Monday in Season after Pentecost

12Verse 12. Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so no one can pass through it? 13Verse 13. And the LORD answered, “It is because they have forsaken My law, which I set before them; they have not walked in it or obeyed My voice. 14Verse 14. Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.” 15Verse 15. Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. 16Verse 16. I will scatter them among the nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them until I have finished them off.” 17Verse 17. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Take note, and summon the wailing women; send for the most skillful among them. 18Verse 18. Let them come quickly and take up a lament over us, that our eyes may overflow with tears, and our eyelids may gush with water. 19Verse 19. For the sound of wailing is heard from Zion: ‘How devastated we are! How great is our shame! For we have abandoned the land because our dwellings have been torn down.’” 20Verse 20. Now, O women, hear the word of the LORD. Open your ears to the word of His mouth. Teach your daughters to wail, and one another to lament. 21Verse 21. For death has climbed in through our windows; it has entered our fortresses to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the town squares. 22Verse 22. Declare that this is what the LORD says: “The corpses of men will fall like dung upon the open field, like newly cut grain behind the reaper, with no one to gather it.” 23Verse 23. This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. 24Verse 24. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth — for I delight in these things,” 25Verse 25. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh— 26Verse 26. Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and all the inhabitants of the desert who clip the hair of their temples. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

12Verse 12. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. 13Verse 13. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow. 14Verse 14. The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways. 15Verse 15. The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps. 16Verse 16. A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless. 17Verse 17. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated. 18Verse 18. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19Verse 19. The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20Verse 20. The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich. 21Verse 21. He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor. 22Verse 22. Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness. 23Verse 23. There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24Verse 24. The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly. 25Verse 25. A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful. 26Verse 26. He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27Verse 27. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. 28Verse 28. A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin. 29Verse 29. A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly. 30Verse 30. A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones. 31Verse 31. Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.