23)Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring issues of life.

24) Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.

Matthew 12:34 says: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." What we say with our lips is what is in our heart. How do we change the heart? By turning it over to God. When we invite Jesus into our lives and in our heart we are renewed and have true life. What a wonderful thing it is to have the King of Kings and Lord of Lords dwelling inside us and guiding us everyday! What is in your heart today? Is it Jesus?

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20) My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

21) Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.

22) For they are life to those who find them. and health to all their flesh.

Here is an exhortation to pay attention to his words. That they will be life and health. How can that be? When we are healed on the inside, then the outside is only temporary, because we have a blessed hope of spending eternity in heaven with our heavenly Father.

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18) But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

19) The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

What a wonderful promise verse 18 is! The path of salvation is Christ and that perfect day is His return for His bride. But those in darkeness will miss this day.

"But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." 1John 2:11

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." Revelation 19:7

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What a wonderful message and reminder.  I really needed to hear this today.  Thank you for sharing these with all of us.

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14) Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil.

15) Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on.

16) For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

17) For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

When I first read this, I thought: Oh that's not me! But how many times are we tempted to talk about people behind their back. Or want to tell those 'white' lies. How about thinking ill of someone you don't like? Those things are temptations that can corrupt you. It's easy to be brought into that gossiping with another person.

"Don not be decieved; Evil company corrupts good habits."  (1Corinthians 15:33)

We need to set our minds on the things of God and that will keep us free from the things that cause us to stumble.

""For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:5-6

"You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." 2Peter 3:17-18

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10) Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.

11) I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths.

12) When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.

13) Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her for she is your life.

Here we hear Solomon exhorting us to remember what we've learned about wisdom: get wisdom, understanding and knowledge. In finding those things we will not stumble and they are our life. We remember that it says that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7) When we acknowledge God with all our hearts we we learn that His goodnes to us has been great.

"Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you." 1Samuel 12:24

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7) Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

8) Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

9) She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.

Yesterday, we read in verses 5-6 the same exhortation: get wisdom and get understanding. And we discovered that we can receive those things through seeking God and studying his word. In verse 8 we are told to exalt wisdom and honor. Could this mean exalting the Lord? In 1Samuel 2:30 it says:

"But now the Lord says: Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed."

It is the Lord who gives honor to whom He chooses. And we are to exalt Him above all else. How wonderful to say Jesus-- I love you and know that He cares for us always.

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5) Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6) Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you.

It says here to love wisdom and understanding and it will preserve you. From what? In 2Thessalonians 2:10 it says its from "all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of truth, that they might be saved."

That deception is the works of satan and unbelief in Jesus Christ. We need to love the Lord with all our hearts and He will send the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things in truth and understanding so we will be saved from deception and into eternal life.

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1) Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding;

2) For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.

3) When I was my father's son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,

4) He also taught me, and said to me: Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live.

These words were written by Solomon and in 1Chronicles 28:9 it shows what his father David said to him:

"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever."

In many places we have the same exhortation: Keep my commands and live (vs 4). Proverbs 7:2 says the same thing. Throughout the entire bible, the greatest was love. Love your neighbor as yourself. Husbands love your wives. The best thing we can do is said in Deuteronomy 6:5:

"You shall love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

When we focus ourselves on the Lord, the thing that happens is we began to reflect the Lord in our lives. We can't help but love others. We are free to live our lives Christlike. And that is the living that verse 4 is talking about.

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31) Do not envy the oppressor, and choose none of his ways;

32) For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, but His secret counsel is with the upright.

33) The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just.

34) Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.

35) The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools.

How wonderful to have the "secret counsel" of the Lord! (vs.32). In Psalms 25:14, David wrote:

"The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant."

A covenant, according to the dictionary, is a formal binding agreement. What "covenant" would God want to make with His people? I can sum it up with a well used verse, John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Our covenant with the Almighty God is everlasting life through the Lamb of God who laid His life down and shed His blood so the stain of sin would be forgiven once and for all.

These Proverbs go on to say that God blesses the home of the just and gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 says:

"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." For we were saved by grace, not by something we did, it was a free gift from God. As in Ephesians 2:8-9:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

What a wonderful God we have! He has loved us so much that He has given us everything we need to have a peaceful life. I praise Him this morning and thank Him for His most precious gift.

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27) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.

28) Do not say to your neighbor, "go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it," when you have it with you.

29) Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he dwells by you for safety's sake.

30) Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

Here we have instructions for living with each other. Verse 27 talks about not withholding good when it is in your power. Romans 13:7-8 says "Render therefore to all their due; taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."

Verse 28 is tied in with Leviticus 19:13: "You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning."

To sum it up, Romans 12:17-18 says "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."

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21) My son, let them not depart from your eyes - keep sound wisdom and discretion;

22) So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck.

23) Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble.

24) When you lie down you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

25) Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

26) For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.

In his discussion of wisdom, understanding and knowledge, there is now added discretion to the things that you are to learn. Just what is discretion? It is the quality of being discreet. And that means showing good judgement and capable of observing prudent silence. Sometimes when we stop talking and listen we can learn a lot about people just by what they are saying. What comes out of the mouth is a direct indication of what is going on inside.

Verses 22-25 shows what will happen for you when you learn these things and verse 26 reminds that the Lord will be your confidence. Why did he use the word confindence? The dictionary say that word means: trust, self assurance, boldness or a state of trust or intimacy. I like the last one where we have a state of trust or intimacy with the Lord. That requires faith on our part to put our trust in the Lord. And this goes back to Chapter 3:5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

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19) The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

      By understanding He established the heavens;

20) By His knowledge the depths were broken up,

     And clouds drop down the dew.

What an amazing thought that 'by wisom' the earth was founded. And what great understanding our God has that He could establish the heavens in their place. There is another place where the bible talks about the depths being broken up. That's in Genesis 7:11:

"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."

That's when it rained for forty days and forty nights. The Lord had control of the depths of the oceans and the rain from the clouds. It says it was by His knowledge. His knowledge, wisdom and understanding far surpass anything. What a wonderful God we have and how He loves us so much that He wants to share it with us through His son Jesus Christ. Are we ready to meet the God of all wisdom, knowledge and understanding? Are we ready for the bridegroom who comes for His bride?

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13) Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;

14) For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.

15) She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

16) Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor.

17) Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18) She is the tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

Where do we find wisdom? I believe it is found when we seek the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind. The Holy Spirit teaches us through the word, and brings things to our remembrence. Also, we can compare what Jesus said about the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 13:44:

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

Having the kingdom of heaven, or the Lord, is worth more than all the riches you can find and all wisdom comes from the Father in heaven. We are blessed as we seek the Lord and spend time in His word.

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11) My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,

     Nor detest His correction.

12) For whom the Lord loves He corrects,

     Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

It's not ideal to be corrected when you are doing something wrong, but when a child is in danger, out of love you have to protect them. When God is chastising us, he is teaching us usually for our protection and out of love.

Hebrews 12:7-8 says If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

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My lamp is ready and I'm watching and waiting.  My favorite verse in connection with the Rapture is this:

          "And at midnight there was a cry made,
                Behold, the Bridegroom cometh;
                        go ye out to meet Him"
                                     (Matthew 25:6).

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9) Honor the Lord with your posessions,

    And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

10)So your barns will be filled with plenty,

    And your vats will overflow with new wine.

In Exodus 23:19 it was written: "The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God." God's math is different than ours. When we honor the Lord with our firstfruits, we end up with more.

Another firstfruit that is in 1 Corinthians 15:20 is Christ: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

Why was Christ likened to the firstfruits? He was the offering laid out at Calvery so we could all be made alive through His shed blood. We can now go to the Father because we have access through the Son, Jesus Christ.

 1Corinthians 15:23 says: "But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming."  We need to be ready for His coming. Look up and keep the wicks trimmed in your lamps, for the Bridegroom will be coming for His bride.

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Karen. . . .there is another scripture from Romans that fits right along with this proverb.

Romans 1:22

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

It is hard for a wise man to be humble and humble is what the Lord seeks in us.

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7) Do not be wise in your own eyes;

    Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

8) It will be health to your flesh,

    And strength to your bones.

Another word for 'depart' is shun. So it would say shun evil. Do not associate with it. We sometimes see things we know are wrong and stay to watch. But the bible says depart. Go away, do not stay, shun it. We need to associate with the brethern of God. They will help us stay on the right path and also exhort us so we are not wise in our own minds. Or, think we know it all.

Romans 12:16 says "Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion."

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5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    And lean on your own understanding;

6) In all your way acknowledge Him,

    And He shall direct your paths.

These two verses have always been two of my favorites. They seem to sum up most of what the last two chapters have been saying. When we turn completely to God and trust Him for everything, He becomes our guide through life. If we have turn our hearts over to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit dwells in us and teaches us all things. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." John 14:26

Psalm 37:4-5 says: "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

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1) My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands;

2) For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

3) Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the table of your heart,

4) And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:1 appears to promise a long life and peace to those who do not forget the teachings, but keep the commands in their heart. Yet some people don't have peace and die at a young age. Does this mean God doesn't keep His word?

This proverb isn't offering immunity from illness, accidents or troubles. Rather, proverbs such as this point to general principle, which if applied consistently to our lives, will save us from unnecessary pain and suffering.

These verses also are further benefits of wisdom that we have been learning about in chapters 1&2.

Another verse that ties into these instrustions is Romans 14:16-18:

16)Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18) For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

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Thanks Michael, I appreciate your kind words of encouragement.

I was under the impression by my studies that Solomon wrote most of Proverbs. Did you read something that says that King David wrote some of these? I'd sure like to know, if you did.

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Karen thanks for this study,I love reading about King David he was an amazing man.

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18) For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead;

19) None who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life--

20) So you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness.

21) For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

22) But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

This is the end of chapter 3's exhotation on wisdom. Verses 18 and 19 were referring back to verses 16-17 and what happens to someone who practices adultery. It is a very strong warning, but God even put it in His original commandments to the children of Israel.

In verse 22 another word for 'cut off' is destroyed and for 'earth' is land. So another way of saying that sentence is: The wicked will be destroyed from the land. The land was very important to God and I'm wondering here if another way to think about this is that the wicked will be cut off from the promised land? And how does that apply to us? What promised land is there for us? I believe that it is the promised land of being with Jesus and reigning with Him in the new heaven and the new earth. What a glorious time that will be!

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10) When wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

11) descretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you,

12) to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things,

13) from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness;

14) who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perverity of the wicked;

15) whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths;

16) to deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words,

17) who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God.

It is wisdom, knowledge, discretion and understanding that will keep you in the days of peril. Those things are found by staying close to God and keeping on the straight path of righteouness through Jesus Christ. He is our redreemer and our comforter and when we invite Him into our hearts He sends us the Holy Spirit to help teach us all things.

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6) For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7) He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

8) He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.

9) Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

These promises of wisdom, knowledge and understanding are for those who choose to walk with the Lord. We have a choice to walk the right path and He will lead and guide us and won't withhold any good thing for His children. Psalm 84:11:

"For the Lord God is a sun and sheild; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

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1) My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you,

2) So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

3) Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding,

4) If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;

5) Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Verse 1 talks about the action of receiving these words and treasuring them within you. When man goes after treasure, he's looking for the most valuable thing on earth. We need to seek after God's word as if it were the most valuable thing we could possess... because it is!

Verses 2-3  include wisdom, understanding and discernment as attributes to seek out. They are not one in the same, but each a different part of the knowledge that God wants to impart to us.

Verse 4 again talks about seeking these things as precious valuables that need to be sought after. And after you find them, what do you do with them? Do you lay them around carelessly? No, you guard them and treasure them (vs 1). Then, as verse 5 says, you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. That knowledge is waiting for you to seek it out as you get into the word of God and "study to show yourself approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2Timothy 2:15)

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Kare thanks this is a great study. 

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29) Because they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord,

30) They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.

31) Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.

32) For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33) But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without the fear of evil.

This is the last part of chapter one's exhortation on wisdom. Note that in verse 32, the words "turning away" are also translated as "waywardness", and in verse 33 the word "secure" is also "at ease".

We have the promise in verse 33 again, that whoever listens will be secure, without fear of evil. Does that mean that everything is always going to be just happy-go-lucky all the time? I doubt it, but we do have the promise of salvation and that is in Jesus Christ. As we learn how to do His will we become stronger in the Lord and we can face thew challenges that arise. Ephesian 5:15-17 fits in with these verses:

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." 

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Chapter 1:24-28

24) Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

25) Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke,

26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror comes,

27) When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anquish come upon you.

28) Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

These verses are a continuation from verses 20-23 where he is talking about those "simple ones, scorners and fools" who do not seek out the Lord. We now have a new covenant in Jesus and by faith are able to come to God. We have a promise in Hebrews 11:6:

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

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Chapter 1:20-23

20) Wisdom call aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares.

21) She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words:

22) How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.

23) Turn at my rebuke: Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Solomon, having earlier showed how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptation of Satan, here in these 4 verses began to declare how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God. Christ himself is Wisdom. Here there are 3 sorts of persons called by Him:

Simple ones. Sinners are fond of their simple notions of good and evil, their simple prejudices against the way of God.

Scorners. They are proud, jovial people who make a jest of everything. Scoffers at religion, that run down everything sacred and serious.

Fools. Those are the worst   of fools that hate to be taught and have a rooted dilike to serious godliness. The precept is plain; Turn at My reproof. Christ is asking us to turn again to Him as He teaches us His ways and He will pour out His Spirit on us when we accept Him in our hearts.

I especially like this promise in verse 23: "And I will make my words known to you." Here He is telling us as we turn to Him and recieve the Holy Spirit, we will gain understanding. The more we walk with Him, the more we will begin to understand.

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10) My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11) If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;  12) let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;  13) we shall find all kinds of precious posessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil;  14) cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse" --

15) My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path;  16) for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

17)  Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird;  18)  But they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives.

19)  So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.

Verse 10-19 - Wicked people are zealous in seducing others into the paths of the destroyer: sinners love company in sin. But they have so much the more to answer for. How cautious young people should be! "Do not consent." Do not say as they say, nor do as they do, or would have thee to do; have no fellowship with them. Who could think that it should be a pleasure to one man to destroy another! See their idea of worldly wealth; but it is neither substance, nor precious. It is the ruinous mistake of thousands, that they overvalue the wealth of this world. Men promise themselves in vain that sin will turn to their advantage. The way of sin is down-hill; men cannot stop themselves. Would young people shun temporal and eternal ruin, let them refuse to take one step in these destructive paths. Men's greediness of gain hurries them upon practices which will not suffer them or others to live out half their days. What is a man profited, though he gain the world, if he lose his life? much less if he lose his soul?

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8) My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; 9) for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.

These two verses carry on about wisdom, as Jeanette has shown in a beautiful graphic (thanks Jeanette!). These are directed to the children who not only need instruction, but because of their willful nature need the law. Matthew Henry said: "Let Divine truths and commands be to us most honourable; let us value them, and then they shall be so to us."

I'm curious about the "graceful ornament on your head" and "chains about your neck". Does anyone have any insight to those particular descriptions? Perhaps it was the way they dressed in Solomon's time?

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Karen. . . .You are truly the "sister of my soul" and we have done it again.  I spent Tuesday evening and all morning yesterday making some new Scripture Graphics to post and look what I made and posted today before coming in to read your thread..........

It's just uncanny the way our minds travel in the same channel at the same time so often.  I think this is going to be a great thread and I hope everyone will participate in it.  If my graphic has interrupted your train of thought, please feel free to delete this post and I won't feel in the least bit upset about it.  Carry on, my friend!

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The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

2) To know wisdom and instruction, to percieve the words of understanding, 3) to recieve the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgement, and equity; 4) to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion-- 5) a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6) to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

Giving advice is big business. From daytime talk shows to advice columns and self-help books, our culture is glutted with knowledge -- but often starved for wisdom. One reason is the complexity of life; we need practical counsel that is also spiritual. Proverbs offers this spiritual depth to issues ranging from managing money to the dangers of adultery to learning how to identify true friends. Here you can find wisdom that works and insights that won't wear out.

Just what is a proverb? A proverb, sometimes called a "maxim", is a truth condensed into a few words and stated in a memorable fashion which has application to a variety of situations in life. Watch for contrasting issues such as foolishness and wisdom, laziness and diligence, adultery and faithfulness. Also look for principles of building strong marriages, parenting and relationships on the job.

 Pay close attention to the differing outcomes of those who follow God's wisdom and those who don't. Verse 7 is an excellent example of that contrast - and they are likened to "fools" for despising God's wisdom and instruction.

In verse 6 we have another word: "enigma". That word is translated in some versions as: parable. We're familiar with parables when Jesus used them to teach.

Here in verse 7 it says that the beginning of knowledge  is the fear of the Lord. How basic it becomes because as we learn about God the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to more and more truths.

 [ send green star]