Proverbs – Day 21
Scripture: Proverbs 21
In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.
A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.
The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.
Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out and not be answered.
A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.
Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
Whoever pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.
One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
keep themselves from calamity.
The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.
The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!
A false witness will perish,
but a careful listener will testify successfully.
The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.
Devotional:
We come to the point in the scripture where we are reminded that Solomon, while wise, wasn’t perfect (nor always wise). In 1 Kings we read about Solomon’s later years:
“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women … from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” (1 Kings 11:1-4)
If you’re married or dating, you know that in such an intimate relationship, arguments are inevitable. It’s not surprising, then, that Solomon would have had quarrels with at least some of his wives! Whomever she (or they) was, they certainly had an impression:
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” (v. 9 and Prov 25:24)
“Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.” (v. 19)
“A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.” (Prov 27:15-16)
Better to live in a desert or on the roof than with the comforts of home with a quarrelsome wife? Harsh! Of course, Solomon was writing to other men and we can just as easily turn these verses around. The Apostle Peter covered the flip side of the relationship when he wrote “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect” (1 Pet 3:7)
At some point, we all, man or woman, share a space with someone else. It could be a sibling, roommate, or spouse. In any of those situations, we need to live peaceably with one another, avoiding unnecessary arguments, practicing patience, and extending grace.
Key Verses:
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.” ~ Proverbs 21:9, 19
Question:
- If you live with another person, what steps can you take to live at peace with them?
