Daily Bible Reading
Day 133
Today's reading: Proverbs 28-30
Look for the promises in God’s word. As you read and find them, write them in your journal along with the scripture reference.
Proverbs 28
1. The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.
2. When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.
3. A poor person who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain without food.
4. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them.
5. Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it all.
6. A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.
7. The one who keeps the law is a discerning child, but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.
8. The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.
9. The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
10. The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.
11. A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.
12. When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory, but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.
13. The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.
14. Blessed is the one who is always cautious, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil.
15. Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16. The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17. The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit; let no one support him.
18. The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered, but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once.
19. The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.
20. A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings, but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.
21. To show partiality is terrible, for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.
22. The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.
23. The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor than the one who flatters with the tongue.
24. The one who robs his father and mother and says, “There is no transgression,” is a companion to the one who destroys.
25. The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26. The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.
27. The one who gives to the poor will not lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.
28. When the wicked gain control, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.
Proverbs 29
1. The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
2. When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3. The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4. A king brings stability to a land by justice, but one who exacts tribute tears it down.
5. The one who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps.
6. In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare, but a righteous person can sing and rejoice.
7. The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
8. Scornful people inflame a city, but those who are wise turn away wrath.
9. If a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.
10. Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity; as for the upright, they seek his life.
11. A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.
12. If a ruler listens to lies, all his ministers will be wicked.
13. The poor person and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of them both.
14. If a king judges the poor in truth, his throne will be established forever.
15. A rod and reproof impart wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.
16. When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17. Discipline your child, and he will give you rest; he will bring you happiness.
18. When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!
19. A servant cannot be corrected by words, for although he understands, there is no answer.
20. Do you see someone who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21. If someone pampers his servant from youth, he will be a weakling in the end.
22. An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.
23. A person’s pride will bring him low, but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.
24. Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy; he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk.
25. The fear of people becomes a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.
26. Many people seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.
27. An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous, and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 30
The Words of Agur
1. The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh; an oracle: This man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ukal:
2. Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding;
3. I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One.
4. Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? – if you know!
5. Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.
6. Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.
7. Two things I ask from you; do not refuse me before I die:
8. Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,
9. lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.
10. Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you are found guilty.
11. There is a generation who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.
12. There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13. There is a generation whose eyes are so lofty, and whose eyelids are lifted up disdainfully.
14. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords and whose molars are like knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among the human race.
15. The leech has two daughters: “Give! Give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough” –
16. the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “Enough!”
17. The eye that mocks at a father and despises obeying a mother – the ravens of the valley will peck it out and the young vultures will eat it.
18. There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand:
19. the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a woman.
20. This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have not done wrong.”
21. Under three things the earth trembles, and under four things it cannot bear up:
22. under a servant who becomes king, under a fool who is stuffed with food,
23. under an unloved woman who is married, and under a female servant who dispossesses her mistress.
24. There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise:
25. ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;
26. rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags;
27. locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks;
28. a lizard you can catch with the hand, but it gets into the palaces of the king.
29. There are three things that are magnificent in their step, four things that move about magnificently:
30. a lion, mightiest of the beasts, who does not retreat from anything;
31. a strutting rooster, a male goat, and a king with his army around him.
32. If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth!
33. For as the churning of milk produces butter and as punching the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.