VICTORY RESTS WITH THE LORD

Passage: Proverbs 21:20-31

Key verse: 31

NIV

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[a](A) and honor.(B)

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(C)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths(D) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(E)

24 The proud and arrogant person(F)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(G)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(H) give without sparing.(I)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(J)—
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(K)

28 A false witness(L) will perish,(M)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(N)

30 There is no wisdom,(O) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(P)

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.(Q)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

20 (A)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man (B)devours it.
21 Whoever (C)pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find (D)life, righteousness, and honor.
22 (E)A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 (F)Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    (G)keeps himself out of (H)trouble.
24 (I)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of (J)the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous (K)gives and does not hold back.
27 (L)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more (M)when he brings it with evil intent.
28 (N)A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright (O)gives thought to[a] his ways.
30 (P)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the Lord.
31 (Q)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but (R)the victory belongs to the Lord.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 21:29 Or establishes
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. The wise and the fool (2 -28) The wise and the fool are sharply contrasted here. The wise store food for the future but a fool wastes all he has. The wise pursue righteousness and love. He finds life, prosperity and honor. The wise pursue a higher goal and succeed. The wise man guards his mouth and protects himself from calamity. The wise work hard and give without sparing. The fool is proud and arrogant. He refuses to work in laziness. He craves for more all day long. He is lazy. His sacrifice is detestable. He witnesses falsely. The fool will perish. 2. The horse is made ready for the battle (29-31) There is no wisdom, no insight and no plan that can succeed against the Lord. People may prepare the horses for the day of battle but victory rests with the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, no matter how hard the evil try, victory rests with you! Help us to live as the wise.

One Word: Victory in Jesus