Wednesday, June 22, 2022
A Way That Leads to Hell
14 Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home;
Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
2 An honest life shows respect for God;
a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
3 Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
4 No cattle, no crops;
a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
5 A true witness never lies;
a false witness makes a business of it.
Proverbs 14:1-5 The Message
14 The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he, who is devious in his ways, despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
Verse 1 study: We discussed tearing down and building with your tongue. This passage of Scripture is about a woman building or tearing down your house with her hands based on foolishness. The proverb woman is compared as either being wise or foolish. This is a rare proverb talking about feminine behavior. Her hands are the symbol of her actions or behavior. She can destroy her family or build it.
Verse 4 study: No action? There will be no problems. But, sometimes, you have to be willing to have the power (the ox) to put up with the clutter that comes with it.
When a farmer doesn’t have oxen, the animal manger is empty. The only way to keep your life free of people’s problems is to keep it free of others. If your life is devoid of people, it is useless; if you live for yourself, your life loses meaning. So don’t avoid people; serve, share your faith, and work for justice. Is your life clean but empty? Does it show you serving God wholeheartedly?
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