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Proverbs 15:23
Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!
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Genesis 41:38-57
So Pharaoh asked his officials,“ Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,“ Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”Pharaoh said to Joseph,“ I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second in command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted,“ Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt.And Pharaoh said to him,“ I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt.He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops.During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities.He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said,“ God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.”Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said,“ God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end.Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food.Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them,“ Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.”So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt.And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.
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Job 6:25
Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to?
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Proverbs 25:11-12
Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
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Daniel 2:46-48
Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him.The king said to Daniel,“ Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.”Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.
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Mark 12:32-34
The teacher of religious law replied,“ Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other.And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him,“ You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
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Mark 12:17-18
“ Well, then,” Jesus said,“ give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees— religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question:
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Proverbs 16:1
We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
