Day 23 of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotional

Day 23  The wise person knows it's meaningless to spend your life trying to get rich. You're never satisfied and you can lose it all in a heartbeat. A wise person wants more. Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs 23:4-5 4-5 Don’t slave your life away trying to accumulate more and more stuff. Know when enough is enough, because dreams of getting rich are like chasing birds in the park.  You run up and they flap their wings and fly away. Your life is precious. Don't waste it. Know what's really important. Most people slave away chasing after things that really don't matter. We want more and more; and the more we have, we find we never have enough. Fill your life with meaning and you will be fully satisfied. Prayer "Father, help me invest my life in things that matter and not be be infatuated with possessions and money, which don't really satisfy and are fleeting anyway. Amen." Read Proverbs 23
New American Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 23 On Life and Conduct 1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully [a]what is before you, 2 And put a knife to your throat If you are a man of great appetite. 3 Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food. 4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your [b]consideration of it. 5 [c]When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens. 6 Do not eat the bread of [d]a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies; 7 For as he [e]thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. 8 You will vomit up [f]the morsel you have eaten, And waste your [g]compliments. 9 Do not speak in the [h]hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10 Do not move the ancient boundary Or go into the fields of the fatherless, 11 For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you. 12 Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge. 13 Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you [i]strike him with the rod, he will not die. 14 You shall [j]strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol. 15 My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad; 16 And my [k]inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak what is right. 17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the [l]fear of the Lord [m]always. 18 Surely there is a [n]future, And your hope will not be cut off. 19 Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way. 20 Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; 21 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags. 22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him. 25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her rejoice who gave birth to you. 26 Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes [o]delight in my ways. 27 For a harlot is a deep pit And an [p]adulterous woman is a narrow well. 28 Surely she lurks as a robber, And increases the [q]faithless among men. 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to [r]taste mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it [s]sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things And your [t]mind will utter perverse things. 34 And you will be like one who lies down in the [u]middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a [v]mast. 35 “They struck me, but I did not become [w]ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek [x]another drink.” Footnotes: Proverbs 23:1 Or who Proverbs 23:4 Or understanding Proverbs 23:5 Lit Will your eyes fly upon it and it is not? Proverbs 23:6 Lit an evil eye Proverbs 23:7 Lit reckons in his soul Proverbs 23:8 Lit your Proverbs 23:8 Lit pleasant words Proverbs 23:9 Lit ears Proverbs 23:13 Lit smite Proverbs 23:14 Lit smite Proverbs 23:16 Lit kidneys Proverbs 23:17 Or reverence Proverbs 23:17 Lit all the day Proverbs 23:18 Lit latter end Proverbs 23:26 Another reading is observe Proverbs 23:27 Lit strange Proverbs 23:28 Lit treacherous Proverbs 23:30 Or search out Proverbs 23:31 Lit gives its eye Proverbs 23:33 Lit heart Proverbs 23:34 Lit heart Proverbs 23:34 Or lookout Proverbs 23:35 I.e. from the effect of wounds Proverbs 23:35 Lit it yet again	Proverbs 23 Number 6 - 1-3 Be careful what’s really happening when you meet with an influential person.  Don’t get distracted by the delicious food they serve, because they may use it to get what they want. Number 7 - 4-5 Don’t slave your life away trying to accumulate more and more stuff. Know when enough is enough, because dreams of getting rich are like chasing birds in the park.  You run up and they flap their wings and fly away. Number 8 - 6-8 Don’t eat food from an evil person or crave it because it smells so good.  He’s hiding his real motives.  He says, “Eat! Drink!” but he’s not thinking of you.  One way or another, it’ll make you sick to the stomach and you’ll be sorry you ever spoke to them. Number 9 - 9 Don’t waste your time giving advice to a fool; they’ll just walk all over it.   Number 10 - 10-11 Don’t tamper with established property lines or annex land that belongs to orphans, because their redeemer is strong and he’ll fight you. Number 11 - 12 Never stop listening and learning. Number 13 - 13-14 Don’t be soft on your kids.  A whipping won’t kill them, but it might save them from hell. Number 14 - 15-16 Dear child, I’ll be overjoyed if you have true inner wisdom.  I’ll smile on the inside every time you speak the truth. Number 15 - 17-18 Don’t be jealous of sinners; always live in reverent awe of Jehovah.  Your faith will pay off in the end. Number 16 - 19-21 Listen up, dear child, and be wise; follow the right path in life. Don’t hang out with heavy drinkers or people who always eat too much.  They’ll eventually lose everything and laze around in rags. Number 17 - 22-25 Your father gave you life so listen to him and respect your mother when she’s old.  Buy truth and never sell it.  Get all the wisdom, instruction, and knowledge you can.  A father celebrates when his children live right and he's overjoyed when they are wise.  So make your parents proud; make your mom glad she gave birth. Number 18 - 26-28 Commit your life to me, son, and keep your eyes fixed straight ahead on my path.  A prostitute will get you in big trouble and an adulteress in a tight spot.  She waits to ambush her prey and fills the community with unfaithful men. Number 19 - 29-35 Who cries out in despair? Who is full of sorrow?  Whose life is full of drama?  Who does nothing but complain? Who has wounds they could’ve avoided? Whose eyes are always red? Those who stay up late drinking and looking for comfort in a bottle.  Don’t get infatuated with the color of the wine or how it sparkles in the cup or how smoothly it goes down.  In the end, I’ll bite you like a snake and wound you like a viper.  You’ll see strange things and talk out of your head.  You’ll feel like you're seasick and staggering on top of a boat tossed by a rough sea.  You’ll say “Who smashed my head? I can’t remember. I didn’t even know they were beating me up.  But when I get my feet under me, I’ll go do it again.”
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

Day 22 of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotional

Day 22  Wisdom is more than knowledge. It is an inner sense of the way things really are, what's actually going on, and what's about to happen. Wise people have awareness and are vigilant and act accordingly. They are safe because they sense trouble before it happens and also know when there is no real danger. Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs 22:3, 5, & 13 3 A wise person senses trouble before it happens and steers clear; the naive walk right into it and learn a hard lesson. 5 Crooked people walk a prickly path full of hidden traps; be careful to steer clear of them. 13 A lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! I’ll get killed if I go out!” Be wise. Know what's really going on around you and inside you. Avoid trouble when you see it coming, but don't use fear as an excuse when it's unfounded and irrational. Prayer "Father, help me to be vigilant. Don't let me be distracted or caught unaware. Give me insight into the people and situations around me. Don't let me be lazy and use irrational fears as an excuse not to do something You want me to do. Guide me in everything by Your Holy Spirit. Amen." Read Proverbs Chapter 22
New American Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 22 On Life and Conduct 1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. 2 The rich and the poor [a]have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all. 3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the [b]naive go on, and are punished for it. 4 The reward of humility and the [c]fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them. 6 Train up a child [d]in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. 8 He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish. 9 He who [e]is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. 10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease. 11 He who loves purity of heart And [f]whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend. 12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man. 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!” 14 The mouth of [g]an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the Lord will fall [h]into it. 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. 16 He who oppresses the poor to make [i]more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. 17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, [j]That they may be ready on your lips. 19 So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have [k]taught you today, even you. 20 Have I not written to you [l]excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, 21 To make you know the [m]certainty of the words of truth That you may [n]correctly answer him who sent you? 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate; 23 For the Lord will plead their case And [o]take the life of those who rob them. 24 Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, 25 Or you will learn his ways And [p]find a snare for yourself. 26 Do not be among those who give [q]pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you? 28 Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set. 29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men. Footnotes: a.    Proverbs 22:2 Lit meet together b.    Proverbs 22:3 Lit simple c.    Proverbs 22:4 Or reverence d,    Proverbs 22:6 Lit according to his way e.    Proverbs 22:9 Lit has a good eye f.     Proverbs 22:11 Lit has grace on his lips g.    Proverbs 22:14 Lit strange woman h.    Proverbs 22:14 Lit there i.     Proverbs 22:16 Lit much j.     Proverbs 22:18 Lit They together k.    Proverbs 22:19 Lit made you know l.     Proverbs 22:20 Or previous m.   Proverbs 22:21 Lit truth n.    Proverbs 22:21 Lit return to words of truth o.    Proverbs 22:23 Lit rob the soul p.    Proverbs 22:25 Lit take q.    Proverbs 22:26 Lit strike hands	Proverbs 22 1 Pick a good reputation over wealth; grace is better than silver or gold. 2 A rich person and a poor person have something in common: Jehovah made them both. 3 A wise person senses trouble before it happens and steers clear; the naive walk right into it and learn a hard lesson. 4 Humility and reverence for Lord Jehovah lead to riches and honor and life. 5 Crooked people walk a prickly path full of hidden traps; be careful to steer clear of them. 6 Lead a child down the right road of life and they won’t go off course when they grow old. 7 The rich reign over the poor and those who take loans must serve those who lend. 8 People who plant corruption will harvest trouble and they won’t be able to fight their way out of it. 9 People with a generous outlook on life are blessed because they gladly share with those in need. 10 Get rid of the sarcastic guy who makes fun of everything and all the bickering will go too; all the judgment and shame will end. 11 A person with pure motives who is full of grace will be a friend to the king. 12 Jehovah protects the truth and defeats those who would pervert it. 13 A lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! I’ll get killed if I go out!” 14 A homewrecker says things that lure people into a deep trap; those who make Jehovah livid will fall into it. 15 Folly is woven into the fabric of a young boy’s heart, but the firm hand of discipline weeds it out. 16 If you take advantage of the poor to make a few extra bucks or to get favor from the rich, you will end up broke yourself. Words of the Wise 17-21 Look this way and listen up to someone who knows; take my advice to heart because you need to be ready to share these truths. I’m teaching you--yes YOU--so you'll trust Jehovah. Here’s thirty important pieces of advice.  You can take these to the bank. Number 1 - 22-23 Don’t rob the poor and vulnerable or push around the guy on the street asking for help; Jehovah stands up for them and will take from your soul whatever you take from them. Number 2 - 24-25 Don’t hang around with angry men or run around with hotheads; you might start acting the same way and lose your soul. Number 3 - 26-27 Don’t be like people who go into debt promising to pay later.  If you can’t pay, you’ll lose everything. Number 4 - 28 Don’t cheat your  neighbor and tamper with the established property lines. Number 5 - 29 Do you know someone who is really good at what the do?  They will serve kings, not ordinary people.
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

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