Month: July 2026

When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret. Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation. Timely advise is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. To one who listens to criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewlery.

Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in the summer. They revive the spirit of their employer. As person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain. (vv. 9-14, NLT)

Don’t envy evil people or desire their company. For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble. A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and stronger. So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers. (vv. 1-5, NLT)

Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and He sees you. He who guards your soul knows you well. He repay all people as their actions deserve. (v. 12, NLT)

Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of the eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.

Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies. They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’ mean it. (vv. 2-7, NLT)
Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge. Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them. Physical discipline may well save them from death. My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.

Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. My child, listen and be wise: Keep your hears on the right course. Do not carouse with drunkards of feast with gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags. (vv. 12-21, NLT)

People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer Him sacrifices. Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin. Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and deadly trap. The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just. The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road. It is better to live alone in the corner of the attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser. The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; and He will bring disaster on them. Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury. Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers. (vv. 2-15, NLT)

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food for the harvest. Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can truly find one who is truly reliable The godly walk with integrity; blessed are the children who follow them. (vv. 3-7, NLT)

Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. Ears to hear and eyes to see-both are gifts from God. If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat! The buyer haggles over the price, saying “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain. Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies. (vv. 11-15, NLT)

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong: Wait for the Lord to handle the matter. The Lord detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales. The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost. (vv. 22-25, NLT)

The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart. (vv. 29-30, NLT)

Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool. Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good, hast makes mistakes. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry with the Lord. Wealth makes many “friend”; poverty drives the all away. A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape. (vv. 1-5, NLT)

Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again. Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but The Lord’s purpose will prevail. (vv. 18-21, NLT)

The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe. The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility. precedes honor. Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit? Intelligent people are always willing to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! (vv. 10-16, NLT)

The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble. It is painful to be a parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice. Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom; but a fool’s eyes wanders to the ends of the earth. Foolish children bring brief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth. It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or flog leaders for being honest. A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. (vv. 20-28, NLT)

We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. The Lord has made everything for His own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished. Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil. When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them. Better to have a little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. (vv. 1-9,, NLT)

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust in the Lord will be joyful. The wise are known for for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive. Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools. Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. (vv. 20-24, NLt)

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out in foolishness.

The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on the evil and the good. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Only a fool despise a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. (vv. 1-5, NLT)

Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! (v. 13, NLT)

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health. (v. 30, NLT)