Proverbs 21 Challenge to Change - Doing the Right Thing

Doing the Right Thing

Wisdom Shared: Doing the right thing brings the fruit of righteousness to the forefront of our lives. It brings blessings and honor through God's unfailing love. The wisdom of this particular Proverbs has bought me confidence and comfort through trust in the Lord...and I need His strength especially today. As I personally reflect on my life journey, especially the hardships I am thankful for all that the Lord has delivered me from falling.  I am thankful for those special people in my life that have been there walking besides me giving me an extension of love through kindnesses.  Standing firm on His word as we continue the journey through faith, hope and love always.

Prayer: Heavenly Father... Let us seek to do what is just more than sacrifice.  We will write your scriptures on our heart ... so that we can walk our journey through your confidence, courage and strength through your unfailing love.  Help us to stand firm on your word especially in the darkest times that seem defined by hopelessness.  We will look to you and the one that is higher than us Jesus... Thank you for you great grace upon us.  In Christ Name-Amen!

Proverbs 21 

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

2 A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.(B)

3 To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(C)

4 Haughty eyes(D) and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit(E)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6 A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a](F)

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(G)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

8 The way of the guilty is devious,(H)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(I)

10 The wicked crave evil;
    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.(J)

12 The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
    and brings the wicked to ruin.(K)

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out(L) and not be answered.(M)

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.(N)

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.(O)

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.(P)

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(Q)

18 The wicked become a ransom(R) for the righteous,
    and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(S)

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[c](T) and honor.(U)

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(V)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths(W) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(X)

24 The proud and arrogant person(Y)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(Z)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(AA) give without sparing.(AB)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(AC)—
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(AD)

28 A false witness(AE) will perish,(AF)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(AG)

30 There is no wisdom,(AH) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(AI)

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.(AJ)