The Berean Pursuit
A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof
will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
By justice a king brings stability to the land,
but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.
A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.
An evil man is caught by his own sin,
but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
The righteous consider the cause of the poor,
but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.
Mockers inflame a city,
but the wise turn away anger.
If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man,
but the upright care for his life.
A fool vents all his anger,
but a wise man holds it back.
If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials will be wicked.
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
A king who judges the poor with fairness-
his throne will be established forever.
A rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
When the wicked thrive, rebellion increases;
but the righteous will see their downfall.
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will bring delight to your soul.
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;
but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
A servant cannot be corrected by words alone;
though he understands, he will not respond.
Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
A servant pampered from his youth
will bring grief in the end.
An angry man stirs up dissension,
and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
A man's pride will bring him low,
but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
A partner to a thief hates his own soul;
he receives the oath, but does not testify.
The fear of man is a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
Many seek the ruler's favor,
but a man receives justice from the LORD.
An unjust man is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.
These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh-the burden that this man declared to Ithiel:
"I am weary, O God,
and worn out.
Surely I am the most ignorant of men,
and I lack the understanding of a man.
I have not learned wisdom,
and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in His hands?
Who has bound up the waters in His cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is the name of His Son-
surely you know!
Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words,
lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Two things I ask of You-
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the bread that is my portion.
Otherwise, I may have too much
and deny You, saying, 'Who is the LORD?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
profaning the name of my God.
Do not slander a servant to his master,
or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.
There is a generation of those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet unwashed of their filth.
There is a generation-how haughty are their eyes
and pretentious are their glances-
there is a generation whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are knives,
devouring the oppressed from the earth
and the needy from among men.
The leech has two daughters:
Give and Give.
There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, 'Enough!':
Sheol,
the barren womb,
land never satisfied with water,
and fire that never says, 'Enough!'
As for the eye that mocks a father
and scorns obedience to a mother,
may the ravens of the valley pluck it out
and young vultures devour it.
There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:
the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea,
and the way of a man with a maiden.
This is the way of an adulteress:
She eats and wipes her mouth
and says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'
Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is filled with food,
an unloved woman who marries,
and a maidservant who supplants her mistress.
Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;
the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;
and the lizard can be caught in one's hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:
a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;
a strutting rooster;
a he-goat;
and a king with his army around him.
If you have foolishly exalted yourself
or if you have plotted evil,
put your hand over your mouth.
For as the churning of milk yields butter,
and the twisting of the nose draws blood,
so the stirring of anger brings forth strife."
These are the words of King Lemuel-the burden that his mother taught him:
What shall I say, O my son?
What, O son of my womb?
What, O son of my vows?
Do not spend your strength on women
or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to crave strong drink,
lest they drink and forget what is decreed,
depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Give strong drink to one who is perishing,
and wine to the bitter in soul.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
and remember his misery no more.
Open your mouth for those with no voice,
for the cause of all the dispossessed.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
A wife of noble character, who can find?
She is far more precious than rubies.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good and not harm
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She rises while it is still night
to provide food for her household
and portions for her maidservants.
She appraises a field and buys it;
from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
and shows that her arms are strong.
She sees that her gain is good,
and her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household,
for they are all clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known at the city gate,
where he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the days to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband praises her as well:
"Many daughters have done noble things,
but you surpass them all!"
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her at the gates.