Proverb a day...keeps...[you fill in the blank rhyme]

Proverbs 24:1-34 KJV

(1) Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
(2) For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
how sad when this becomes people in leadership positions

(3) Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
(4) And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
a house of treasures

(5) A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
get strength = mental, not merely physical
(6) For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
do you have wise, Christian, counsellors in your life???

(7) Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Fool: 'When in doubt, I SPEAK! I SPEAK PUBLICLY. I PROVE I'M A FOOL.'

(8) He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
(9) The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
scorner = one who criticizes the good and godly and right; nobody likes a critic!

(10) If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
strength...joy of the Lord is your strength...be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might...wisdom increases strength...

(11) If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
(12) If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Don't pretend you don't see the needs of the needy! Deal with it and stop being selfish, amen?

(13) My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
(14) So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
God's word: Sweeter also than the honey...and the honeycomb, cf. Ps. 19

(15) Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
(16) For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
not a spiritual fall, but a physical loss...his dwelling may be assaulted 7 times, but he keeps rebounding...

(17) Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
(18) Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Gut-check/heart-check, Troy! be humble

(19) Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
(20) For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

(21) My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
(22) For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
them that are given to change...how sad when that is the case of some in spiritual leadership...that vacillate doctrinally and on standards

(23) These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Pastors, you will give an account for showing favoritism to the 'rich and famous'!!!
...more on this favoritism:
(24) He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
(25) But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

(26) Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
The Lord Jesus gave a right answer...and was given the traitor's kiss

(27) Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
a goal I have for my sons...to be 'set' in career and savings, then build [not a prerequisite for marriage, but a wise thing to do]

(28) Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
(29) Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
I'm often 'set up', but God is watching to see my response...heard this yesterday: 'Life is 90% what happens to you and 10% your response [-s]'

KEEP UP WITH YOUR YARD WORK, SELFS!
(30) I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
(31) And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

GET UP THIS MORNING AND GET IT GOING
(32) Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
(33) Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
(34) So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.