Day 44 – Godly Wisdom

₁The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.

₂Here are proverbs that will help you to recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. ₃They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. ₄They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. ₅These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, ₆so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.

₇To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the LORD. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.

₈Pay attention to what your father and mother tell you, my child. ₉Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.

₁₀When sinners tempt you, my child, don't give in. ₁₁Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it! ₁₂They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them! ₁₃We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot! ₁₄Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”

₁₅Don't go with people like that, my child. Stay away from them. ₁₆They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. ₁₇It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching, ₁₈but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die. ₁₉Robbery always claims the life of the robber — this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.

₂₀Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and market places, ₂₁calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:

₂₂“Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy pouring scorn on knowledge? Will you never learn? ₂₃Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. ₂₄I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. ₂₅You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. ₂₆So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will mock you when terror strikes — ₂₇when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. ₂₈Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. ₂₉You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the LORD. ₃₀You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. ₃₁So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. ₃₂Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. ₃₃But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”

₁Learn what I teach you, my child, and never forget what I tell you to do. ₂Listen to what is wise and try to understand it. ₃Yes, beg for knowledge; plead for insight. ₄Look for it as hard as you would for silver or some hidden treasure. ₅If you do, you will know what it means to fear the LORD and you will succeed in learning about God. ₆It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. ₇He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest. ₈He protects those who treat others fairly, and guards those who are devoted to him.

₉If you listen to me, you will know what is right, just, and fair. You will know what you should do. ₁₀You will become wise, and your knowledge will give you pleasure. ₁₁Your insight and understanding will protect you ₁₂and prevent you from doing the wrong thing. They will keep you away from people who stir up trouble by what they say — ₁₃those who have abandoned a righteous life to live in the darkness of sin, ₁₄those who find pleasure in doing wrong and who enjoy senseless evil, ₁₅unreliable people who cannot be trusted.

₁₆You will be able to resist any immoral woman who tries to seduce you with her smooth talk, ₁₇who is faithless to her own husband and forgets her sacred vows. ₁₈If you go to her house, you are travelling the road to death. To go there is to approach the world of the dead. ₁₉No one who visits her ever comes back. He never returns to the road to life. ₂₀So you must follow the example of good people and live a righteous life. ₂₁Righteous people — people of integrity — will live in this land of ours. ₂₂But God will snatch the wicked from the land and pull sinners out of it like plants from the ground.

₁Don't forget what I teach you, my child. Always remember what I tell you to do. ₂My teaching will give you a long and prosperous life. ₃Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them round your neck; write them on your heart. ₄If you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you.

₅Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. ₆Remember the LORD in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. ₇Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the LORD and refuse to do wrong. ₈If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains. ₉Honour the LORD by making him an offering from the best of all that your land produces. ₁₀If you do, your barns will be filled with grain, and you will have too much wine to be able to store it all.

₁₁When the LORD corrects you, my child, pay close attention and take it as a warning. ₁₂The LORD corrects those he loves, as parents correct a child of whom they are proud. ₁₃Happy is anyone who becomes wise — who gains understanding. ₁₄There is more profit in it than there is in silver; it is worth more to you than gold. ₁₅Wisdom is more valuable than jewels; nothing you could want can compare with it. ₁₆Wisdom offers you long life, as well as wealth and honour. ₁₇Wisdom can make your life pleasant and lead you safely through it. ₁₈Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life.

₂₁Hold on to your wisdom and insight, my child. Never let them get away from you. ₂₂They will provide you with life — a pleasant and happy life. ₂₃You can go safely on your way and never even stumble. ₂₄You will not be afraid when you go to bed, and you will sleep soundly through the night. ₂₅You will not have to worry about sudden disasters, such as come on the wicked like a storm. ₂₆The LORD will keep you safe. He will not let you fall into a trap.

₂₇Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. ₂₈Never tell your neighbours to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now. ₂₉Don't plan anything that will hurt your neighbours; they live beside you, trusting you. ₃₀Don't argue with others for no reason when they have never done you any harm. ₃₁Don't be jealous of violent people or decide to act as they do, ₃₂because the LORD hates people who do evil, but he takes righteous people into his confidence. ₃₃The LORD puts a curse on the homes of the wicked, but blesses the homes of the righteous. ₃₄He has no use for conceited people, but shows favour to those who are humble. ₃₅Wise people will gain an honourable reputation, but stupid people will only add to their own disgrace.

₁Listen to what your father teaches you, my children. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. ₂What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all. ₃When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son, ₄my father would teach me. He would say, “Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live. ₅Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. ₆Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. ₇Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. ₈Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honour. ₉She will be your crowning glory.”

₁₀Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life. ₁₁I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live. ₁₂Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run. ₁₃Always remember what you have learnt. Your education is your life — guard it well. ₁₄Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. ₁₅Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way. ₁₆Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone. ₁₇Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.

₁₈The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. ₁₉The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.

₂₀Pay attention to what I say, my child. Listen to my words. ₂₁Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. ₂₂They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. ₂₃Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. ₂₄Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. ₂₅Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame. ₂₆Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. ₂₇Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.