Proverbs 19: On life and conduct

Wealth adds many friends. A poor man is separated from his friend. Better is a poor man who walks with integrity than he who is perverse and a fool. A man's discretion makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook a transgression. A foolish son is destruction to his father. The contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. Many plans are in a man's heart. It is the counsel of the Lord that will stand. A rascally witness makes mockery of justice. The mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity. Judgments are prepared for scoffers. Blows for the back are prepared for fools.

Proverbs is a book that speaks of relationships. There is the relationship of a man to a friend. A true friend does not care about your gifts, but to the false friend without gifts there is no friendship. There is a relationship with a man to his community. Wisdom dictates that one should be slow to anger and eager to forgive and forget. A relationship of a son to his father is based on conduct. A son's conduct either exhalts his father or makes a mockery of him. A wife can either be a gift from God to a man or the source of constant irritation. Truthfulness is the keynote of the wise, but scoffers purge justice.

Daily Prayer: Lord my relationship to you governs my relationships in the world. Once you and I are true to each other, truthfulness and justice and mercy will flow from this relationship into the world. Counsel me, my Lord, and make my paths straight. In your holy name I pray Amen.