Proverbs

Even When We Feel Inadequate

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Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:” but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.  Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.  So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.  And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:19-23

Thou art near, O LORD; and all Thy commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:151

Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Proverbs 24:19-20

Even when we feel inadequate God is adequate to deliver. Our deliverer is the Lord Jesus Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Trust In The LORD

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“…Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.  But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.”
1 Samuel12:23-25

O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.  Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.
Psalm 115:9-11

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: for their Redeemer is mighty; He shall plead their cause with thee.
Proverbs 23:10-11

The LORD Helped Us

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Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, “Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.”
1 Samuel 7:12

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people: O visit me with Thy salvation; that I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance.
Psalm 106:4-5

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Proverbs 22:24-25

The Wholly Holy LORD God

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And He smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even He smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. And the men of Bethshemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall He go up from us?”  And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.”
1 Samuel 6:19-21

The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
Psalm 104:31

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3

The Judgment of The LORD

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Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; for He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity.
Psalm 98:8-9

The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Proverbs 20:27

When GOD Is Not Heard, and Obeyed

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And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.  And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, “Whither goest thou, and whence comest thou?”  And he said unto him, “We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.  Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.”  And the old man said, “Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.”  So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.” And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, “Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.” But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light. And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. And he said unto her, “Up, and let us be going.” But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.
Judges 19:16-28

But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Psalm 81:11-12

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 17:15

The Consequences of Playing With Sin

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And she said unto him, “How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.” And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; that he told her all his heart, and said unto her, “There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”  And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.  And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.  And she said, “The Philistines be upon thee, Samson.” And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.” And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
Judges 16:15-20

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Psalm 78:5-8

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

The Cut Off, and The Exalted

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For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and He poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.  But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.  All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
Psalm 75:8-10

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:2

Let All The People Praise The LORD

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God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah.  That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee.
Psalm 67:1-3

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
Proverbs 14:16-17

A Kept Mouth

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Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple.
Psalm 65:4

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 12:3

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined

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The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.  He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.
“Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God is judge Himself. Selah.
Psalm 50:1-6

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Proverbs 10:27-28

GOD’S Loving Kindness and His Song

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Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8

THOUGHTS FROM WISDOM: “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.”
Proverbs 9:1-2

The Wicked, The Righteous, and Wisdom

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For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Psalm 37:28-31

WORDS FROM WISDOM: “Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.  They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.”
Proverbs 8:6-9

…He that trusts in the LORD…

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Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psalm 32:10-11

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.  Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Proverbs 7:1-2

Remember the Greatness, and Holiness of the LORD

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And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, “Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.” So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.  And the LORD said unto Joshua,
“Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.”
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.  And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
Joshua 10:6-11

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.  For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
Psalm 30:4-6

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19

Who Will Dwell In The Presence Of The LORD?

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LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart, backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not, putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Psalm 15:1-5

The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens. By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
Proverbs 3:19-20

 

…He has prepared His throne for judgment

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But the LORD shall endure for ever: He hath prepared His throne for judgment.  And He shall judge the world in righteousness, He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 9:7-9

…That thou mayest walk in the way of good and keep the paths of the righteous.  For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.  But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Proverbs 2:20-22

…The LORD will hear when I call unto Him

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But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto Him.
Psalm 4:3

Wisdom says, “…Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”
Proverbs 1:23

Abundant In Goodness And Truth

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And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed,
“The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.  And he said, “If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Thine inheritance.”
Exodus 34:5-9

All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth.           Psalm 138:4
Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.             Psalm 140:4

They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.             Proverbs 28:4

Pillar of Cloud and Fire

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And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said,
“Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:”
But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.  And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.”
And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
Exodus 13:17-22

So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory.
When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.
Psalm 102:15-16

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Proverbs 21:30

God Meant It For Good

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And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.  And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, “Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.”  And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, “Thy father did command before he died, saying,  ‘So shall ye say unto Joseph, ‘Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father.'” And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.  And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we be thy servants.”  And Joseph said unto them, “Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones.” And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Genesis 50:14-21

Oh that My people had hearkened unto Me, and Israel had walked in My ways!  I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned My hand against their adversaries.
Psalm 81:13-14

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Proverbs 17:27-28

…But God shall be with you…

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And he blessed Joseph, and said, “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”  And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.  And Joseph said unto his father, “Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.”  And his father refused, and said, “I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.”  And he blessed them that day, saying, “In thee shall Israel bless,” saying, “God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh:” and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.  And Israel said unto Joseph, “Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”
Genesis 48:15-22

Thou hast with Thine arm redeemed Thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
Psalm 77:15

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Proverbs 16:117

Prosperity and Wealth

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And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Genesis 39:20-23

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.
Psalm 63:5-6

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Proverbs 13:11

The Way Of Righteousness

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And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
Genesis 35:5

But I will sing of Thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of Thy mercy in the morning: for Thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psalm 59:16

In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Proverbs 12:28

The Blessing of the Upright

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If he said thus, “The speckled shall be thy wages;” then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, “The ringstraked shall be thy hire;” then bare all the cattle ringstraked.  Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
Genesis 31:8-9

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 11:10-11