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Proverbs 19: Wise Sayings
Which is better, to be rich or poor? Why?
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Proverbs 19:1 A truthful person in poverty is better than the deceptive fool who lies and cheats.
Proverbs 19:10 A fool is not fit for luxury, and a slave doesn’t get to tell his master what to do.
King James
Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Proverbs 19:10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
What kinds of desires are crucial for success? How might they get us into trouble?
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Proverbs 19:2 Desire without knowledge gets you nowhere. Without the message, your feet should be in no hurry to run.
King James
Proverbs 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
How can people blame the Lord for their messes?
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Proverbs 19:3 With their own foolishness, people make a mess of their lives, and then they blame the Lord.
King James
Proverbs 19:3The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
Why might the poor have trouble making friends?
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Proverbs 19:4 Wealth attracts many who call themselves friends, and poverty drives them away.
Proverbs 19:7 If the poor are avoided by their relatives, how much more will friends keep their distance. The poor cry for help, but no one is there to hear.
King James
Proverbs 19:4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
Proverbs 19:7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
Why should we think false witnesses and liars will not get away with their deception?
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Proverbs 19:5 False witnesses are punished for their perjury, and liars will pay a price for their deception.
Proverbs 19:9 False witnesses don’t get away with their deception. Liars bring destruction upon themselves.
King James
Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
What is the best definition of a “true friend”?
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Proverbs 19:6 Many will seek favors from the generous, and everybody loves a giver.
King James
Proverbs 19:6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
How much do our desires affect our successes?
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Proverbs 19:8 People who seek wisdom show a love for their own lives. Have a desire to learn, and you’ll find useful knowledge.
King James
Proverbs 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Why should offenses be forgiven? Is there a time when they should not be forgiven? Why?
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Proverbs 19:11 Smart people control their anger and can forgive an offense.
Matthew 6:15 But if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.
Matthew 18:21–22 Simon Peter said to Jesus, “How often should I forgive someone who has wronged me? Seven times?”
“No, that is not enough. Until seventy-seven times, you should keep forgiving.”
King James
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 18:21–22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Why might people walk where angels fear to tread?
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Proverbs 19:12 A king’s anger is like the roar of a lion, sounding an alarm, but his favor is as refreshing as the morning dew upon the grass.
King James
Proverbs 19:12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
What can we expect God to do when we pray about conditions that are beyond our control? Why?
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Proverbs 19:13 Foolish children are a disgrace to their parents.
A quarrelsome spouse is like a dripping sound that won’t stop.
King James
Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
If God gives only outstanding gifts, where do other gifts come from?
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Proverbs 19:14 Money and material goods may be inherited from parents, but an understanding spouse is a gift from the Lord.
King James
Proverbs 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
What are the causes of laziness? How can those motivations be changed?
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Proverbs 19:15–16 Lazy people may sleep well, but without work they will go hungry.
Following God’s direction is smart if you want to live well. Going your own way can be fatal.
Proverbs 19:24 Lazy people can have the fork in their hand and never bring to their mouth the opportunity to be satisfied.
King James
Proverbs 19:15–16 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
Proverbs 19:24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
How does helping the needy qualify as giving to God?
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Proverbs 19:17 Helping the poor is lending to God, who is sure to repay the giver for his good deed.
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who calls me master will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but only those who do the will of my heavenly Father.
Matthew 25:34–41 “The King will say to those on his right, ‘You who have been blessed by my Father, receive your inheritance, the Kingdom that was prepared for you from the creation of the world. I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was homeless, and you opened your home to me. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me.’
“The righteous will say, ‘Sir, when were you hungry and thirsty, and we gave you food and drink? When did we see you homeless or in need of clothes? When were you sick or in prison, and we came to visit you?’
“The King will say, ‘I assure you, whenever you helped one of my needy people, you did it to me.’ He will say to those on his left, ‘Leave me, you who are condemned. Receive your inheritance in the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'”
King James
Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 25:34–41 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
What are the most effective ways to discipline children? At what point do those methods become ineffective?
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Proverbs 19:18 Discipline children while they are young and teachable. You don’t want them to destroy themselves.
Proverbs 19:26 Children who reject their father’s direction and refuse their mother’s nurturing bring shame and disgrace upon themselves.
King James
Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Proverbs 19:26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
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How should we respond to people’s expressions of anger?
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Proverbs 19:19 Angry people will suffer from their harsh reactions. If you condone their behavior, you make matters worse.
King James
Proverbs 19:19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
How can we encourage ourselves to listen better?
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Proverbs 19:20 Get expert advice and consider where you should adjust your thinking so you may be wise when it matters most.
Proverbs 19:25 With a good spanking, scoffers might have knowledge penetrate their simple minds, but the wise readily accept correction to become wiser.
Proverbs 19:27 My child, if you quit learning, what you already know will lose its value.
King James
Proverbs 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Proverbs 19:25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
What can we know for certain about our plans and strategies and guarantees for success?
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Proverbs 19:21 People can make any number of plans, thinking they will work, but only the Lord’s direction guarantees success.
Proverbs 19:23 Respect for the Lord’s direction leads to life. Satisfaction and security comes from walking with him.
King James
Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
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If people have a strong desire to be loved and appreciated, why don’t they express more love and appreciation themselves?
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Proverbs 19:22 Everybody wants others to be loving and appreciative.
It is better to be poor than to be dishonest, saying you have nothing to give.
King James
Proverbs 19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
If people don’t respect the truth, what do they respect? Why?
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Proverbs 19:28 Those with no respect for the truth are worthless witnesses.
The wicked love the taste of trouble.
King James
Proverbs 19:28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
When will judgment time come? Why might that day come sooner rather than later?
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Proverbs 19:29 Judgment time is coming, when scoffers will receive their punishment. The backs of fools will be beaten.
2 Peter 3:10 For those who don’t know God, the Lord’s return will be a complete surprise, like a thief arriving one night. With an explosive sound, the skies will disappear, the elements will melt in intense heat, and everything on Earth will be consumed.
King James
Proverbs 19:29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.