Proverbs 16:19-33

It’s better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous. It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in GOD. A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one’s reputation. True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way. They make a lot of sense, these wise folks; whenever they speak, their reputation increases. Gracious speech is like clover honey— good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body. There’s a way that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. Appetite is an incentive to work; hunger makes you work all the harder. Mean people spread mean gossip; their words smart and burn. Troublemakers start fights; gossips break up friendships. Calloused climbers betray their very own friends; they’d stab their own grandmothers in the back. A shifty eye betrays an evil intention; a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead. Gray hair is a mark of distinction, the award for a God-loyal life. Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power. Make your motions and cast your votes, but GOD has the final say.