Reading the Bible with a Friend

Scripture Readings Proverbs 20:1Daniel 11–12Matthew 24Psalms 21 Verse Focus (Proverbs 20:1) Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;     whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Meditation Our verse focus today speaks of the danger of intoxicants. As Proverbs 20:1 says, in the NIV, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” I took a look at the Hebrew interlinear text to understand a bit more about the verb used here — to be led astray. The Hebrew verb is shagah, and its primary meaning is to err or go…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:21Daniel 9–10Matthew 23Psalms 20 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:21) Many are the plans in a person’s heart,     but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Meditation Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” This is a bit like Proverbs 16:1, which we looked at on April 26th (Day 116): “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” God determines the outcome. What God wants to happen will happen. There’s a lot of comfort in understanding that “it is the LORD’s purpose that…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:20Daniel 7–8Matthew 22Psalms 19 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:20) Listen to advice and accept discipline,     and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Meditation Our verse focus today is Proverbs 19:20. It says, in the ESV, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” Our proverb is similar to many other verses. We have heard this wisdom before. We know that listening and learning lead to wisdom. But for me, what’s unique about this particular version of this truth, is the final phrase: “in the future.” Wisdom is not instant.…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:19Daniel 5–6Matthew 21Psalms 18 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:19) A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;     rescue them, and you will have to do it again. Meditation Proverbs 19:19 says, in the NIV, “A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.” The truth of this proverb seems so self-evident! Part of me wonders why this is even a proverb, if what it teaches us is so obviously true. An angry or wrathful person will get him- or herself into trouble. If that person is rescued, if there are no consequences…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:18Daniel 3–4Matthew 20Psalms 17 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:18) Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;     do not be a willing party to their death. Meditation Today’s verse focus, Proverbs 19:18 says, in the ESV, “Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.” There are several proverbs that speak of the need to discipline children. Some even suggest using physical discipline, such as Proverbs 13:24, which we looked at on March 23rd (Day 82). But today’s proverb is an interesting take on the need for discipline in raising…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:17Daniel 1–2Matthew 19Psalms 16 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:17) Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,     and he will reward them for what they have done. Meditation Day 200. Tee hee! 🙂 Our verse focus today is Proverbs 19:17, which says, in the CSB, “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and he will give a reward to the lender.” The ESV translates the verse by saying, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.” The Hebrew verb that is being translated as…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:16Numbers 35–36Matthew 18Psalms 15 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:16) Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,      but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. Meditation Our verse focus today seems pretty straightforward. Proverbs 19:16 says, in the NKJV, “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.” The reason I quote this verse to you using the NKJV is because it is very close to the transliterated Hebrew. However, most English translations use “commandments” (plural) rather than “the commandment” (singular). And in many ways the plural makes more sense…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:15Numbers 33–34Matthew 17Psalms 14 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:15) Laziness brings on deep sleep,     and the shiftless go hungry. Meditation Our verse focus today, Proverbs 19:15, speaks of the dangers of sloth. As the NKJV translates the verse, “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.” We are not surprised to learn that sluggards will go hungry. It seems an inevitable consequence of one’s inaction. As I was looking at this verse today, however, I wondered if the “deep sleep” might be a metaphor for death. So I looked the verse up in…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:14Numbers 31–32Matthew 16Psalms 13 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:14) Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,     but a prudent wife is from the LORD. Meditation Today’s verse focus, Proverbs 19:14, says in the NKJV, “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” Yesterday the father and husband needed God to work in his relationships to protect his son from being a fool and to change his wife’s attitude. Today we again see how important it is for God to be involved in your life and in your relationships. What is a…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 19:13Numbers 29–30Matthew 15Psalms 12 Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:13) A foolish child is a father’s ruin,     and a quarrelsome wife is like     the constant dripping of a leaky roof. Meditation Proverbs 19:13 says, in the ESV, “A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.” Ruin is a strong word, and we all know the irritation of a leaky faucet or a drip. It’s a kind of irritation that can drive you to madness, or to extremity of emotion. When I read this proverb, I immediately identify with the querulous wife…

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