Devastating the Obvious

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Proverbs 16

¹The plans of the heart belong to man,
   but^(A) the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
²^(B) All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
   but the LORD^(C) weighs the spirit.
³^(D) Commit your work to the LORD,
   and your plans will be established.
⁴^(E) The LORD has made everything for its purpose,
   even^(F) the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵Everyone who is arrogant in heart is^(G) an abomination to the LORD;
   ^(H) be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶By^(I) steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
   and by^(J) the fear of the LORD one^(K) turns away from evil.
⁷When a man’s ways please the LORD,
   ^(L) he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸^(M) Better is a little with righteousness
   than great revenues with injustice.
⁹^(N) The heart of man plans his way,
   but^(O) the LORD establishes his steps.
¹⁰^(P) An oracle is on the lips of a king;
   his mouth does not sin in judgment.
¹¹^(Q) A just balance and scales are the LORD’s;
   all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹²It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
   for^(R) the throne is established by righteousness.
¹³^(S) Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
   and he loves him who speaks what is right.
¹⁴^(T) A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
   and a wise man will^(U) appease it.
¹⁵^(V) In the light of a king’s face there is life,
   and his^(W) favor is like^(X) the clouds that bring the spring rain.
¹⁶^(Y) How much better to get wisdom than^(Z) gold!
   To get understanding is to be chosen rather than^(AA) silver.
¹⁷The highway of the upright^(AB) turns aside from evil;
   whoever guards his way preserves his life.
¹⁸^(AC) Pride goes before destruction,
   and a haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹^(AD) It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
   than to^(AE) divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰Whoever gives thought to the word^[a]^(AF) will discover good,
   and blessed is he^(AG) who trusts in the LORD.
²¹The wise of heart is called discerning,
   and sweetness of speech^(AH) increases persuasiveness.
²²Good sense is^(AI) a fountain of life to him who has it,
   but the instruction of fools is folly.
²³^(AJ) The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
   and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
²⁴^(AK) Gracious words are like^(AL) a honeycomb,
   sweetness to the soul and^(AM) health to the body.
²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man,
   but its end is the way to death.^[b]
²⁶A worker’s appetite works for him;
   his^(AN) mouth urges him on.
²⁷^(AO) A worthless man plots evil,
   and his speech^[c] is like^(AP) a scorching fire.
²⁸^(AQ) A dishonest man spreads strife,
   and^(AR) a whisperer^(AS) separates close friends.
²⁹A man of violence^(AT) entices his neighbor
   and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰Whoever winks his eyes plans^[d]^(AU) dishonest things;
   he who^(AV) purses his lips brings evil to pass.
³¹^(AW) Gray hair is^(AX) a crown of glory;
   it^(AY) is gained in a righteous life.
³²^(AZ) Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
   and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
³³^(BA) The lot is cast into the lap,
   but its every decision is^(BB) from the LORD.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Proverbs 15

¹^(A) A soft answer turns away wrath,
   but^(B) a harsh word stirs up anger.
²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
   but^(C) the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³^(D) The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
   keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴^(E) A gentle^[a] tongue is^(F) a tree of life,
   but^(G) perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
⁵^(H) A fool^(I) despises his father’s instruction,
   but^(J) whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
⁶In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
   but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
⁷^(K) The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
   not so the hearts of fools.^[b]
⁸^(L) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
   but^(M) the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
   but he loves him^(N) who pursues righteousness.
¹⁰There is^(O) severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
   ^(P) whoever hates reproof will die.
¹¹Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;
   how much more^(Q) the hearts of the children of man!
¹²^(R) A scoffer^(S) does not like to be reproved;
   he will not go to the wise.
¹³^(T) A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
   but by^(U) sorrow of heart the spirit is^(V) crushed.
¹⁴^(W) The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
   but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil,
   but^(X) the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶^(Y) Better is a little with the fear of the LORD
   than great treasure and trouble with it.
¹⁷^(Z) Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
   than^(AA) a fattened ox and hatred with it.
¹⁸^(AB) A hot-tempered man^(AC) stirs up strife,
   but he who is^(AD) slow to anger quiets contention.
¹⁹The way of^(AE) a sluggard is like a hedge of^(AF) thorns,
   but the path of the upright is^(AG) a level highway.
²⁰^(AH) A wise son makes a glad father,
   but a foolish man despises his mother.
²¹^(AI) Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
   but a man of understanding^(AJ) walks straight ahead.
²²^(AK) Without counsel plans fail,
   but with many advisers they succeed.
²³To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
   and^(AL) a word in season, how good it is!
²⁴The path of life leads upward^(AM) for the prudent,
   that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
²⁵The LORD tears down the house of^(AN) the proud
   but^(AO) maintains^(AP) the widow’s boundaries.
²⁶^(AQ) The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
   but^(AR) gracious words are pure.
²⁷Whoever is^(AS) greedy for unjust gain^(AT) troubles his own household,
   but he who hates^(AU) bribes will live.
²⁸The heart of the righteous^(AV) ponders how to answer,
   but^(AW) the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
²⁹The LORD is^(AX) far from the wicked,
   but he^(AY) hears the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰^(AZ) The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
   and^(BA) good news refreshes^[c] the bones.
³¹^(BB) The ear that listens to^(BC) life-giving reproof
   will dwell among the wise.
³²Whoever^(BD) ignores instruction^(BE) despises himself,
   but he who listens to reproof^(BF) gains intelligence.
³³^(BG) The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
   and^(BH) humility comes before honor.