Day 21 of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotional

Day 21  Success takes planning and hard work. There are no shortcuts in life. You have to know what's really important. Keep your priorities in line and focus your time, energy, resources, and money on what's really important at the expense of everything else. Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs 21:5, 6, 9, 17, 20 & 25-26 5 Good plans and steady hard work earn great rewards, but reckless haste makes you poor. 6 Treasures earned with deceit lead to death and will soon be gone. 9 It’s better to crash in the corner of some attic than live in a charming home with a wife who’s always angry. 17 People who indulge and party all the time never have enough; people who always have to have the latest, greatest things will never be wealthy. 20 Wise people have lots of wealth and luxury, but fools immediately spend whatever they get. 25-26 A couch potato dies even though he wants more, because he’s too lazy to work for it.  He always wants more, more, more.   Godly people are more givers than takers. Know who you are and God's plans for you. Focus on what really matters and don't worry about everything else too much. Be happy with what you have and don't covet. Be generous and not greedy. Work hard to follow God's plan and be persistent. Good things come to those who are wise. Prayer "God of Heaven and Earth, help me to know Your plans for me and to stay focused on them, working hard to accomplish everything You want me to do. Amen."
New American Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 21 On Life and Conduct 1 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. 2 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin. 5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. 6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the [a]pursuit of death. 7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice. 8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright. 9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than [b]in a house shared with a contentious woman. 10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes. 11 When the scoffer is punished, the [c]naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. 12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the wicked to ruin. 13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered. 14 A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath. 15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity. 16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the [d]dead. 17 He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich. 18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous is in the place of the upright. 19 It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman. 20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up. 21 He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor. 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the [e]stronghold in which they trust. 23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles. 24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names, Who acts with insolent pride. 25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; 26 All day long he [f]is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent! 28 A false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever. 29 A wicked man [g]displays a bold face, But as for the upright, he makes his way sure. 30 There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord. 31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord. Footnotes: a.    Proverbs 21:6 Lit seekers b.    Proverbs 21:9 Lit with a woman of contentions and a         house of association c.    Proverbs 21:11 Lit simple d.    Proverbs 21:16 Lit departed spirits e.    Proverbs 21:22 Lit strength of trust f.     Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire g.    Proverbs 21:29 Lit makes firm with his face	Proverbs 21 1 The king’s heart is like drops of water running down a wall--their paths seem random, but the Lord controls how they flow. 2 Everyone wants to think they’re living right, but Jehovah looks at what’s really going on in your heart. 3 Doing the right thing and following God’s law is better than giving an offering. 4 A pompous air, a huge ego, the work of ungodly hands, are all offensive to God. 5 Good plans and steady hard work earn great rewards, but reckless haste makes you poor. 6 Treasures earned with deceit lead to death and will soon be gone. 7 The ungodly will be swept away by their own violence, because the refuse to do what’s right. 8 People are crazy, but those who’ve been purified do the right thing. 9 It’s better to crash in the corner of some attic than live in a charming home with a wife who’s always angry. 10 The ungodly yearn for evil deep down in their soul; their neighbors shouldn’t expect anything good from them. 11 Simpletons grow wiser when mockers are punished; when you teach a cunning person, they’ll grow even sharper. 12 The righteous know all about the affairs of the ungodly and bring them to utter ruin. 13 If you ignore the needy who are hanging by a thread when they ask for help, you will cry out one day and no one will hear you. 14 A private gift soothes anger; and quietly giving a bribe can calm fury. 15 People who do the right thing are overjoyed when justice prevails, but it’s the worst day ever for villains. 16 People who live carelessly will soon hang out with ghosts. 17 People who indulge and party all the time never have enough; people who always have to have the latest, greatest things will never be wealthy. 18 People will gladly trade the ungodly for people who live right and sneaky schemers for straight shooters. 19 It's better to lay down on the hard ground in the middle of nowhere than in a bed with a angry, belligerent wife. 20 Wise people have lots of wealth and luxury, but fools immediately spend whatever they get. 21 People who try hard to live right and give mercy will find life and righteousness and people will look up to them with great respect. 22 Someone who is cunning can come against a mighty fortress and breach the defenses like they’re they’re nothing. 23 You’ll have a lot less trouble in life is you simply watch what you say and don’t talk too much. 24 A proud, arrogant scoffer is someone who gets puffed up with anger, vainly thinking they know it all and are more important than everyone else. 25-26 A couch potato dies even though he wants more, because he’s too lazy to work for it.  He always wants more, more, more.   Godly people are more givers than takers. 27 The sacrificial offerings of the ungodly are disgusting to God; it’s even worse when they’re part of some evil scheme. 28 A witness who lies will die; so be careful and always tell the truth. 29 The ungodly pretend to be tough, but people who live right think and really know what to do. 30 No wisdom, argument, or plan is greater than Jehovah. 31 Be prepared for the fight, but always know Jehovah brings the victory.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs (PCP) Copyright © 2018 by Chris Mullis