Welcome to Day 15 of our Journey through “31 Days of Wisdom”!
Today’s categories are dealing with anger properly, choosing your words wisely, the intent of the heart and one’s own contentment.
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I like how this chapter reminds us that God sees the deeds of both the evil and the good. Maybe sometimes it becomes easy to think that if there is a God that He is distant or uninvolved, but this hints that God is present in everything and relates to us individually. That’s something a lot of other religions and belief systems, sciences or science fiction do not attend to… the presence and potential for intimacy with God involved in the everyday of everyone.
Anger and words or deeds done in anger are a big reference in this chapter, and I know I need to have more temperance and self-control. Anger is a natural human emotion, and even God gets angry according to scripture, but it’s how we deal with it. Good anger is when there is a just cause that we are prompted to act upon, like social injustices and inhumane circumstances. We must always remember to act and speak appropriately from a place of love and self-control when choosing to engage in this space. That’s not always easy.
There’s a lot to learn about cheerfulness, contentment and the state of our own heart toward things in this chapter. In the contrasting viewpoints, “it is better to”, we see that sometimes going with what seems natural isn’t always right. It takes a different understanding and choice to be less “worldly” in order to gain a different wealth or even peace and health. Other scripture says, ‘why gain the whole world and lose your soul’. Some things are just more important (and simple) than gaining power or knowledge of the universe, and ultimately still not gaining the things that matter most in life.
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[shareable cite=”https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PRO.15.ESV”]1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness. 10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man! 12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. 16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. 19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. 20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. 23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! 24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. 25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure. 27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. 28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. 31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. 32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. 33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
ESV brought to you by Crossway (a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers) Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV.[/shareable]
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness. 10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man! 12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. 16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. 19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. 20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. 23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! 24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. 25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure. 27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. 28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. 31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. 32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. 33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
ESV brought to you by Crossway (a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers) Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV.[/shareable]
Please see the Welcome to 31 Days of Wisdom post if you missed it. There are some starting resources and recommendations there.
For some helpful commentaries and other resources to dig in deeper you may enjoy the following links, or your own search at a local book store or online search/purchase.
- YouVersion® Bible.com Reading Plans – Proverbs
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary from BibleGateway
- Top 5 Commentaries post from Ligonier’s Ministry
- Proverbs Resources from PreceptAustin
“Make it a purpose-filled and on-target day!”
