The Fruit of the Righteous and of the Wicked

He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.  The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.  The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

Proverbs 12:11-13

Wisdom’s Invitation

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.  She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,  “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:” as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,  “Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.  Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding….”

Proverbs 9:1-6

Blessed By Wisdom

When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him;  Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.  Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.  But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Proverbs 8:29-36

The Calamity of The Wicked

A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.  He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;  Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.  Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

Proverbs 6:12-15

Pondering the Paths of Life; Good or Evil

  For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:  But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.  Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.  Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.  Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:  Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;  And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,  And say, “How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;  And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!  I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

Proverbs 5:3-14

Let Israel Hope In The LORD

LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.  Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

  Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

Psalm 131:1-3

The LORD Is Round About His People

They that trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.   As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even for ever.   For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.  Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Psalm 125:1-5

LOVING KINDNESS AND FAITHFULNESS

He shall cry unto Me, “Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him My firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.  My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and My covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.  If his children forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments; if they break My statutes, and keep not My commandments;  Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.  Nevertheless My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips. Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David.  His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me.  It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.” Selah.

Psalm 89:26-37

Parables and Dark Sayings

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done.

Psalm 78:1-4

When The Soul Is Very Vexed

O LORD, rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.  My soul is also sore vexed: but Thou, O LORD, how long?
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for Thy mercies’ sake.  For in death there is no remembrance of Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?  I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.  The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Psalm 6:1-10

 

Talebearer, Liar, and Divider

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.   Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.   He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.   Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.   Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.   A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Proverbs 26:22-28

Cold Water News

The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.  As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.   A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.   It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and with out walls.

Proverbs 25:23-28

Knowledge and Wisdom For The Soul

My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

  Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 24:13-16

Surely There Is An End

My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.  Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.  Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:15-18

The Scorner, The Righteous and The Deaf Of Hearing The Poor

When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself,  but shall not be heard.

Proverbs 21:11-13

Men, A Just Man, and The Heart of Man

 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Proverbs 20:5-7

That You May Be Wise

A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

Proverbs 19:19-22

A Better Use of the Mouth and Words

The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:23-25

Wisdom, the Fool; Sin and the Righteous

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.  The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy

Proverbs 14:8-10

Speaking Truth

He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

  Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

Proverbs 12;17-20

Within Cities: The Wicked And The Righteousness

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.

 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Proverbs 11:10-12