27, 28

27.

1. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Reference to Matt 6:34 - “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of it’s own.”
Only God knows what tomorrow will bring and most days I am much happier about tomorrow being in God’s hands than in mine, but somedays I’m only thinking about tomorrow.

5. Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Amen! You are hiding your love by not confessing to your brothers and sisters that you are worried about them (for any reason) and by not holding them accountable and to a higher calling.
6. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

9. Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.

17. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

19. As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

All this to say: friends are important. Deep relationships with those friends, even more so.
Those friendships keep you strong and make you stronger. They provide wisdom and insight. And the heart really shows who you are – not your head…

28.

12. When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.

13. He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
So much easier to hide and conceal – but then it gets worse. But if we confess, we find sweet mercy and grace.

14. Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
First reading this, it seems like these 2 lines are unrelated (at least to me) but really exactly what I am doing when I harden my heart is say “it’s okay. I’m strong. I don’t need anyone.” This is something I’ve been working on. It was easy for me to put on a front after some pretty bad heartbreak and “not need anyone” but I’ve changed a lot since then, and am definitely a lot “softer” but I still struggle with that. It’s so much easier to put up that front. I don’t allow myself to be vulnerable with others and especially with God. I can say all I want that I trust in God and his plan for my life, but unless I soften up a little bit I’m not completely fearing the Lord and apparently I fall into trouble.

19. He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
God, I pray that you show me my land versus my fantasies and show me where my purpose lies and in what land I should be working.

26. He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

27. He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.