Proverbs 21-23 - Prayer Tents

Proverbs 21

21The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.H4428H3820H3027H3068H6388H4325H5186H26542People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.H1870H376H3477H5869H3068H8505H38263The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.H6213H6666H4941H977H3068H20774Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.H7312H5869H7342H3820H5215H7563H24035Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.H4284H2742H4195H213H42706Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap

.H6467H214H8267H3956H1892H5086H1245H41947The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just.H7701H7563H1641H3985H6213H49418The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.H1870H376H2019H2054H2134H6467H34779It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.H2896H3427H6438H1406H4079H4066H802H2267H100410Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.H5315H7563H183H7451H7453H2603H586911If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.H3887H6064H6612H2449H2450H7919H3947H184712The Righteous One

knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them.H6662H7919H1004H7563H5557H7563H745113Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.H331H241H2201H1800H7121H603014A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury.H4976H5643H3711H639H7810H2436H5794H253415Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.H8057H6662H6213H4941H4288H6466H20516The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.H120H8582H1870H7919H5117H6951H749617Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.H157H8057H4270H376H157H3196H8081H623818The wicked are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest.H7563H3724H6662H898H347719It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife.H2896H3427H776H4057H4079H4066H3708H80220The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.H214H2530H8081H5116H2450H3684H120H110421Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.H7291H6666H2617H4672H2416H6666H351922The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.H2450H5927H5892H1368H3381H5797H400923Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.H8104H6310H3956H8104H5315H686924Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.H2086H3093H3887H8034H6213H2087H567825Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.H8378H6102H4191H3027H3985H621326Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!H183H8378H3117H6662H5414H282027The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives.H2077H7563H8441H935H215428A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.H3577H5707H6H376H8085H1696H533129The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.H7563H376H5810H6440H3477H995H3559H187030No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.H2451H8394H6098H306831The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.H5483H3559H3117H4421H8668H3068

Proverbs 22

22Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.H8034H977H7227H6239H2896H2580H3701H20912The rich and poor have this in common. The Lord made them both.H6223H7326H6298H3068H62133A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.H6175H7200H7451H5641H5641H6612H5674H60644True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.H6118H6038H3374H3068H6239H3519H24165Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.H6791H6341H1870H6141H8104H5315H73686Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.H2596H5288H1870H6310H2204H54937Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.H6223H4910H7326H3867H5650H376H38678Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end

.H2232H5766H7114H205H7626H5678H36159Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.H2896H5869H1288H5414H3899H180010Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.H1644H3887H4066H3318H1779H7036H767311Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.H157H2890H2889H3820H2580H8193H4428H745312The Lord preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.H5869H3068H5341H1847H5557H1697H89813The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”H6102H559H738H2351H7523H8432H733914The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.H6310H2114H6013H7745H2194H3068H530715A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.H200H7194H3820H5288H7626H4148H736816A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.H6231H1800H7235H5414H6223H4270

Sayings of the Wise

17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.H5186H241H8085H1697H2450H7896H3820H184718For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.H5273H8104H990H3162H3559H819319I am teaching you today—yes, you—so you will trust in the Lord.H4009H3068H3045H311720I have written thirty sayings

for you, filled with advice and knowledge.H3789H8032H7991H4156H184721In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.H3045H7189H561H571H7725H561H571H797122Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.H1497H1800H1800H1792H6041H817923For the Lord is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.H3068H7378H7379H6906H5315H690624Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,H7462H639H1167H2534H376H93525or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.H502H734H3947H4170H531526Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.H8628H3709H6148H485927If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.H7999H3947H490428Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.H5253H5769H1366H1H621329Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.H2372H376H4106H4399H3320H6440H4428H3320H6440H2823

Proverbs 23

23While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you.H3427H3898H4910H995H995H64402If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat;H7760H7915H3930H1167H53153don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.H183H4303H3577H38994Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.H3021H6238H2308H9985In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.H5774H5774H5869H6213H6213H3671H5774H5774H5404H80646Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies.H3898H3899H7451H5869H183H43037They are always thinking about how much it costs

. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.H8176H5315H398H8354H559H38208You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.H6595H398H6958H7843H5273H16979Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.H1696H241H3684H936H7922H440510Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.H5253H5769H1366H935H7704H349011For their Redeemer

is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.H1350H2389H7378H737912Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.H935H3820H4148H241H561H184713Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them.H4513H4148H5288H5221H7626H419114Physical discipline may well save them from death

.H5221H7626H5337H5315H758515My child

, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!H1121H3820H2449H3820H8055H58916Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.H3629H5937H8193H1696H433917Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.H3820H7065H2400H3374H3068H311718You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.H3426H319H8615H377219My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right course.H8085H1121H2449H833H3820H187020Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons,H3196H5433H2151H132021for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.H5433H2151H3423H5124H3847H716822Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.H8085H1H3205H936H517H220423Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.H7069H571H4376H2451H4148H99824The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise

.H1H6662H1524H1523H3205H2450H805525So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.H1H517H8055H3205H152326O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.H1121H5414H3820H5869H7521H5341H187027A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well.H2181H6013H7745H5237H6862H87528She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.H693H2863H3254H898H12029Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?H188H17H4079H4066H7879H6482H2600H2448H586930It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.H309H3196H935H2713H446931Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.H7200H3196H119H5414H5869H3563H3599H1980H433932For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper.H319H5391H5175H6567H684833You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things.H5869H7200H2114H3820H1696H841934You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast.H7901H3820H3220H7901H7218H226035And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?”H5221H2470H1986H3045H6974H1245H3254