Tag Archives: Jim Staley

1 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline;^[a]
    a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

² Wise words will win you a good meal,
    but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

³ Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
    opening your mouth can ruin everything.

⁴ Lazy people want much but get little,
    but those who work hard will prosper.

⁵ The godly hate lies;
    the wicked cause shame and disgrace.

⁶ Godliness guards the path of the blameless,
    but the evil are misled by sin.

⁷ Some who are poor pretend to be rich;
    others who are rich pretend to be poor.

⁸ The rich can pay a ransom for their lives,
    but the poor won’t even get threatened.

⁹ The life of the godly is full of light and joy,
    but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

¹⁰ Pride leads to conflict;
    those who take advice are wise.

¹¹ Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;
    wealth from hard work grows over time.

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

¹³ People who despise advice are asking for trouble;
    those who respect a command will succeed.

¹⁴ The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;
    those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

¹⁵ A person with good sense is respected;
    a treacherous person is headed for destruction.^[b]

¹⁶ Wise people think before they act;
    fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

¹⁷ An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble,
    but a reliable messenger brings healing.

¹⁸ If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace;
    if you accept correction, you will be honored.

¹⁹ It is pleasant to see dreams come true,
    but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

²⁰ Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

²¹ Trouble chases sinners,
    while blessings reward the righteous.

²² Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,
    but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.

²³ A poor person’s farm may produce much food,
    but injustice sweeps it all away.

²⁴ Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
    Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

²⁵ The godly eat to their hearts’ content,
    but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

¹ When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,^[a]
    it was like a dream!
² We were filled with laughter,
    and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
    “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
³ Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
    What joy!

⁴ Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    as streams renew the desert.
⁵ Those who plant in tears
    will harvest with shouts of joy.
⁶ They weep as they go to plant their seed,
    but they sing as they return with the harvest.

¹ What if the Lord had not been on our side?
    Let all Israel repeat:
² What if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us?
³ They would have swallowed us alive
    in their burning anger.
⁴ The waters would have engulfed us;
    a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
⁵ Yes, the raging waters of their fury
    would have overwhelmed our very lives.

⁶ Praise the Lord,
    who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
⁷ We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
    The trap is broken, and we are free!
⁸ Our help is from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.