Online Bible

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

^aBetter is a dry morsel of food served with quietness and peaceThan a house full of feasting served with strife and contention.2 A wise servant will rule over the unworthy son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace to the familyAnd the worthy servant will share in the inheritance among the brothers.3 The ^arefining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,But ^bthe LORD tests hearts. Ps 26:2; Prov 27:21; Jer 17:10; Mal 3:34 An ^aevildoer listens closely to wicked lips;And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.5 Whoever mocks the ^apoor taunts his Maker,And he who ^brejoices at another’s disaster will not go unpunished. Job 31:29; Prov 14:31; Obad 126 ^aGrandchildren are the crown of aged men,And the ^bglory of children is their fathers who live godly lives. Ps 127:3; 128:37 ^aExcellent speech does not benefit a fool who is spiritually blind,Much less do ^blying lips benefit a prince.8 A ^abribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;Wherever he turns, he prospers.9 He who ^acovers and forgives an offense seeks love,But he who repeats or gossips about a matter ^bseparates intimate friends.10 A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spiritThan a hundred lashes into a fool. Is 32:611 A rebellious man seeks only evil;Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.12 Let a ^aman meet a ferocious ^bbear robbed of her cubsRather than the angry, narcissistic fool in his folly. Hos 13:813 Whoever ^areturns evil for good,^bEvil will not depart from his house. Ps 109:4, 5; Jer 18:2014 The beginning of strife is like letting out water as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes;Therefore ¹^aabandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.15 He who ^ajustifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteousAre both repulsive to the LORD. Ex 23:7; Prov 24:24; Is 5:2316 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to ^abuy wisdom,When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?17 A ^afriend loves at all times,And a brother is born for adversity.18 A man lacking common sense gives a ^apledgeAnd becomes guarantor for the debt of another in the presence of his neighbor.19 He who ^aloves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;He who proudly ^braises his gate seeks destruction because of his arrogant pride.20 He who has a crooked mind ^afinds no good,And he who is ^bperverted in his language falls into evil. James 3:821 He who ^abecomes the parent of a fool who is spiritually blind does so to his sorrow,And the father of a fool who is spiritually blind has no joy.22 A ^ahappy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,But a broken spirit ^bdries up the bones. Prov 12:25; 15:13, 1523 A wicked man receives a ^abribe from the hidden pocketTo ^bpervert the ways of justice.24 Skillful and godly wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding and he recognizes it,But the ^aeyes of a thickheaded fool are on the ends of the earth.25 A ^afoolish son is a grief and anguish to his fatherAnd ^bbitterness to her who gave birth to him.26 It is also not good to ^afine the righteous,Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.27 He who has knowledge restrains and ^ais careful with his words,And a man of understanding and wisdom has a ^bcool spirit (self-control, an even temper) . James 1:1928 Even a callous, arrogant fool, when he ^akeeps silent, is considered wise;When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.