The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction;
    the common sense of the godly preserves them.

10 When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers;
    when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.

11 When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes;
    evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.

12 Mean-spirited slander is heartless;
    quiet discretion accompanies good sense.

13 A gadabout gossip can’t be trusted with a secret,
    but someone of integrity won’t violate a confidence.

14 Without good direction, people lose their way;
    the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.

15 Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned;
    if you keep a cool head, you’ll avoid rash bargains.

16 A woman of gentle grace gets respect,
    but men of rough violence grab for loot.

17 When you’re kind to others, you help yourself;
    when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.

18 Bad work gets paid with a bad check;
    good work gets solid pay. (The Message)

Reading verse 11a caused me to think about Jer.29:7:

”Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

I was at a prayer meeting this morning, and the leader reminded us of the reality of John 7:38, where Jesus said, ”Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” I thought about our village, which many people would say is a ‘special’ place, and I wondered to what degree this ‘specialness’ can be related to the presence of many Christians living in it, and praying for it, acting as ‘salt’ and ‘light’? What ”rivers” are flowing here!

The Bible encourages us to pray for our leaders (see 1 Timothy 2:1-4). May God give to them ”good direction” and ”wise counsel” that they may pass it on to us. How much we need it.