Intro – Wise Friends Make You Wise
Today’s Reading — Wisdom That Shapes Character.
Scripture:
1 Children with good sense accept correction from their parents,
but stubborn children ignore it completely.
2 You will be well rewarded for saying something kind, but all some people think about
is how to be cruel and mean.
3 Keep what you know to yourself, and you will be safe; talk too much,
and you are done for.
4 No matter how much you want, laziness won’t help a bit, but hard work will reward you
with more than enough.
5 A good person hates deceit, but those who are evil cause shame and disgrace.
6 Live right, and you are safe! But sin will destroy you.
7 Some who have nothing may pretend to be rich, and some who have everything
may pretend to be poor.
8 The rich may have to pay a ransom, but the poor don’t have that problem.
9 The lamp of a good person keeps on shining; the lamp of an evil person
soon goes out.
10 Too much pride causes trouble. Be sensible and take advice. 11 Money wrongly gained
will disappear bit by bit; money earned little by little will grow and grow.
12 Not getting what you want can break your heart, but a wish that comes true is a life-giving tree.
13 If you reject God’s teaching, you will pay the price; if you obey his commands,
you will be rewarded.
14 Sensible instruction is a life-giving fountain that helps you escape all deadly traps.
15 Sound judgment is praised, but people without good sense are on the way to disaster.
16 If you have good sense, you will act sensibly, but fools act like fools.
17 Whoever delivers your message can make things better or worse for you.
18 All who refuse correction will be poor and disgraced; all who accept correction
will be praised.
19 It’s a good feeling to get what you want, but only a stupid fool hates to turn from evil.
20 Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.
21 You are in for trouble if you sin, but you will be rewarded if you live right.
22 If you obey God, you will have something to leave your grandchildren. If you don’t obey God,
those who live right will get what you leave.
23 Even when the land of the poor produces good crops, they get cheated
out of what they grow.
24 If you love your children, you will correct them; if you don’t love them,
you won’t correct them.
25 If you live right, you will have plenty to eat; if you don’t live right, you will go away empty.
Reflection:
Which verse challenges you most today?