toot toot

If you have been foolish by exalting yourself
or if you’ve been scheming,
put your hand over your mouth.
For the churning of milk produces butter,
and twisting a nose draws blood,
and stirring up anger produces strife.
proverbs 30:32-33

When you toot your own horn, others don't enjoy the music!

oil & water

An unjust man is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright
is detestable to the wicked.
Proverbs 29:27

Oil and water do not mix; and neither will two individuals pursuing different lifestyles!

blurry vision

It is not good to show partiality- yet a man may sin for a piece of bread!
Proverbs 28:21




No one likes favoritism when it's not directed towards them, but how easily we are swayed when we're the focus!

attention, please!

Know well the condition of your flock,
and pay attention to your herds,
for wealth is not forever;
not even a crown lasts for all time.
When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,
lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.
Proverbs 27:23-26

Paying attention pays off! Caring for your possessions means they'll be there when you need them.

liar liar pants on fire

 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech
and harbors deceit within.
When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
The one who digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever rolls a stone—
it will come back on him.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Proverbs 26: 24-28

Telling a lie is like throwing matches as you hike through the forest; not every one will start a fire, but the one that does will be one you can't put out, and it will likely burn you!

the winner

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
Proverbs 24:17-18

Nobody likes an obnoxious winner, and gloating over your enemies is like being an obnoxious winner!

Priorities

Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.
 When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
for suddenly it sprouts wings,
flying like an eagle toward heaven.
Proverbs 23:4-5

Trust the Lord and know yourself well enough to put your priorities in the right place; true riches aren't always found in bank accounts!

Traditions

Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,
that your fathers set up.
Proverbs 22:28

Traditions are funny things; some kept for good reasons and others for no reason. However, most are formed from experience, and serve as guides to a good life.

Square footage

Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.
Prov 21:9

Carefully consider who you marry; even the largest house can feel small when you're constantly belittled!

eyes and ears

The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.
Proverbs 20:12

In other words, you're smart enough to see past surface appearances to the truth! The question is, are you looking?

the blame game

A man’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.
Proverbs 20:4

Next time you want to play the blame game, maybe you should look in the mirror!

Bridges

An offended brother is harder to reach
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.
Proverbs 18:19

Offenses and quarrels only destroy relationships creating division, but apologies and forgiveness build bridges that keep relationships open.

listen up

An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Proverbs 18:4

What are you listening to?

Timber!

Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18

The bigger they are, the harder they fall!

Smile!

All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15

It doesn't cost anything to smile!

Nationwide

Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Proverbs 14:34

Integrity of character isn't only for individuals; it applies to groups and nations, also!

guarded

From the words of his mouth,
a man will enjoy good things,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
The one who guards his mouth protects his life;
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
Proverbs 13:2-3

Gracious words and a guarded tongue generally bring good things!

Get rich quick

The one who works his land will have plenty of food,
but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.
Proverbs 12:11

Get rich quick schemes are often "get poor quick" schemes, so keep your day job!

action!

Those with twisted minds are detestable to the Lord,
but those with blameless conduct are His delight.
Proverbs 11:20

Thoughts become actions. What do your actions say about your thoughts?

Icing On the Cake

The Lord’s blessing enriches,
and struggle adds nothing to it.
Proverbs 10:22

Just as icing makes a cake even sweeter, so the blessing of the Lord makes life better!

Squeaky Wheels

For by Wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;
if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences
Proverbs 9:11-12

As the squeaky wheel eventually gets changed, the mocker is eventually removed from the team.

Cheap cheap

Doesn’t Wisdom  call out?
Doesn’t Understanding make her voice heard?
At the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads, she takes her stand.
Beside the gates  at the entry to  the city,
at the main entrance, she cries out:
“People, I call out to you;
my cry is to mankind.
Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.
Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.
For my mouth tells the truth,
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
none of them are deceptive or perverse.
All of them are clear to the perceptive,
and right to those who discover knowledge.
Accept my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
For wisdom is better than jewels,
and nothing desirable can compare with it.
Proverbs 8:1-11

Wisdom is attainable, but it comes at the cost of experience, hard work, and effort, but it is attainable, and cheaper than foolishness!

It's a trap!

 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor
or entered into an agreement with  a stranger,
you have been trapped by the words of your lips —
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
Do this, then, my son, and free yourself,
for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power:
Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.
Don’t give sleep to your eyes
or slumber to your eyelids.
Escape like a gazelle from a hunter,
like a bird from a fowler’s trap.
Proverbs 6:1-5

Financial entanglements are like traps; no matter which side you're one, free yourself as soon as possible!

Megaphones

My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.
Don’t lose sight of them;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
Guard your heart above all else,
for it is the source of life.
Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
Proverbs 4:20-24

As the eyes are windows to the soul, the mouth is a megaphone for the heart!

Storage space

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
listening closely  to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;
furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1-5

Many of us fill storage with unimportant items that are't valuable in the end. How many of us do the same with our minds instead of storing the commands of the Lord?

alarm systems

But whoever listens to me (wisdom) will live securely
and be free from the fear of danger.
Proverbs 1:33

Wisdom provides better security than any alarm system!