Kirsty

Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:8Leviticus 6–7Acts 12Psalms 115 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:8) Better a little with righteousness     than much gain with injustice. Meditation Today’s proverb is similar to a couple of others that we looked at earlier this month. Proverbs 16:8 says, “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.” On April 13th and 14th (Days 103 and 104), we looked at Proverbs 15, verses 16 and 17: 16Better a little with the fear of the LORD     than great wealth with turmoil.17Better a small serving of vegetables with love     than a fattened calf with hatred. The Bible teaches us that “a little”…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:4Leviticus 4–5Acts 11Psalms 114 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:4) The LORD works out everything to its proper end —     even the wicked for a day of disaster. Meditation Today’s proverb contains one of those truths that we find a bit uncomfortable. Proverbs 16:4 tells us, “The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” That a person or people could be created simply to be destroyed is horrifying to us. In Exodus 9:16 God tells Pharaoh through Moses, “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:2Leviticus 1–3Acts 10Psalms 113 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:2) All a person’s ways seem pure to them,     but motives are weighed by the LORD. Meditation Proverbs 16:2 tells us, in the NKJV, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.” Or, as the CSB puts it, “All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs motives.” In some ways, this is such a damning proverb. We think we’re okay. We believe we’re doing what is right — what is pure, clean, and righteous. And yet the…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:1Joel 1–3Acts 9Psalms 112 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:1) To humans belong the plans of the heart,     but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue. Meditation Happy Earth Day! 🙂 Today’s proverb seems a little more opaque to me. I wasn’t entirely sure I understood what it was saying, so I looked it up in a variety of translations. For Proverbs 16:1, the NIV says, “To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.” The NRSV says, “The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:33Jeremiah 51–52Acts 8Psalms 111 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:33) Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD,     and humility comes before honor. Meditation Proverbs 15:33 tells us, “Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.” In this translation, from the NIV, wisdom teaches us to fear the LORD. However, in other translations it is the other way around — fear of the LORD teaches us wisdom. As the NRSV says, “The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.” Whether it is the fear of God that teaches us wisdom, or…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:32Jeremiah 49–50Acts 7Psalms 110 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:32) Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,     but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. Meditation Our verse focus today, Proverbs 15:32, says, in the NRSV, “Those who ignore instruction despise themselves, but those who heed admonition gain understanding.” We have studied proverbs similar to this one before, so we are familiar with the principle that those who pay attention to rebuke or correction or discipline will gain wisdom, be honored, and show the way to life (Proverbs 6:23; Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 13:18). What’s fascinating about this particular proverb is what…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:28Jeremiah 47–48Acts 6Psalms 109 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:28) The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,     but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. Meditation Proverbs 15:28 says, in the NIV, “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” In the NRSV, the verse says, “The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.” As we have seen before, the Hebrew word being translated as “heart” or “mind” is leb. It can mean the heart, the mind, the inner person, or…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:26Jeremiah 45–46Acts 5Psalms 108 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:26) The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,     but gracious words are pure in his sight. Meditation Proverbs 15:26 is one of those proverbs that can vary a bit when it is translated into English because the Hebrew words don’t fully match their English counterparts. As the NIV translates the verse, it says, “The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.” The NRSV says, “Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure.” The biggest difference is in…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:23Jeremiah 43–44Acts 4Psalms 107 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:23) A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—     and how good is a timely word! Meditation Have you ever been haunted by thinking up the perfect answer when it is too late? The conversation is already past — it may be days later, even. But as you mull things over in your mind, it comes to you. That’s what I should have said! you think. Today’s proverb celebrates the timely word. As Proverbs 15:23 says, “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:22Jeremiah 41–42Acts 3Psalms 106 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:22) Plans fail for lack of counsel,     but with many advisers they succeed. Meditation I love Proverbs 15:22! “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Talk about wisdom! It’s not that you have to accept the advice of all these different counselors, but as you speak to different people, you will hear different perspectives. And your plans will get stronger and stronger as you consider things that might not have occurred to you. Of course, in the very early stages of a plan, it can be…

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