No one is established by wickedness

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good. – Psalm 53:1

Proverbs 12:

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who hates reproof is stupid.
² A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
³ No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

¹³ An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
    but the righteous escapes from trouble.
¹⁴ From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
    and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but a wise man listens to advice.
¹⁶ The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
¹⁷ Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness utters deceit.
¹⁸ There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

All the world’s a stage and the powerful are its actors.

Their scripts are not true however, and their plots are conceived in evil.

One can hardly discern where to stop when reading the wisdom of the Bible. Yet who among leaders on the world’s stage reads Proverbs, let alone heeds God’s advice?

Have you ever considered the relationship between wisdom and leadership, between the fool and the wise? Proverbs addresses it.

God appoints kings and leaders: righteousness confirms their faith, but foolishness troubles their lands.

²¹ No ill befalls the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.
²² Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.
²³ A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Do a people set against God not continue to choose rulers who echo our discontent, then turn against them when theirs lies are established?

Fools will follow a boisterous king

But the wise keep silent until the mighty fall.

^{Proverbs 13:3} Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

So many would have their say with contentious and evil words.

Even in the palaces of the powerful wisdom’s table has no host.

---

To be continued…