Money (Prov 11:15-11:19)

“To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble.

But there is safety in refusing to loan money.

A gracious woman gets honor.

But she who hates virtue is covered with shame.

The timid become destitute.

But the aggressive gain riches.

Those who are kind

Reward themselves.

But the cruel do themselves harm.

The wicked earn no real gain.

But those who sow righteousness

Get a true reward.

Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live.

But whoever pursues evil will die.”

There was no safely in guaranteeing loans for strangers. A gracious woman has great honor, while those without virtue are covered in shame. The timid will become destitute, while the aggressive will get rich. The kind people take care of themselves, while the cruel people harm themselves. The wicked never earn any real gain in life. However, those who sow in righteousness will get a true reward. Those who are steadfast in righteousness will live, while the pursuers of evil will die. Money has to be used correctly.

Rescue me from the wicked (Ps 71:4-71:6)

“Rescue me!

O my God!

From the hand of the wicked!

Rescue me!

From the grasp of the unjust!

Rescue me!

From the cruel man!

Yahweh!

You are my hope!

You are my trust!

From my youth!

Yahweh!

I have leaned upon you from my birth.

You took me

From my mother’s womb.

My praise is continually of you.”

Another common theme is the rescue from the hands of the wicked. This psalmist is no exception. He wants to be rescued and saved from the wicked, the unjust, and the cruel ones. This psalmist has hoped and trusted in Yahweh from the day of his birth to the present time. All his life he has continually praised God.