Proverbs – Day 14
Scripture: Proverbs 14
The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
An honest witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
Stay away from a fool,
for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.
Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.
Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.
The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good rewarded for theirs.
The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.
The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,
but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
The wealth of the wise is their crown,
but the folly of fools yields folly.
A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is deceitful.
Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,
and for their children it will be a refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning a person from the snares of death.
A large population is a king’s glory,
but without subjects a prince is ruined.
Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
and even among fools she lets herself be known.
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin condemns any people.
A king delights in a wise servant,
but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
Devotional:
The word “cool” is used so often today that it’s lost much of its original meaning. “Be cool, dude!” “Take a chill pill!” Cool is the opposite of hot and refers to someone who is short-tempered and gets physically heated when angered. In this chapter we read how foolish it is to have a hot head, or a quick temper.
For one, a short temper creates destruction. “A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless” and that “A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated” (v 16-17). Ever see an engine or computer overheat? It locks up and stops functioning, sometimes permanently.
The same thing happens with people. A driver with road rage smashes into another car on the highway. A professional athlete loses his temper and lashes out at a ref or another player. The result is a wrecked car, a removal from the game. All because they didn’t take a moment to cool down. We even call someone lashing out (or having a tantrum) as having a “melt down,” referring to the catastrophe that happens during a nuclear power plant crisis. Brought into the home, a quick temper quickly leads to an abusive relationship with a spouse, child, or parent. In these cases, hearts and spirits are crushed and cannot be repaired by a mechanic or clever public relations.
Someone with a hot temper, while seeming to be aggressive, actually makes themselves more vulnerable. “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control” (Prov 25:28). “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city” (Prov 16:32). In other words, while warriors have a role to play, patience and calm play a more vital role in daily living.
If you’re prone to having a quick temper, investigate anger management tools and find someone to keep you accountable. “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered” (Prov. 17:27). Then, Proverbs tells us, you’ll turn from creating conflict to resolving it. “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel” (Prov 15:18).
Key Verses:
“A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated. A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.” ~ Proverbs 14:17,29
Questions:
- What makes you impatient?
- Do you feel you have a quick or slow temper?
- How has your impatience created conflict? What could you do differently next time?
