today's meditation (Pr.27) Planning and Preparing

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 27:1-27)

1   Do not boast about tomorrow,
     For you do not know what a day may bring.
2   Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
     A stranger, and not your own lips.
3   A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
     But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
4   Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,
     But who can stand before jealousy?
5   Better is open rebuke 
     Than love that is concealed.
6   Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
     But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
7   A satisfied person despises honey,
     But to a hungry person any bitter thing is sweet.
8   Like a bird that wanders from its nest,
     So is a person who wanders from his home.
9   Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
     And a person’s advice is sweet to his friend.
10 Do not abandon your friend or your father’s friend,
     And do not go to your brother’s house on the day of your disaster;
     Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
     So that I may reply to one who taunts me.
12 A prudent person sees evil and hides himself;
     But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
13 Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger;
     And for a foreign woman seize a pledge from him.
14 One who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
     It will be considered a curse to him.
15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain 
     And a contentious woman are alike;
16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind,
     And grasps oil with his right hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
     So one person sharpens another.
18 One who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,
     And one who cares for his master will be honored.
19 As in water a face reflects the face,
     So the heart of a person reflects the person.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
     Nor are the eyes of a person ever satisfied.
21 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
     And each is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 Though you pound the fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
     His foolishness still will not leave him.

23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
     And pay attention to your herds;
24 For riches are not forever,
     Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
     And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
26 The lambs will be for your clothing,
     And the goats will bring the price of a field,
27 And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
     For the food of your household,
     And sustenance for your attendants.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We are not to boast about tomorrow, but we are to plan and prepare.  In fact, the only thing we should boast about is the Lord!  Working hard and being wise with our time and resources honors the Lord.  We do not know what the future holds, but we can have faith in Him to provide for us.  And when we have plans or are given plans that are in God's will - He will make sure that these happen.

today's meditation (Pr.26) Avoiding Wickedness and Foolishness

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 26:1-28)

1   Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
     So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2   Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
     So a curse without cause does not come to rest.
3   A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
     And a rod for the back of fools.
4   Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness,
     Or you will also be like him.
5   Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
     So that he will not be wise in his own eyes.
6   One who sends a message by the hand of a fool 
     Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
7   Like useless legs to one who cannot walk,
     So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8   Like one who binds a stone in a sling,
     So is one who gives honor to a fool.
9   Like a thorn that sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
     So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
     So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,
     So is a fool who repeats his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person wise in his own eyes?
     There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 A lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road!
     A lion is in the public square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
     So does a lazy one on his bed.
15 A lazy one buries his hand in the dish;
     He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 A lazy one is wiser in his own eyes 
     Than seven people who can give a discreet answer.
17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears,
     So is one who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a maniac who shoots 
     Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 So is a person who deceives his neighbor,
     And says, “Was I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
     And where there is no gossiper, quarreling quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
     So is a contentious person to kindle strife.
22 The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
     And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthenware vessel overlaid with silver impurities 
     Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 One who hates disguises it with his lips,
     But he harbors deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
     Because there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred covers itself with deception,
     His wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.
27 One who digs a pit will fall into it,
     And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
     And a flattering mouth works ruin.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

As I look over this "gray matter," I see mostly warnings to stay away from fools and the wicked, and to be aware of deceptions and disguises.  As for myself among others, we are reminded to remain humble, calm and discreet while remaining truthful.  And just because something is true, doesn't mean we need to say it!  

We do want to avoid becoming like the foolish or the wicked, so a great yet simple thing to put into practice is the golden rule!  And an even greater thing is to ask God for wisdom and discernment in all situations.  

today's meditation (Pr.25) Being Forgiving and Gracious

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 25:1-28)

These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

2   It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
     But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3   As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
     So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4   Take away the impurities from the silver,
     And there comes out a vessel for the smith;
5   Take away the wicked before the king,
     And his throne will be established in righteousness.
6   Do not boast in the presence of the king,
     And do not stand in the same place as great people;
7   For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
     Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
     Whom your eyes have seen.

8   Do not go out hastily to argue your case;
     Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
     When your neighbor humiliates you?
9   Argue your case with your neighbor,
     And do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or one who hears it will put you to shame,
     And the evil report about you will not pass away.

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,
     Is a word spoken at the proper time.
12 Like an earring of gold and a jewelry piece of fine gold,
     Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest 
     Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
     For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain 
     Is a person who boasts of his gifts falsely.
15 Through patience a ruler may be persuaded,
     And a gentle tongue breaks bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,
     So that you do not have it in excess and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
     Or he will become weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow 
     Is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.
19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot 
     Is confidence in a treacherous person in time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,
     Is one who sings songs to a troubled heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
     And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will heap burning coals on his head,
     And the Lord will reward you.
23 The north wind brings rain,
     And a gossiping tongue brings an angry face.
24 It is better to live on a corner of the roof,
     Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul,
     So is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a trampled spring and a polluted well,
     So is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
     Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.
28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls 
     So is a person who has no self-control over his spirit.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Most people tend to want to get to the bottom of things and tell others...  If they are trying to seek justice, they want to know who committed the crime.  If they are trying to seek revenge, they want to know who their enemies are.  And if they are trying to feel good about themselves, they will look for reasons to blame someone else.

Meanwhile, the Lord's desire is that we go to Him for forgiveness, so He can choose not to keep a record of our sins.  Salvation through Jesus is His glory!  Once we become Christians, we are God's children for all eternity and His grace protects us.  Therefore, as we want to be like our heavenly Father, we should also be forgiving and gracious, even to our enemies.  Although we need to make sure justice is served, we do not have to worry about taking revenge.  We can feel secure because the Lord will deal with the wicked.

today's meditation (Pr.24) Learning Curves

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 24:1-34)

1   Do not be envious of evil people,
     Nor desire to be with them;
2   For their minds plot violence,
     And their lips talk of trouble.

3   By wisdom a house is built,
     And by understanding it is established;
4   And by knowledge the rooms are filled 
     With all precious and pleasant riches.

5   A wise man is strong,
     And a person of knowledge increases power.
6   For by wise guidance you will wage war,
     And in an abundance of counselors there is victory.

7   Wisdom is too exalted for a fool,
     He does not open his mouth at the gate.

8   One who plans to do evil,
     People will call a schemer.
9   The devising of foolishness is sin,
     And the scoffer is an abomination to humanity.

10 If you show yourself lacking courage on the day of distress,
     Your strength is meager.

11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death,
     And those who are staggering to the slaughter, Oh hold them back!
12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,”
     Does He who weighs the hearts not consider it?
     And does He who watches over your soul not know it?
     And will He not repay a person according to his work?

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good;
     Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;
14 Know that wisdom is the same for your soul;
     If you find it, then there will be a future,
     And your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in ambush, you wicked person, against the home of the righteous;
     Do not destroy his resting place;
16 For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again,
     But the wicked stumble in time of disaster.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
     And do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 Otherwise, the Lord will see and be displeased,
     And turn His anger away from him.

19 Do not get upset because of evildoers 
     Or be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no future for the evil person;
     The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21 My son, fear the Lord and the king;
     Do not get involved with those of high rank,
22 For their disaster will rise suddenly,
     And who knows the ruin that can come from both of them?

23 These also are sayings of the wise:
     To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 One who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
     Peoples will curse him, nations will scold him;
25 But for those who rebuke the wicked there will be delight,
     And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 One who gives a right answer 
     Kisses the lips.

27 Prepare your work outside,
     And make it ready for yourself in the field;
     Afterward, then, build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor for no reason,
     And do not deceive with your lips.
29 Do not say, “I shall do the same to him as he has done to me;
     I will repay the person according to his work.”

30 I passed by the field of a lazy one,
     And by the vineyard of a person lacking sense,
31 And behold, it was completely overgrown with weeds;
     Its surface was covered with weeds,
     And its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw, I reflected upon it;
     I looked, and received instruction.
33 “A little sleep, a little slumber,
     A little folding of the hands to rest,”
34 Then your poverty will come like a drifter,
     And your need like an armed man.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

In scripture, the Lord has included both good examples to follow, as well as bad examples which we should not follow.  While we should never rejoice over someone else's failures, we definitely can observe, reflect and learn from the mistakes of others, as well as our own.  

No one is perfect, but God judges the heart!  Do we fear the Lord?  If we do and have given our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ, then God will make sure our souls are protected for all eternity.  And He will reward us for work done with righteous motives.

today's meditation (Pr.23) Being Content

 (Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 23:1-35)

1   When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
     Consider carefully what is before you,
2   And put a knife to your throat 
     If you are a person of great appetite.
3   Do not desire his delicacies,
     For it is deceptive food.

4   Do not weary yourself to gain wealth;
     Stop dwelling on it.
5   When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
     For wealth certainly makes itself wings 
     Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

6   Do not eat the bread of a selfish person;
     Or desire his delicacies;
7   For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
     He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
     But his heart is not with you.
8   You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten 
     And waste your compliments.

9   Do not speak to be heard by a fool,
     For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not move the ancient boundary 
     Or go into the fields of the fatherless,
11 For their Redeemer is strong;
     He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to discipline,
     And your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
     Though you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod 
     And rescue his soul from Sheol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
     My own heart also will be glad,
16 And my innermost being will rejoice 
     When your lips speak what is right.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
     But live in the fear of the Lord always.
18 Certainly there is a future,
     And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
     And direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
     Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
     And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

22 Listen to your father, who fathered you,
     And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it,
     Get wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
     And he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad,
     And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

26 Give me your heart, my son,
     And let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit,
     And a strange woman is a narrow well.
28 Certainly she lurks as a robber,
     And increases the treacherous among mankind.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
     Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
     Who has wounds without cause?
     Who has red eyes?
30 Those who linger long over wine,
     Those who go to taste mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
     When it sparkles in the cup,
     When it goes down smoothly;
32 In the end it bites like a snake 
     And stings like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things 
     And your mind will say perverse things.
34 And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
     Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.
35 “They struck me, but I did not become ill;
     They beat me, but I did not know it.
     When will I awake?
     I will seek another drink.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Being content with what we have will keep us out of a lot of trouble.  Being content will prevent us from wanting what others have, whether it is power, wealth, luxury, leisure, popularity... And being content will prevent us from wanting more - even if something is good, it can become bad for us.

Being content involves learning about the Lord's goodness, truth and wisdom.  It also involves following His will, which requires discipline.  We usually think of "discipline" as being punished, but this is not what that means at all.  At times, we will experience consequences in order to learn a lesson, but discipline also and always involves training and practicing.  

Having been an athlete and a musician in the past, I know how important it is to train and practice.  It is about preparing ourselves for a better performance or competition.  Just like with muscle-memory, developing good habits help us.  There's also preparing the mind, like we do in school with instructions and studying, we can be ready for pop tests and exams.  

Studying the Bible and putting God's commandments into practice everyday and for everything helps prepare our hearts, minds and bodies for when we do face temptations, tests and trials.  Then, for example, when we come across an opportunity to overindulge, the temptation will not be there or be as strong - if we have been practicing the attitude of being content,

today's meditation (Pr.22) Proceeding Wisely

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 22:1-29)

1   A good name is to be more desired than great wealth;
     Favor is better than silver and gold.
2   The rich and the poor have a common bond,
     The Lord is the Maker of them all.
3   A prudent person sees evil and hides himself,
     But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
4   The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
     Are riches, honor, and life.
5   Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
     One who guards himself will be far from them.
6   Train up a child in the way he should go,
     Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.
7   The rich rules over the poor,
     And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
8   One who sows injustice will reap disaster,
     And the rod of his fury will perish.
9   One who is generous will be blessed,
     Because he gives some of his food to the poor.
10 Drive out the scoffer, and strife will leave,
     Even quarreling and dishonor will cease.
11 One who loves purity of heart 
     And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord protect knowledge,
     But He overthrows the words of the treacherous person.
13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion outside;
     I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
     He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
     The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16 One who oppresses the poor to make more for himself,
     Or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

17 Extend your ear and hear the words of the wise,
     And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
     So that they may be ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
     I have taught you today, you indeed.
20 Have I not written to you excellent things 
     Of counsels and knowledge,
21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
     So that you may correctly answer him who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
     Nor crush the needy at the gate;
23 For the Lord will plead their case 
     And take the life of those who rob them.

24 Do not make friends with a person given to anger,
     Or go with a hot-tempered person,
25 Or you will learn his ways 
     And find a snare for yourself.

26 Do not be among those who shake hands,
     Among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to repay,
     Why should he take your bed from under you?

28 Do not move the ancient boundary 
     Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
     He will stand before kings;
     He will not stand before obscure people.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The advice given here needs to be considered carefully, not rashly.  Like how we are to run and hide from evil, yet we ARE to defend and help bring about justice for the vulnerable.  To balance this out safely and to God's glory, it should be done using His wisdom, guidance, love and strength.

"Train up a child in the way he should go" means, we need to be disciplining, teaching, mentoring and equipping our kids in order to help them find and remain steadfast in a personal relationship with the Lord, desiring to live obediently in His will.  This means that while we are not neglecting our loved ones need for guidance, we should not bully anyone into submission.  Decisions and actions are up to each individual.

Giving to the poor doesn't mean giving away everything.  We need to remember to nourish ourselves and our loved ones as well.  It would be wrong to neglect our own spouse and children.

Being "cursed of the Lord" doesn't mean that all is lost.  One still has the opportunity to turn to the Lord to be saved!  It is only foolishness if a person decides to keep denying God and going against His will.  To proceed wisely requires us to humbly fear and love the Lord and what He tells us!

today's meditation (Pr.21) Putting God first

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 21:1-31)
1   The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
     He turns it wherever He pleases.
2   Every person’s way is right in his own eyes,
     But the Lord examines the hearts.
3   To do righteousness and justice 
     Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
4   Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
     The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5   The plans of the diligent certainly lead to advantage,
     But everyone who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
6   The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue 
     Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
7   The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
     Because they refuse to act with justice.
8   The way of a guilty person is crooked,
     But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9   It is better to live on a corner of a roof 
     Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
     His neighbor is shown no compassion in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
     But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
     Bringing the wicked to ruin.
13 One who shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor 
     Will also call out himself, and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret subdues anger,
     And a bribe in an inside pocket, strong wrath.
15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
     But terror to those who practice injustice.
16 A person who wanders from the way of understanding 
     Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 One who loves pleasure will become a poor person;
     One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
     And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land 
     Than with a contentious and irritating woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
     But a foolish person swallows it up.
21 One who pursues righteousness and loyalty 
     Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise person scales the city of the mighty 
     And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 One who guards his mouth and his tongue,
     Guards his soul from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Arrogant,” “Scoffer,” are his names,
     One who acts with insolent pride.
25 The desire of the lazy one puts him to death,
     For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he is craving,
     While the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
     How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
28 A false witness will perish,
     But a person who listens will speak forever.
29 A wicked person displays a bold face,
     But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding,
     And no plan against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
     But the victory belongs to the Lord.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Victory belongs to the Lord!  Anyone who puts their trust in possessions, riches, strength, or their own wisdom, will come to ruin in the end.  As well, it doesn't matter how religious a person is or how "good"... if we do not have a personal relationship with the Lord, it means absolutely nothing in His eyes, as He looks at our hearts.  He not only looks at our hearts, He wants us to give Him our whole heart.  Nothing can save us but accepting Jesus' forgiveness, mercy and grace.  

Part of putting our faith in the Lord is putting the Lord first in our lives.  So things like money, sleep, pleasure, wine and oil are not evil in and of themselves, it is the LOVE of these things.  The Lord is creator of all things, and He is the one who gives good gifts and wants the best for us;  so why love and worship the things that God has created, when we can worship the Creator!?  If we truly love and trust Him, then the Lord, and following His will, should be most important in our lives.

today's meditation (Pr.20) Finding Satisfaction

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 20:1-30)
1   Wine is a mocker, intoxicating drink a brawler,
     And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2   The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
     One who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3   Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
     But any fool will quarrel.
4   The lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
     So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5   A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
     But a person of understanding draws it out.
6   Many a person proclaims his own loyalty,
     But who can find a trustworthy person?
7   A righteous person who walks in his integrity—
     How blessed are his sons after him.
8   A king who sits on the throne of justice 
     Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9   Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
     I am pure from my sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures,
     Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a boy distinguishes himself,
     If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
     The Lord has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
     Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
     But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;
     But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
     And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
17 Bread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,
     But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare plans by consultation,
     And make war by wise guidance.
19 One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
     Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
20 He who curses his father or his mother,
     His lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning 
     Will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
     Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
     And a false scale is not good.
24 A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord;
     How then can a person understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!”
     And after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked,
     And drives a threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
     Searching all the innermost parts of his being.
28 Loyalty and truth watch over the king,
     And he upholds his throne by loyalty.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
     And the honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Bruising wounds clean away evil,
     And blows cleanse the innermost parts.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

It is interesting that people think they can determine what is right and wrong, and determine how anyone can go to heaven, as if they can dictate what truth is and is not.  They might think they understand life and what it is all about, because they want to do things their own way, but our understanding, knowledge and wisdom is so very miniscule and feeble compared to God's understanding, knowledge and wisdom.  

God is all-knowing and all-powerful.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  And He obviously understands all of creation because He created it!  And it is God who has made our eyes and ears, we just have to choose to open them to see and hear what God wants us to know... the things we NEED to know!  And when we do, we will find purpose, peace and joy, and we will be fulfilled and satisfied!