Wednesday, March 7, 2018

"Prosperity vs Poverty, pt.1" (40 Days of Wisdom for Lent)

My son,
do not forget my teachings,
and keep my commands in mind,
because they will bring you
long life, good years, and peace.
Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the first and best part of all your income.
Then your barns will be full,
and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom
and the one who obtains understanding.
The profit gained from wisdom is greater than
the profit gained from silver.
Its yield is better than fine gold.
Wisdom is more precious than jewels,
and all your desires cannot equal it.
Long life is in wisdom’s right hand.
In wisdom’s left hand are riches and honor.
Wisdom’s ways are pleasant ways,
and all its paths lead to peace.
Wisdom is a tree of life
for those who take firm hold of it.
Those who cling to it are blessed.
(Proverbs 3:1-2,9-10,13-18 GW)


How long will you lie there, you lazy bum?
When will you get up from your sleep?
“Just a little sleep,
just a little slumber,
just a little nap.”
Then your poverty will come to you like a drifter,
and your need will come to you like a bandit.
(Proverbs 6:9-11 GW)

“I, Wisdom, live with insight,
and I acquire knowledge and foresight.
I have riches and honor,
lasting wealth and righteousness.
What I produce is better than gold, pure gold.
What I yield is better than fine silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness, on the paths of justice,
to give an inheritance to those who love me
and to fill their treasuries.
(Proverbs 8:12,18-21 GW)

Lazy hands bring poverty,
but hard-working hands bring riches.
Whoever gathers in the summer is a wise son.
Whoever sleeps at harvest time brings shame.
(Proverbs 10:4-5 GW)

Riches don’t help in the day of wrath [God's judgement],
but righteousness rescues from death.
A gracious woman gains honor;
violent men gain only wealth.
Kind persons benefit themselves,
but cruel people harm themselves.
The wicked earn false wages,
but those who sow righteousness receive a true reward.
Those who trust in their wealth will wither,
but the righteous will thrive like leafy trees.
(Proverbs 11:4,16-18,28 CEB)

Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat,
but the one who chases unrealistic dreams has no sense.
(Proverbs 12:11 GW)

One person pretends to be rich but has nothing.
Another pretends to be poor but has great wealth.
A person’s riches are the ransom for his life,
but the poor person does not pay attention to threats.
Wealth gained through injustice dwindles away,
but whoever gathers little by little has plenty.
Poverty and shame come to a person who ignores discipline,
but whoever pays attention to constructive criticism will be honored.
Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren,
but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person.
When poor people are able to plow, there is much food,
but a person is swept away where there is no justice.
A righteous person eats to satisfy his appetite,
but the bellies of wicked people are always empty.
(Proverbs 13:7-8,11,18,22-23,25 GW)


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