Proverbs

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Where is your city? It could be your job, your church, your municipality, or anywhere people gather for a purpose. Those who are redeemed have an impact. We are salt to our…

When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Proverbs‬ ‭11:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬ I was with a co-worker last night while visiting Colorado. She returned to Denver after living in Anchorage several years. I asked, “What do you like best about Denver?” She replied, “There are people! and events,…

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. Proverbs‬ ‭11:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Neighbors, some times you like them, some times you don’t. Either way, they are still our neighbors. They are in close proximity. Neighbors are more than where my home is located, they are those that intersect with my…

The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead. Proverbs‬ ‭11:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬ Rotherham’s translation better reflects the Hebrew: “The righteous man out of distress is delivered, then cometh a lawless man into his place.” This proverb is like an Dyson vacuum cleaner making sucking sound. That is what trouble is…

Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing. Proverbs‬ ‭11:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ The New KJV translation: When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes. Proverbs‬ ‭11:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ Hope and expectation are a universal compasses within man that provide a well…

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed. Proverbs 11:6 NASB This proverb is very similar to the previous: Solomon continues to distinguish between the righteous and wicked. There are serious benefits to being righteous. How many situations do we get into in our life?…

The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:5‬ ‭NASB As I’m reading through the Proverbs, I get to this one and think, “duh!” Hasn’t this already been said in so many ways and we’re only in chapter 11 of a book with 31…

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs‬ ‭11:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ What a simple and straightforward proverb: The best of my efforts cannot buy my way into innocence on a day of accounting that is sure to come. But when that day comes, similar to when the angel of death…

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Proverbs‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭NIV The word “integrity” among believers has come to mean honesty, or being morally upright. The Hebrew can mean “completeness, fullness, morally innocent, simplicity.” I personally like the word picture provided by the English definition: the state of…

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs‬ ‭11:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ I am loved! Within the fabric of my soul I have intrinsic value as a person. It’s within my spiritual and physical DNA. When I was born, I am worth something. God put it there when He created me. But as…