Day 24 of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotional

Day 24  It's foolish to cheat, steal, or take advantage of others. You may get a short term gain, but it's not right and you will find yourself fighting against God. Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs 24:15-18 15-18 Listen you scoundrel: Don’t take advantage of a godly person or break into their home; because even if they fall seven times, they will still get back up again. But scoundrels like you are tripped up by their own evil. So don’t celebrate or be happy when your enemy stumbles or falls, because Jehovah will be angry with your cruelty and their troubles will be over. God watches over godly people who try to do the right thing. They may stumble from time to time or someone may catch them off guard with an evil scheme; but, no matter how many times they fall, they will get back up again because of their faith in God.  And God will punish those who knock them down and kick them on the ground. Prayer "Lord, forgive me for the times I've wronged others or taken advantage of them.  No matter how many times I stumble or fall, help me to trust You and get back up again.  Help me to trust You with justice and mercy.  Amen." Read Proverbs Chapter 24
New American Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 24 Precepts and Warnings 1 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; 2 For their [a]minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. 3 By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; 4 And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is [b]strong, And a man of knowledge [c]increases power. 6 For by wise guidance you will [d]wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. 7 Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate. 8 One who plans to do evil, Men will call a [e]schemer. 9 The devising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is an abomination to men. 10 If you are slack in the day of distress, Your strength is limited. 11 Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. 12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not [f]render to man according to his work? 13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; 14 Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a [g]future, And your hope will not be cut off. 15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place; 16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity. 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 18 Or the Lord will see it and [h]be displeased, And turn His anger away from him. 19 Do not fret because of evildoers Or be envious of the wicked; 20 For there will be no [i]future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out. 21 My son, [j]fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those who are given to change, 22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them? 23 These also are sayings of the wise. To [k]show partiality in judgment is not good. 24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him; 25 But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight, And a good blessing will come upon them. 26 He kisses the lips Who gives [l]a right answer. 27 Prepare your work outside And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house. 28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips. 29 Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will [m]render to the man according to his work.” 30 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking [n]sense, 31 And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with [o]nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. 32 When I saw, I [p]reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. 33 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,” 34 Then your poverty will come as [q]a robber And your want like [r]an armed man. Footnotes: Proverbs 24:2 Lit hearts Proverbs 24:5 Lit in strength Proverbs 24:5 Lit strengthens power Proverbs 24:6 Lit make battle for yourself Proverbs 24:8 Or deviser of evil Proverbs 24:12 Lit bring back Proverbs 24:14 Lit latter end Proverbs 24:18 Lit it is evil in His eyes Proverbs 24:20 Lit latter end Proverbs 24:21 Or reverence Proverbs 24:23 Lit regard the face Proverbs 24:26 Or an honest Proverbs 24:29 Lit bring back Proverbs 24:30 Lit heart Proverbs 24:31 I.e. a kind of weed Proverbs 24:32 Lit set my heart Proverbs 24:34 Or a vagabond; lit one who walks Proverbs 24:34 Lit a man with a shield	Proverbs 24 Number 20 - 1-2 Don’t be jealous of evil people or long to join them, because all they want is to destroy and everything they say causes trouble.   Number 21 - 3-4 Wisdom turns a house into a home, understanding keeps it that way, and knowledge fills the rooms with treasures to enjoy. Number 22 - 5-6 Wisdom makes a warrior strong and those who learn have real power.  You need good advice when you go to war so seek the help of many aides. Number 23 - 7 Wisdom goes right over a fool’s head.  They have nothing important to say when leaders gather for council. Number 24 - 8-9 Someone who plans evil is called a troublemaker.  A foolish scheme is sin; and mockery is disgusting.  Number 25 - 10-12 You’re not strong enough if you fall apart when the going gets tough.  If you refuse to rescue someone innocent who’s condemned to die, if you just watch them go off to die and don’t do anything, don’t try to say, “Look, I didn’t know!”  God knows your heart and you can’t hide anything from Him.  Do you think the guardian of your soul won’t know?  He pays people back for how they act. Number 26 - 13-14 Listen sweety, honey is good.  Don’t you like the sweet taste that drizzles from the honeycomb?  You see, wisdom is the same for your soul.  If you find wisdom, you’ll discover a bright future and you’ll never run out of hope. Number 27 & 28 - 15-16 & 17-18 Listen you scoundrel: Don’t take advantage of a godly person or break into their home; because even if they fall seven times, they will still get back up again. But scoundrels like you are tripped up by their own evil. So don’t celebrate or be happy when your enemy stumbles or falls, because Jehovah will be angry with your cruelty and their troubles will be over. Number 29 - 19-20 Don’t get all worked up about evil and don’t be jealous of the ungodly.  There will be no evil in the end and the ungodly will be snuffed out. Number 30 - 21-22 Listen sweety, revere Jehovah and the king and don’t ever get mixed up with rebels, because they will be destroyed in an instant and no one knows when. More Words of Wisdom 23-25 Here’s some more words of wisdom: It’s not good to show favoritism when you make a judgement.  People will hate those who pronounce the guilty “innocent”; it will enrage the whole community.  However, everyone is pleased when the guilty are convicted; people who pass honest verdicts will be blessed. 26 A straightforward, honest answer is as sweet as a kiss on the lips. 27 Get your priorities straight: secure your livelihood first and then build your house. 28 Don’t testify against your neighbor unless you have a really good reason; and never mislead by what you say. 29 Don’t ever say, “I’m gonna do them like they did me.  I’ll get them back for what they’ve done.” 30-34 I walked passed a lazy person’s farm, and the vineyard of someone who has no sense.  Briars had taken over everything and the ground was full of weeds. The stone wall was broken down.  So I reflected on this sad sight and learned an important lesson:  A little more sleep, a little extra snoozing, a little more time in the recliner with your hands folded across your chest, and poverty will sneak up on you like a bandit, and hardship will invade your life.
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