HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 955
PR OVER B S 31
page 585
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say,
“Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus
insult God’s holy name.
Some people curse their father
and do not thank their mother.
They are pure in their own eyes,
but they are filthy and unwashed.
They look proudly around,
casting disdainful glances.
They have teeth like swords
and fangs like knives.
They devour the poor from the earth
and the needy from among humanity.
There are three things that are never
satisfied—
no, four that never say, “Enough!”:
the grave,*
the barren womb,
the thirsty desert,
the blazing fire.
The eye that mocks a father
and despises a mother’s instructions
will be plucked out by ravens of the valley
and eaten by vultures.
There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.
21
There are three things that make the earth
tremble—
no, four it cannot endure:
a slave who becomes a king,
an overbearing fool who prospers,
a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,
a servant girl who supplants her mistress.
24
25
26
— promises —
from God
Every word of God
proves true. He is a shield
to all who come to him
for protection.
P R OV E R B S 3 0:5
29
The leech has two suckers
that cry out, “More, more!”*
An adulterous woman consumes a man,
then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s
wrong with that?”
23
28
Locusts—they have no king,
but they march in formation.
Lizards—they are easy to catch,
but they are found even in kings’ palaces.
Never slander a worker to the employer,
or the person will curse you, and you will
pay for it.
20
22
27
There are four things on earth that are small
but unusually wise:
Ants—they aren’t strong,
but they store up food all summer.
Hyraxes*—they aren’t powerful,
but they make their homes among
the rocks.
30:15 Hebrew two daughters who cry out, “Give, give!”
30:16 Hebrew Sheol. 30:26 Or Coneys, or Rock badgers.
31:1 Or of Lemuel, king of Massa; or of King Lemuel, an oracle.
31:10 Verses 10-31 comprise a Hebrew acrostic poem; each
verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
30
31
There are three things that walk with
stately stride—
no, four that strut about:
the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn
aside for anything,
the strutting rooster,
the male goat,
a king as he leads his army.
32
If you have been a fool by being proud or
plotting evil,
cover your mouth in shame.
33
As the beating of cream yields butter
and striking the nose causes bleeding,
so stirring up anger causes quarrels.
The Sayings of King Lemuel
The sayings of King Lemuel contain this
message,* which his mother taught him.
31
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,
do not waste your strength on women,
on those who ruin kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.
Rulers should not crave alcohol.
For if they drink, they may forget the law
and not give justice to the oppressed.
Alcohol is for the dying,
and wine for those in bitter distress.
Let them drink to forget their poverty
and remember their troubles no more.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for
themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.
A Wife of Noble Character
10*Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.