The Righteous and the Wicked

God's Prophets Demand Justice
Amos Rails against Injustice

Micah Calls for Justice among Unjust People


No Rest for the Wicked

Proverbs 11:1-10  The Message

Without Good Direction, People Lose Their Way

11 God hates cheating in the marketplace;
    he loves it when business is aboveboard.

² The stuck-up fall flat on their faces,
    but down-to-earth people stand firm.

³ The integrity of the honest keeps them on track;
    the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.

⁴ A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart,
    but a principled life can stand up to the worst.

⁵ Moral character makes for smooth traveling;
    an evil life is a hard life.

⁶ Good character is the best insurance;
    crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.

⁷ When the wicked die, that’s it—
    the story’s over, end of hope.

⁸ A good person is saved from much trouble;
    a bad person runs straight into it.

⁹ The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction;
    the common sense of the godly preserves them.

¹⁰ When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers;
    when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.

 

For Reflection 

I want my epitaph to read, "He was a good man."  What do you want yours to say?

Pray

that you will lead a righteous life.  Pray that you will never abandon the Holy imperative to live a life filled with the grace of God.  Pray that you will immerse yourself in the Holy Spirit.  Pray for healing.