Day 168: Raca!

Today's Reading: Proverbs 27-29

There are raca among us. There is foolishness in each of us.

The proverbs help us to notice the fool and the foolishness around and within us so we can set foolishness far away from us and grow in wisdom.

So here's what God's wisdom says about fools in the book of Proverbs.

He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.
He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.
A fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.
A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury-- how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.


Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food,
If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!

Jesus said we should not call each other "fool!"--"raca"--but we are supposed to recognize foolishness in others. We are especially exhorted to recognize foolishness in ourselves and be teachable in wisdom.

It is truly the wise one who know her own foolishness and turns from her ways.