HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 954
P RO VERBS 3 0
11
Fools vent their anger,
but the wise quietly hold it back.
12
If a ruler pays attention to liars,
all his advisers will be wicked.
13
The poor and the oppressor have this
in common—
the Lord gives sight to the eyes
of both.
14
If a king judges the poor fairly,
his throne will last forever.
15
To discipline a child produces wisdom,
but a mother is disgraced by an
undisciplined child.
16
When the wicked are in authority,
sin flourishes,
but the godly will live to see their
downfall.
17
Discipline your children, and they will
give you peace of mind
and will make your heart glad.
18
When people do not accept divine guidance,
they run wild.
But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
• Abuse
page 584
19
Words alone will not discipline a servant;
the words may be understood, but they
are not heeded.
20
There is more hope for a fool
than for someone who speaks without
thinking.
21
A servant pampered from childhood
will become a rebel.
22
An angry person starts fights;
a hot-tempered person commits all kinds
of sin.
23
Pride ends in humiliation,
while humility brings honor.
24
If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself.
You are sworn to tell the truth, but you
dare not testify.
25
Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
but trusting the Lord means safety.
26
Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but justice comes from the Lord.
27
The righteous despise the unjust;
the wicked despise the godly.
The Sayings of Agur
The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.*
30
PR OV E R B S 2 9 :1 5 , 1 7
2
Discipline in love is discipling, teaching
your children the difference between right
and wrong, instilling in them a respect
for authority, and helping them learn
God’s principles for living. This stands in
marked contrast to abuse, which seeks
only to hurt and punish. The news is filled
with stories of abuse, stories of parents
who inflict physical wounds on their
children, sometimes beating them to
death. This so-called discipline is really
anger that has erupted into violence. It
is abuse because its motive is to hurt
rather than help, to destroy rather than
build up. Abuse may produce proper
behavior, but out of fear, not love. Proper
discipline must nurture, helping children
see why their wrong actions are harmful
to themselves and others. To discipline
with love doesn’t always mean a light
punishment; sometimes discipline must
be firm to show the seriousness of the
child’s offense. The point is that it is
always done in love with a positive goal
in mind. The Bible tells us not to provoke
our children to anger (Ephesians 6:4) but
to raise them to love the Lord and avoid
being wild or disobedient (Titus 1:6).
3
I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.*
I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.
I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One.
4
Who but God goes up to heaven and
comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
Tell me if you know!
5
Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him
for protection.
Do not add to his words,
or he may rebuke you and expose you
as a liar.
6
7
8
O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor
riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my
needs.
30:1a Or son of Jakeh from Massa; or son of Jakeh, an oracle.
30:1b The Hebrew can also be translated The man declares
this to Ithiel, / to Ithiel and to Ucal.