Saturday, July 2, 2022
21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;
the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
22 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed.
23 Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
The right word at the right time—beautiful!
24 Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—
it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.
25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant;
he stands with those who have no standing.
26 God can’t stand evil scheming,
but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.
-Proverbs 15:21-26 The Message
21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
22 Without counsel, plans fail,
but with many advisers, they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure.
Verse 22 study: Narrow-minded people are the ones that miss an opportunity because they close their minds to new ideas or options. We can use the help of others to open our narrow minds to more room to operate. Seek out people advice that knows you and has experience. Network with advisers, be open to new ideas, and be willing to adjust your suggestions. As a result, your plans will be more substantial and have a chance of succeeding.
Verse 23 study: the NKJV says, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is”! That is the praise of the concept of the proverb itself.
Verse 25 study: The NKJV says, “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.” Regardless of how you see things, God is always defending the helpless. You may not be there to see it, but know he defends the defenseless.
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