Study Desk

God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage.

The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?

God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God ; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.

We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives.

Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance.

A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they've planned.

Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.

Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived, can get the better of God .

Do your best, prepare for the worst— then trust God to bring victory.

The rich and the poor shake hands as equals— God made them both!

The payoff for meekness and Fear-of- God is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.

God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship.

God guards knowledge with a passion, but he'll have nothing to do with deception.

The mouth of a whore is a bottomless pit; you'll fall in that pit if you're on the outs with God .

Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever, you'll end up the poorer for it. Listen carefully to my wisdom; take to heart what I can teach you. You'll treasure its sweetness deep within; you'll give it bold expression in your speech. To make sure your foundation is trust in God , I'm laying it all out right now just for you. I'm giving you thirty sterling principles— tested guidelines to live by. Believe me—these are truths that work, and will keep you accountable to those who sent you. 1 Don't walk on the poor just because they're poor, and don't use your position to crush the weak, Because God will come to their defense; the life you took, he'll take from you and give back to them. 2 Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious— don't get infected. 3 Don't gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hocking your house against a lucky chance. The time will come when you have to pay up; you'll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back. 4 Don't stealthily move back the boundary lines staked out long ago by your ancestors. 5 Observe people who are good at their work— skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a backseat to anyone.

Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever, you'll end up the poorer for it. Listen carefully to my wisdom; take to heart what I can teach you. You'll treasure its sweetness deep within; you'll give it bold expression in your speech. To make sure your foundation is trust in God , I'm laying it all out right now just for you. I'm giving you thirty sterling principles— tested guidelines to live by. Believe me—these are truths that work, and will keep you accountable to those who sent you.

1 Don't walk on the poor just because they're poor, and don't use your position to crush the weak, Because God will come to their defense; the life you took, he'll take from you and give back to them.

14 Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of- God — That's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing.

27 Don't interfere with good people's lives; don't try to get the best of them. No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don't stay down long; Soon they're up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.