Lately I’ve been making my way through the ponderings of Solomon in the Book of Proverbs. Confucius might “say” a lot, but nothing like these gems of wisdom that help bring to light where we are and show us the path to where we’re going (A lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path). Here are my favorites from chapters 10, 11, and 12.
Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses.
The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.
The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Lazy people are a pain to their employer. They are like smoke int he eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge.
Upright citizens bless a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.
Without wise leadership, a nation falls; with many counselors, there is safety.
Guaranteeing a loan for a stranger is dangerous; it is better to refuse than to suffer later.
Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.
Godly people find life; evil people find death.
It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything.
Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.
To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
Wickedness never brings stability; only the godly have deep roots.
It is better to be a nobody with a servant than to be self-important but have no food.
Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.
Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
Wise people don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast thei folly.
Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.