THE LORD'S PURPOSE WILL PREVAIL

Passage: Proverbs 19:18-29

Key verse: 21

NIV

18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
    do not be a willing party to their death.(A)

19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
    rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,(B)
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.(C)

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.(D)

22 What a person desires is unfailing love[a];
    better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.(E)

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he will not even bring it back to his mouth!(F)

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
    rebuke the discerning,(G) and they will gain knowledge.(H)

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(I)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,(J)
    and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.(K)

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
    and beatings for the backs of fools.(L)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 19:22 Or Greed is a person’s shame
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

18 (A)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    do not set your heart on (B)putting him to death.
19 A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
    for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in (C)the future.
21 (D)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but (E)it is the purpose of the Lord (F)that will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
    and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord (G)leads to life,
    and whoever has it rests (H)satisfied;
    he will (I)not be visited by harm.
24 (J)The sluggard buries his hand in (K)the dish
    and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (L)Strike (M)a scoffer, and the simple will (N)learn prudence;
    (O)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is (P)a son who brings shame and reproach.
27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,
    (Q)and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked (R)devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for (S)scoffers,
    and (T)beating for the backs of fools.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Listen to advice (18-21,25-27) We should discipline our children, the hot-tempered man and rebuke a discerning man (18,19,25) for they will learn prudence. If they do not listen, they will ruin themselves. A spoiled son will rob his father and drive out his mother bringing shame and disgrace (25-27). We can make many plans but the Lord's purpose will prevail (21). We should check our plans whether or not they fit the Lord's purpose. 2. The fear of the Lord leads to life (22-24, 28-29) What sinners need is the unfailing love of God (22). The fear of the Lord leads us to God who forgives us with unfailing love. Then we can rest content, untouched by trouble (23). But for him who rejects instruction and advice, judgment is waiting for him (29).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your unfailing love. Let me listen to you and fear you and rest content.

One Word: The Lord's purpose will prevail