Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
A asoft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath,But bharsh and painful and careless words stir up anger. Prov 25:15Judg 8:1-3; Prov 15:18; 25:151 Sam 25:10-132 The atongue of the wise speaks knowledge that is pleasing and acceptable,But the bbabbling mouth of fools spouts folly.Prov 15:7Prov 12:23; 13:16; 15:283 The aeyes of the LORD are in every place,Watching the evil and the good in all their endeavors. Job 34:21; Prov 5:21; Jer 16:17; 32:19; Heb 4:132 Chr 16:9; Job 31:4; Jer 16:17; Zech 4:10; Heb 4:134 A soothing tongue speaking words that build up and encourage is a tree of life,But a perversive tongue speaking words that overwhelm and depress crushes the spirit.5 A flippant, arrogant fool rejects his father’s instruction and correction,But he who is willing to learn and regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense.6 Great and priceless treasure is in the house of the consistently arighteous one who seeks godly instruction and grows in wisdom,But trouble is in the income of the wicked one who rejects the laws of God.Prov 8:217 The lips of the wise spread knowledge sifting it as chaff from the grain;But the hearts of shortsighted fools are not so.8 The asacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the LORD,But bthe prayer of the upright is His delight! Is 1:11; Jer 6:20; Amos 5:22Prov 21:27; Eccl 5:1; Is 1:11; Jer 6:20; Mic 6:7Prov 15:299 The way of life of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the LORD,But He loves one who apursues righteousness personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character.1 Tim 6:1110 There is severe discipline for him who 1turns from the way of righteousness;And he who hates correction will die.Lit forsakes.11 aSheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—How much more the bhearts and inner motives of the children of men. Job 26:6; Ps 139:8; Rev 9:2; 20:1, 2Job 26:6; Ps 139:81 Sam 16:7; 2 Chr 6:30; Ps 44:21; Acts 1:2412 A ascoffer unlike a wise man resents one who rebukes him and tries to teach him;Nor will he go to the wise for counsel and instruction.Prov 13:1; Amos 5:1013 A heart full of ajoy and goodness makes a cheerful face,But when a heart is full of bsadness the cspirit is crushed. Prov 17:22Prov 17:22Prov 12:25Prov 17:22; 18:1414 The amind of the intelligent and discerning seeks knowledge and eagerly inquires after it,But the mouth of the stubborn fool feeds on foolishness. Is 32:6Prov 18:1515 All the days of the afflicted are bad,But a glad heart has a continual feast regardless of the circumstances.16 aBetter is a little with the reverent, worshipful fear of the LORDThan great treasure and trouble with it. Ps 37:16; Prov 16:8; 1+@Tim 6:6Ps 37:16; Prov 16:8; Eccl 4:6; 1 Tim 6:617 aBetter is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is presentThan a bfattened ox served with hatred. Prov 17:1Prov 17:1Matt 22:4; Luke 15:2318 A ahot-tempered man stirs up strife,But he who is bslow to anger and patient ccalms disputes.Prov 16:28; 26:21; 29:22Prov 14:29Gen 13:8; Prov 16:14; Eccl 10:419 The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him,But the way of life of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.20 A awise son makes a father glad,But a foolish man bdespises his mother.Prov 10:1; 29:3Prov 30:1721 Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks intelligent, common sense,But a man of understanding awalks uprightly making his course straight. Eph 5:15Prov 14:8; Eph 5:1522 Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated,But with many counselors they are established and succeed.23 A aman has joy in giving an appropriate answer,And how good and delightful is a bword spoken at the right moment—how good it is!Prov 12:14Prov 25:11; Is 50:424 The chosen apath of life leads upward for the wise,That he may keep away from Sheol below. Phil 3:20; Col 3:1, 2Prov 4:1825 The LORD will atear down the house of the proud and arrogant ,But He will bestablish and protect the boundaries of the land of the godly cwidow.Prov 12:7; 14:11Deut 19:14; Prov 23:10Ps 68:5; 146:926 Evil plans and thoughts of the wicked are exceedingly vile and offensive to the LORD,But pure words are pleasant words to Him.27 He who aprofits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house,But he who bhates bribes and does not receive nor pay them will live. Is 5:8; Jer 17:11Prov 1:19; 28:25; 1 Tim 6:10Ex 23:8; Deut 16:19; 1 Sam 12:3; Is 33:1528 The heart of the righteous athinks carefully about how to answer in a wise and appropriate and timely way,But the babbling bmouth of the wicked pours out malevolent things. 1+@Pet 3:151 Pet 3:15Prov 10:32; 15:229 The LORD is afar from the wicked and distances Himself from them,But He bhears the prayer of the consistently righteous that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage.Ps 18:41; Prov 1:28Ps 145:18, 1930 The light of the eyes rejoices the hearts of others,And good news puts fat on the bones.31 The ear that listens to and learns from the life-giving rebuke Will remain among the wise.32 He who aneglects and ignores instruction and discipline bdespises himself,But he who clearns from rebuke acquires understanding and grows in wisdom.Prov 1:7; 8:33Prov 8:36Prov 15:533 The reverent fear of the LORD that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome is the instruction for wisdom its starting point and its essence;And before honor comes humility.