Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your
Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening
Speaker 1: to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. I'm John Stonge
Speaker 1: and today we're in Proverbs chapter 25 and we'll be
Speaker 1: reading from the contemporary English version. Here are more of
Speaker 1: Solomon's Proverbs. They were copied by the officials of King
Speaker 1: Hezekiah of Judah. God is praised for being mysterious. Rulers
Speaker 1: are praised for explaining mysteries. Who can fully understand the
Speaker 1: thoughts of a ruler? They reach beyond the sky and
Speaker 1: go deep in the earth. Silver must be purified before
Speaker 1: it can be used to make something of value. Evil
Speaker 1: people must be removed before anyone can rule with justice.
Speaker 1: Don't try to seem important in the court of a ruler.
Speaker 1: It's better for the ruler to give you a high
Speaker 1: position than for you to be embarrassed in front of
Speaker 1: royal officials. Be sure you are right before you sue someone,
Speaker 1: or you might lose your case and be embarrassed. When
Speaker 1: you and someone else can't get along, don't gossip about it.
Speaker 1: Others will find out and your reputation will then be ruined.
Speaker 1: The right word at the right time is like precious
Speaker 1: gold set in silver. Listening to good advice is worth
Speaker 1: much more than jewelry made of gold. A messenger you
Speaker 1: can trust is just as refreshing as cool water in summer.
Speaker 1: Broken promises are worse than rain clouds that don't bring rain.
Speaker 1: Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome
Speaker 1: any problem. Eating too much honey can make you sick.
Speaker 1: Don't visit friends too often or they will get tired
Speaker 1: of it and start hating you. Telling lies about friends
Speaker 1: is like attacking them with clubs and swords and sharp arrows.
Speaker 1: A friend you can't trust in times of trouble is
Speaker 1: like having a toothache or a sore foot. Singing to
Speaker 1: someone in deep sorrow is like pouring vinegar in an
Speaker 1: open cut. If your enemies are hungry, give them something
Speaker 1: to eat, and if they are thirsty, give them something
Speaker 1: to drink. This will be the same as piling burning
Speaker 1: coals on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.
Speaker 1: As surely as rain blows in from the north, anger
Speaker 1: is caused by cruel words. It's better to stay outside
Speaker 1: on the roof of your house than to live inside
Speaker 1: with a nagging wife. Good news from far away refreshes
Speaker 1: like cold water when you are thirsty. When a good
Speaker 1: person gives in to the wicked, it's like dumping garbage
Speaker 1: in a stream of clear water. Don't eat too much
Speaker 1: honey or always want praise. Losing self-control leaves you as
Speaker 1: helpless as a city without a wall. Let's pray. Lord,
Speaker 1: we thank you for your word and we thank you
Speaker 1: for the wisdom that you give to us through faith
Speaker 1: in your son, Jesus Christ. And the wisdom that is
Speaker 1: shown to us in the pages of your word that
Speaker 1: teaches us how to give glory to your son, Jesus Christ. Lord,
Speaker 1: as we look at this proverb, we realize that there's
Speaker 1: a variety of things that we might be tempted to
Speaker 1: invite into our lives that are unhealthy. So we pray, Lord,
Speaker 1: that we would listen to these words of caution. We pray, Lord, likewise,
Speaker 1: that we wouldn't be people who always want to be
Speaker 1: praised and but rather that we would desire for your Son,
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, to receive the praise and the glory for
Speaker 1: the work that he's doing in us and through us. Lord,
Speaker 1: we're grateful for these reminders. We're grateful for your presence,
Speaker 1: and we're grateful for the encouragement that you give to
Speaker 1: us as we seek to follow you and walk with
Speaker 1: you by faith. Thank you, Lord, for your love. We
Speaker 1: commit this day to your care, and we pray this
Speaker 1: all in Jesus' name. Amen.