Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Proverbs 16
Set – Proverbs 16; Romans 12
Go! – Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12
Proverbs 16
1 People go about making their plans,
but the Eternal has the final word.
2 Even when you think you have good intentions,
He knows your real motives.
3 Whatever you do, do it as service to Him,
and He will guarantee your success.
4 The Eternal made everything for a reason.
Even wrongdoers fit in His plans; troubled times await them.
5 He abhors arrogant people.
Make no mistake about it! They will be punished!
6 The penalty of sin is removed by love and loyalty;
and by devotion to the Eternal, evil is avoided.
7 When people make good choices, He is pleased;
He even causes their enemies to live peacefully near them.
8 Better to have little and stand for what is right
than to become rich by doing what is wrong.
9 People do their best making plans for their lives,
but the Eternal guides each step.
10 The king makes a decision under divine inspiration,
but he must never render an unfair judgment.
11 The Eternal requires that business be conducted honestly;
He wants fairness in all your dealings.
12 When kings commit evil, it is despicable,
because their thrones should be built on justice.
13 Kings admire those who tell the truth;
they adore those who set the record straight.
14 A king’s rage signals that people will die,
but whoever is wise will pacify him.
15 If a king is smiling brightly, life will be granted;
his favor is like a cloud swelled with the first spring rain.
16 How much better it is to receive wisdom than the riches of gold
and to gain understanding over some silver prize!
17 The highway of the just bypasses evil;
those who watch where they’re going protect their lives from sin.
18 Pride precedes destruction;
an arrogant spirit gives way to a nasty fall.
19 It is better to be humble and live among the poor,
than to divide up stolen property with the proud.
20 Those devoted to instruction will prosper in goodness;
those who trust in the Eternal will experience His favor.
21 The wise at heart have a reputation for understanding;
pleasant words make the lips more persuasive.
22 Understanding for those who have it is a spring of life,
but it is pointless to try and instruct a fool.
23 From a wise heart flow careful words;
wise words make the lips more persuasive.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb:
they drip sweet food for life and bring health to the body.
25 Before every person lies a road that seems to be right,
but at the end of that road death and destruction wait.
26 People work to stay alive,
pressed daily by their need to eat.
27 Good-for-nothings conjure up evil ideas;
their conversations fuel destructive fires.
28 Perverse people stir up contention;
gossip makes best friends into enemies.
29 Violent people try to recruit their neighbors,
wanting to lead them down the vile path of evil they have chosen.
30 Body language can expose a person’s intentions:
whoever winks the eye is planning perversity;
whoever purses his lips is intent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of honor,
earned by living the right kind of life.
32 It is better to be a patient man than a mighty warrior,
better to be someone who controls his temper than someone who conquers a city.
33 We may try to control the roll of the dice,
but actually, the Eternal decides what they will determine.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
You just heard a lot of good pieces of advice from if you’ll take them to heart. Things like young people should listen to people who have life experience. They know a little bit about what you’re going through. Times really haven’t changed as much as you think.
Violence is contagious. You’ve seen it recently in America as mobs took to the streets in some of your major cities in response to violence. You see how mobs react and how peaceful protests turn violent with just the spark of one blow thrown.
Look at the aftermath of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters and you see the truth in “people work to stay alive; pressed daily by their need to eat.” When hunger strikes people will do almost anything for a crust of bread.
But in the proverbs you heard, probably the most important is the first one in this chapter. “People go about making their plans, but I have the final word.” You have no promise of the future. You have this moment. That’s all. I want you to plan for the future. I want you to stay diligent in caring for those in your responsibility. Don’t cry the sky is falling and quit all your activities in planning for the tomorrow. But remember life is really just a breath and is gone.
Make right choices knowing that I have the final word in everything you plan. Also know that I will do what is best for you and what brings glory to Me. You may not think it best at the moment, but trust Me. I might let you go through pain and suffering for a moment in time, but I know the end results. I know what you’re going through and I’m with you to the end. I know your future and you can trust that I know what you need in your life for each moment.
The final word is mine. Trust Me as your God and Savior to carry you through this life into the next well.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.