Food for Thought

Today’s devotional is a little different.  I was reading proverbs from around the world and I thought it would be helpful to share some of these thought provoking words with you.  Some are funny but others ring with truth.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. 

Zambian Proverbs

You learn a lot about a man by his behavior when hungry

You have to look after wealth, but knowledge looks after you.

Lies have short legs.

One who enters a forest does not listen to the breaking of the twigs in the brush.

To get rid of anger, first weed out the bitter roots.

He who paddles two canoes, sinks.

Belgian Proverbs

Don't make use of another's mouth unless it has been leant to you.

Truth seldom finds a home.
We have quite enough to do weeding our own garden.

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, he world cries and you rejoice.

Egyptian Proverbs

A camel does not tease another camel about his humps.

A monkey is a gazelle in its mother's eyes.

Be patient with a bad neighbor. Maybe he'll leave or a disaster will take him out.

Education is what you know, not what's in the book.

He who knows not shame does whatever he likes.

Honorable is the person who is aware of his power, yet refrains from inflicting bad things onto others.

I believe what you say, I'm only surprised at what you do.

If there were no wrongdoing, there would be no forgiveness.

If you marry a monkey for his wealth, the money goes and the monkey remains as is.

Learn politeness from the impolite.

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Gaelic Proverbs

Do not judge by appearances; a rich heart may be under a poor coat.

If the best man's faults were written on his forehead, it would make him pull his hat over his eyes.

The bitter cup we strive to remove from us holds the medicine we are most in need of.

Who God does not teach, man cannot.

Omani Proverbs

Every village has certain drawbacks to it.

Pennsylvania Dutch Proverbs

Our faults irritate us most when we see them in others.

Persian Proverbs

A bad wound heals, but a bad word doesn't.

An arrow can be pulled out of a wound, but a hurtful word stays forever in your heart.

Do not let the cat watch over the bacon.

Don't be afraid of he who's loud and noisy, be afraid of he who's head is down.

Doubt makes the mountain which faith can move.

Every man goes down to his death bearing in his hands only that which he has given away.

Forgiveness hides a pleasure that you can't get back from revenge.

From you motion, from God blessing.

God gives to us according to the measure of our hearts.

Samoan Proverbs

You shake in vain the branch that bears no fruit.

Texan Proverbs

Always ride your horse in the direction it's going.

When you throw dirt, you lose ground.

Don't worry about biting off more than you can chew. Your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think.

If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.

It's better when people wonder why you didn't say something than why you did.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I enjoy reading the Book of Proverbs in the Bible.  There are so many nuggets of wisdom found in those pages.  Help me to apply the knowledge I get from Proverbs to my life.  I want to bring You glory and honor by the way I live my life, but to do that I must exercise Your wisdom.  I praise You today and every day.   

Scripture: To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:2-7