Tag Archives: Brad Scott

1 Choose a good reputation over great riches;
    being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

² The rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord made them both.

³ A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
    The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

⁴ True humility and fear of the Lord
    lead to riches, honor, and long life.

⁵ Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;
    whoever values life will avoid it.

⁶ Direct your children onto the right path,
    and when they are older, they will not leave it.

⁷ Just as the rich rule the poor,
    so the borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸ Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,
    and their reign of terror will come to an end.^[a]

⁹ Blessed are those who are generous,
    because they feed the poor.

¹⁰ Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.
    Quarrels and insults will disappear.

¹¹ Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech
    will have the king as a friend.

¹² The Lord preserves those with knowledge,
    but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

¹³ The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!
    If I go outside, I might be killed!”

¹⁴ The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;
    those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.

¹⁵ A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,
    but physical discipline will drive it far away.

¹⁶ A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor
    or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.

²² Don’t rob the poor just because you can,
    or exploit the needy in court.
²³ For the Lord is their defender.
    He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

²⁴ Don’t befriend angry people
    or associate with hot-tempered people,
²⁵ or you will learn to be like them
    and endanger your soul.

²⁶ Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt
    or put up security for someone else.
²⁷ If you can’t pay it,
    even your bed will be snatched from under you.

²⁸ Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers
    set up by previous generations.

²⁹ Do you see any truly competent workers?
    They will serve kings
    rather than working for ordinary people.

1 A gentle answer deflects anger,
    but harsh words make tempers flare.

² The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,
    but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.

³ The Lord is watching everywhere,
    keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.

⁴ Gentle words are a tree of life;
    a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

⁵ Only a fool despises a parent’s^[a] discipline;
    whoever learns from correction is wise.

⁶ There is treasure in the house of the godly,
    but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

⁷ The lips of the wise give good advice;
    the heart of a fool has none to give.

⁸ The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
    but he delights in the prayers of the upright.

⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
    but he loves those who pursue godliness.

¹⁰ Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined;
    whoever hates correction will die.

¹¹ Even Death and Destruction^[b] hold no secrets from the Lord.
    How much more does he know the human heart!

¹² Mockers hate to be corrected,
    so they stay away from the wise.

¹³ A glad heart makes a happy face;
    a broken heart crushes the spirit.

¹⁴ A wise person is hungry for knowledge,
    while the fool feeds on trash.

¹⁵ For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
    for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

¹⁶ Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,
    than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

¹⁷ A bowl of vegetables with someone you love
    is better than steak with someone you hate.

¹⁸ A hot-tempered person starts fights;
    a cool-tempered person stops them.

¹⁹ A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers,
    but the path of the upright is an open highway.

²⁰ Sensible children bring joy to their father;
    foolish children despise their mother.

²¹ Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense;
    a sensible person stays on the right path.

²² Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
    many advisers bring success.

²³ Everyone enjoys a fitting reply;
    it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!

²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the wise;
    they leave the grave^[c] behind.

²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
    but he protects the property of widows.

²⁶ The Lord detests evil plans,
    but he delights in pure words.

²⁷ Greed brings grief to the whole family,
    but those who hate bribes will live.

²⁸ The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking;
    the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayers of the righteous.

³⁰ A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
    good news makes for good health.

³¹ If you listen to constructive criticism,
    you will be at home among the wise.

³² If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;
    but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

³³ Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;
    humility precedes honor.

1 A wise child^[a] brings joy to a father;
    a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

² Tainted wealth has no lasting value,
    but right living can save your life.

³ The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,
    but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

⁴ Lazy people are soon poor;
    hard workers get rich.

⁵ A wise youth harvests in the summer,
    but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

⁶ The godly are showered with blessings;
    the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

⁷ We have happy memories of the godly,
    but the name of a wicked person rots away.

⁸ The wise are glad to be instructed,
    but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

⁹ People with integrity walk safely,
    but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.

¹⁰ People who wink at wrong cause trouble,
    but a bold reproof promotes peace.^[b]

¹¹ The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain;
    the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

¹² Hatred stirs up quarrels,
    but love makes up for all offenses.

¹³ Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding,
    but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.

¹⁴ Wise people treasure knowledge,
    but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

¹⁵ The wealth of the rich is their fortress;
    the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

¹⁶ The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,
    but evil people squander their money on sin.

¹⁷ People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,
    but those who ignore correction will go astray.

¹⁸ Hiding hatred makes you a liar;
    slandering others makes you a fool.

¹⁹ Too much talk leads to sin.
    Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

²⁰ The words of the godly are like sterling silver;
    the heart of a fool is worthless.

²¹ The words of the godly encourage many,
    but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

²² The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,
    and he adds no sorrow with it.

²³ Doing wrong is fun for a fool,
    but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

²⁴ The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;
    the hopes of the godly will be granted.

²⁵ When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,
    but the godly have a lasting foundation.

²⁶ Lazy people irritate their employers,
    like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

²⁷ Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.

²⁸ The hopes of the godly result in happiness,
    but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

²⁹ The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity,
    but it destroys the wicked.

³⁰ The godly will never be disturbed,
    but the wicked will be removed from the land.

³¹ The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,
    but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

³² The lips of the godly speak helpful words,
    but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

    Praise him from the skies!
² Praise him, all his angels!
    Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
³ Praise him, sun and moon!
    Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
⁴ Praise him, skies above!
    Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
⁵ Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
    for he issued his command, and they came into being.
⁶ He set them in place forever and ever.
    His decree will never be revoked.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you creatures of the ocean depths,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and clouds,^[a]
    wind and weather that obey him,
⁹ mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
¹⁰ wild animals and all livestock,
    small scurrying animals and birds,
¹¹ kings of the earth and all people,
    rulers and judges of the earth,
¹² young men and young women,
    old men and children.

¹³ Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
    For his name is very great;
    his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
¹⁴ He has made his people strong,
    honoring his faithful ones—
    the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!