instead, may I seek to please You by listening to and obeying Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that the surest ways of knowing what pleases You are to read and study Your words in the Bible, to converse with You in prayer, and to interact with other believers who are also seeking to please You. This is the path of wisdom. LORD God, I humbly ask You to help me know with whom I should or should not associate. Help me seek wisdom so that You can grant me riches and prosperity. Part of that is having wise counselors to guide my decision making. Lead me to the right people who will point me to You, Your words, Your works, and Your ways. Help me in turn be a wise counselor for others. Grant me the courage to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Keep me safe from those who plot evil against others or rebellion against You, Your ways or Your people. Help me to overcome evil with good that comes from You. Help me to do things in a right and godly order. Help me to overcome any tendency toward laziness. I know that seeking Your glory will lead to my ultimate good. AMEN
Action (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Proverbs 22? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will watch for and encourage diligent and competent workers,
- I will cultivate properly fearing the LORD in my own life and encourage others to do the same.
- I will celebrate with a family when a child makes a wise decision and acts on it.
- I will try to steer a young person away from becoming addicted to alcohol using Proverbs 23:29-35 as part of my counsel.
- I will politely disassociate myself from specific people who are mockers, slanderers, or who are stirring up trouble or planning to do evil things.
- I will work with and/or financially support at least one organization seeking to save those who have been unjustly accused in any way, particularly regarding religious persecution.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.