Text: Prov 25:4-5 ESV 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; 5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. -Prov 25:4-5 ESV REMOVE THE DROSS FROM SILVER A "dross" refers to impurities found in precious metals. Left alone, these corrode the strength…

Text: Prov 25:1-3 ESV 1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. 3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. -Prov 25:1-3 ESV SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE The divine inspiratio…

God’s Word for Today 29 May, 2025 30 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, 31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. 32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little …

God’s Word for Today 28 May, 2025 28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. 29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” -Prov 24:28-29 ESV AVOID HAVING A VENGEFUL ATTITUDE Being a witness carries a legal language suggesting things like formal…

Text: Proverbs 24:27 (ESV) 27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. PLAN, PREPARE AND PRIORITIES The importance of proper priorities cannot be minimized. There are few schools of thought about this verse. The first is one ought to complete his basic labors before worrying about n…

Text: Proverbs 24:23-26 (ESV) 23 These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good. 24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, 25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. 26 Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lip…

Text: Prov 24:21-22 ESV 21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, 22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both? -Prov 24:21-22 ESV FEAR THE LORD AND THE KING The "fear" of God is the cornerstone of the entire book of Proverbs. (Prov 1:7). This is not pa…

Text: Prov 24:19-20 ESV 19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, 20 for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. -Prov 24:19-20 ESV BE NOT ENVIOUS OF THE WICKED Being objects of trouble at the hands of unscrupulous people is inevitable. Jesus warned us that tribulations will come to God…

God’s Word for Today 22 May, 2025 15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; 16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 lest the LORD see it…

God’s Word for Today 21 May, 2025 13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. 14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. -Prov 24:13-14 ESV WISDOM IS HONEY TO OUR SOUL Eating honey is always associated with pleasure and sa…

Text: Proverbs 24:11-12 (ESV) 11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? RESCUE THE OPPRESSED Fi…

Text: Proverbs 24:10 (ESV) 10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY There is a play of words here. The original word for "adversity" is sārāh', while the word for "small" is sar'. On the other hand, the word translated "faint" can also mean to "let go," "weaken," or "fail." Stating that someone who "fai…

Text: Prov 24:8-9 ESV 8 Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. 9 The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. -Prov 24:8-9 ESV BEWARE OF THE SCHEMER The schemer are our scammer today. The word means literally "master of plots" or "owner of evil plans" or "deviser of wickedness." They are also scoffers. As …

Text: Prov 24:5-7 ESV 5 A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, 6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth. -Prov 24:5-7 ESV WISDOM IS POWER Wisdom and knowledge make a man powerful. There is…

God’s Word for Today 15 May, 2025 3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; 4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. -Prov 24:3,4 ESV WISDOM BUILDS HOME Definitely, this is not about building a literal house building. Any effort benefits from the application of wisdom. Businesses do well…

God’s Word for Today 14 May, 2025 Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, 2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. -Prov 24:1,2 ESV BE NOT ENVIOUS OF EVIL MEN In general sense, the book of Proverbs warns against us associating with immoral people, needless to say, that of being envious with them. Jealousy …

Text: Proverbs 23:29-35 (ESV) 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. 31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. 32 In the end it bites like a serpent …

Text: Proverbs 23:26-27 (ESV) My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well. GIVE ME YOUR HEART Solomon urges his son to give him his heart, that is, he is to emulate him. There is a call to pattern his ethics after his father. The son has to lead a godly lifestyle like…

Text: Prov 23:22-25 ESV 22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. 25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore …

Text: Prov 23:19-21 ESV 19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. 20 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, 21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags. -Prov 23:19-21 ESV BE NOT AMONG THE DRUNKARDS AND GLUTTONS Another reminder from Solomon for his son t…

God’s Word for Today 8 May, 2025 15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. 16 My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right. 17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. 18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. -Prov 23:15-18 ESV DO CONTINUE IN THE FE…

God’s Word for Today 7 May, 2025 13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. 14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. -Prov 23:13,14 ESV DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD PROPERLY These verses follow the biblical teaching of proper child discipline. An appropriate loving discipline wil…

Text: Proverbs 23:12 (ESV) 12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge. APPLY YOUR HEART TO INSTRUCTION The entire book of Proverbs emphasizes the value of godly wisdom. He occasionally stops to highlight the importance of wisdom. This verse is one of those reminders. Solomon used specific terms to depict levels of wisdom.…

Text: Proverbs 23:10-11 (ESV) 10 Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, 11 for their Redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you THE REDEEMER OF THE FATHERLESS The sin committed here is something like a modern person altering a map, uprooting surveyor's stakes, or moving a fence. The Lord specifically f…

Text: Prov 23:9 ESV 9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. -Prov 23:9 ESV WASTE NOT YOUR TIME WITH FOOLS The "fool" of the book of Proverbs is depicted as stubborn and thickheaded. His problem is not his intellect, but his intent. Having conversations with him is not worth at all for he is not wil…

Text: Prov 23:6-8 ESV 6 Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, 7 for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 8 You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words. -Prov 23:6-8 ESV AN EVIL EYE Here, Solomon gives advi…

God’s Word for Today 30 Apr, 2025 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, 2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. 3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. -Prov 23:1-3 ESV DISCERNMENT & SELF CONTROL For whatever reason, the rich may invite a poor person for luxurious di…

Text: Prov 22:28 ESV 28 Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. -Prov 22:28 ESV REMOVE NOT THE ANCIENT LANDMARK Landmarks are stones arranged or piled to serve as boundary markers of a field. (Gen 31:51–52) The Lord warns against stealing land by moving those stones, making it appear as if the border was in a different place (D…

Text: Prov 22:26-27 ESV 26 Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? -Prov 22:26-27 ESV SECURITY STARTS IN YOURSELF The book of Proverbs warns many times over against unwise risks associated with other people's finances. A wise person a…

Text: Prov 22:24-25 ESV 24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. -Prov 22:24-25 ESV BEFRIEND NOT AN ANGRY MAN An angry man is someone who cannot control their temper. The Bible clearly warns against such unrighteous anger. It should be noted that not al…

God’s Word for Today 24 Apr, 2025 22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, 23 for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them. -Prov 22:22-23 ESV DO NOT EXPLOIT THE POOR Again, this proverb emphasizes the care of the feeble, weak, helpless members of society. (Proverbs 14:31; 19:17; 22:1…

God’s Word for Today 23 Apr, 2025 17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, 18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. 19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you. 20 Have I not written for you thirty sayi…

Text: Prov 22:16 ESV 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. -Prov 22:16 ESV DO NOT OPPRESS THE POOR This proverb is believed to be the end of a long string of proverbs attributed to Solomon, which began in chapter 10 (Prov 10:1). Solomon assures his readers that taking advantage of…

Text: 1 Cor 15:54-58 ESV 54 Then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my belove…

Text: John 19:28-30 ESV 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and g…

God’s Word for Today 17 Apr, 2025 The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it. -Prov 22:14 ESV A DEEP PIT A pit is a disguised hole used to capture or injure prey. Falling into it means being trapped. The “forbidden woman" is a personification of temptation (Prov 2:16; 7:4–10). Sin, as a seductress w…

God’s Word for Today 16 Apr, 2025 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” -Prov 22:13 ESV THE PROBLEM OF THE SLUGGARD Laziness is one of the often-repeated subjects in the book of Proverbs (Prov 6:6–11; 12:24; 18:9; 19:15). Here, Solomon notes the absurd reasoning to which lazy people make as an excuse for…

Text: Proverbs 22:12 (ESV) 12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor. THE LORD WATCHES OUR WORDS We have learned that those who heed God’s wisdom have the likelihood of success. (Prov 1:7; 8:34–36) Thus, they are less likely to experience disasters as consequences of their foolishness and sin. In …

Text: Proverbs 22:10-11 (ESV) 10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. 11 He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. PURITY OF HEART Scoffers are arrogant and unteachable. However, tolerating them being hardheaded troublemakers is not wise, especially ove…

Text: Prov 22:8-9 ESV 8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. 9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. -Prov 22:8-9 ESV HAVE A BOUNTIFUL EYE Those who take advantage of others by denying them justice will eventually pay a price. Nobody can rebel against God without…

Text: Prov 22:7 ESV 7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. -Prov 22:7 ESV THE RICH RULES OVER THE POOR Definitely in this proverb, the statement that the rich rules over the poor is expanded in the second statement. In this case, Solomon notes that when someone takes a loan, the lender "rules" over them, much a…

God’s Word for Today 10 Apr, 2025 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. -Prov 22:5,6 ESV TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO The “paths” in the book of Proverbs is a metaphor for the choices …

God’s Word for Today 9 Apr, 2025 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. -Prov 22:4 ESV BE HUMBLE AND FEAR THE LORD Proverbs are not absolute statements that guarantee results. For example, a doctor might say, "Eat healthy food and you will live longer," and the patient knows this will not make them immune to all …

Text: Proverbs 22:3 (ESV) 3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. BE PRUDENT Prudence is sometimes rendered as "shrewdness." Though shrewdness carries negative implications today. Our colloquial word for this is ‘street smart.’ In a good sense, he is a person who thinks about things and makes a beneficia…

Text: Proverbs 22:2 (ESV) 2 The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all. THE LORD IS OUR MAKER How does God value people? Is it by their wealth? Definitely not! In the ancient world and even today, people often judge another's worth by their wealth. Thus, “the poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many f…

Text: Prov 22:1 ESV 1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. -Prov 22:1 ESV CHOOSE TO HAVE A GOOD NAME Today, when given the choice between a good reputation and a million dollars, what do people prefer more? It is money, isn’t it? However, Solomon expresses that it's better to be known for ou…

Text: Prov 21:30-31 ESV 30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. 31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. -Prov 21:30-31 ESV VICTORY BELONGS TO THE LORD No human effort could possibly undo God's intended purposes. The Lord has sovereign control of history. Man may try but h…

God’s Word for Today 3 Apr, 2025 A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways. -Prov 21:29 ESV BE NOT ARROGANT God condemns the arrogant for they are unwilling to learn. The "bold face" here is a description of someone ignoring advice or correction, acting as if they are still right (Prov 21:24). It can also imply som…

God’s Word for Today 2 Apr, 2025 A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. -Prov 21:28 ESV LIARS WILL PERISH Liars will perish. “No lie will prevail forever. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Prov 12:19). There are consequences such as criminal charges, social outrage, or even ve…

Text: Proverbs 21:27 (ESV) 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. THE SACRIFICE OF THE WICKED IS DETESTABLE Scripture often reminds us that God judges more than mere actions. Every act is inspired by attitudes, thoughts, and motives, which matter just as much to the Lord (Mat 5:21–22, 27–…