Wisdom is better than gold, Understanding to be chosen than silver

[Book of Jeremiah]

Proverbs 16: 16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

The Book of Proverbs is a book that can quite literally turn your life around. Considering the times we are living in and the tragedies that have been reported here lately, this is a timely Word to consider.

Purpose and Theme

It is written:

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

For attaining wisdom and discipline,
for understanding words of insight.
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair,
for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-

let the wise listen and add to their learning
and let the discerning get guidance

for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1: 1-7

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning against Enticement:

It is written:

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

They will be a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give into them.

If they say, "Come along with us, let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul, let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole like those who go down to the pit ( hell) , we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder, throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse.

My son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths,

for their feet rush into sin,
they are swift to shed blood,

How useless to spread a net
in full view of all the birds!

Those men lie in wait for their own blood,
they waylay only themselves!

Such is the end of all who go after
ill - gotten gain,

it takes away the lives of all who get it.

Proverbs 1: 8 - 19

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Warnings Against Rejecting Wisdom

It is written:

Wisdom calls aloud in the street,
she raises her voice in the public squares,

at the head of the noisy streets
she cries out,

in the gateways of the city she makes her speech.

How long will you simple ones
love your own ways?

How long will mockers delight in mockery,
and fools hate knowledge?

If you had responded to my rebuke,
I would have poured out my heart to you

and made my thoughts known to you
But since you rejected me when I called

and no one gave heed when I
stretched out my hand,

sinc you ignored all my advice
and would not accept my rebuke,

I in turn will laugh at your disaster
I will mock when calamity overtakes you -

when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
When disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,

when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

Then they will call to me but I will not answer
they will look for me but will not find me.

Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD,

since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,

they will eat of the fruit of their own ways
and be filled with the fruit of
their schemes.

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will
destroy them,

but whoever listens to me will live
in safety
and be at ease, without fear
of harm.

Proverbs 1: 20 - 33

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

It is Written:

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands
within you,

turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to
understanding,

and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God,

and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding,

He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair-every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul,

Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

Wisdom will save you from the
ways of wicked men,

from men whose words are perverse,
who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

and rejoice in the perverseness of evil
whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

It will save you from the adultress,
for the wayward wife with her seductive words,

who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.

For her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirit of the dead,

None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.

Thus you will walk in the ways of good men
and keep to the paths of the righteous.

For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it,

but the wicked will be cut off from the land
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Proverbs 2:1-22

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Further Benefits of Wisdom

It is Written:

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commandments in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you
bind them around your neck

write them on the tablet of your heart,
Then you will win favor and a good name
In the sight of God and man.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding,

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes,
fear the LORD and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

Honor the LORD with your wealth
with the firstfruits of all your crops

when your barns will be filled to overflowing
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

My son, do not despise the LORD'S discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,

because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding.

For she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold,

She is more precious than rubies,
nothing you desire can compare with her,

Long life is in her right hand,
in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace,

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,
those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place,

By his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight,

They will be life to you,
an ornament to grace your neck,

Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble,

when you lie down,
your sleep will be sweet.

Have no fear of sudden disaster,
or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act,

Do not say to your neighbor,
Come back later, I'll give it tomorrow-
when you have it with you.

Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you,

Do not accuse a man for no reason -
when he has done you no harm.

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,
for the LORD detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence.

The LORD'S curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous,

He mocks proud mockers,
but gives grace to the humble

The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame.

Proverbs 3: 1: 35

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Wisdom is Supreme

It is Written:

Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction:
pay attention and gain understanding

I give you sound learning
so do not forsake my teaching.

When I was a boy in my father's house
still tender, and an only child of my mother,

he taught me and said,
Lay hold of my words with all your heart
keep my commandments and you will live.

Get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget my words nor swerve from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you.
Love her and she will watch over you.

Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost you everything you have, get understanding.

Esteem her, and she will exalt you.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor.

Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.

I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you in along straight paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered,
when you run, you will not stumble.

Hold onto instruction, do not let it go.
guard it well, for it is your life.

Do not set your foot on the path of the wicked,
or walk in the way of evil men.

Avoid it, do not travel on it,
turn from it and go on your way.

For they cannot sleep till they do evil,
they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

The path of righteousness is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness,
they do not know what makes them stumble.

My son, pay attention to what I say,
listen closely to my words,

Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart.

for they are life to those who find them,
and health to a man's whole body.

Above all else, guard your heart.
For it is the wellspring of life.

Put away all perversity from your mouth,
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.

Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.

Do not swerve to the right or the left,
keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4: 1- 27

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Warning Against Adultery

It is Written:

My son, pay attention to my wisdom
lsten well to my words of insight,

that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.

For the lips of an adulteress drip with honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,

but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double-edged sword.

Her feet go down to death,
her steps lead straight to hell.

She gives no thought to the way of life,
her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

Now then, my sons, listen to me,
do not turn aside from what I say.

Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,

lest you give your best strength to others
and your years to one who is cruel,

lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich another man's house,

At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and your body is spent,

You will say, How I hated discipline!
How my heart spurned correction!

I would not obey my teachers
or listen to my instructors.

I have come to the brink of utter ruin
in the midst of the whole assembly.

Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well,

Should your springs overflow in the streets,
your streams of water in the public squares?

Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.

May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

A loving doe, a graceful deer -
may her breasts satisfy you always,

may you ever be captivated by her love,
Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress?

Why embrace the bosom of
another man's wife?

For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD
and he examines all his paths.

The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him,
the cords of his sin hold him fast.

He will die for lack of discipline,
led astray by his own great folly.

Proverbs 5: 1 - 23

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Warning against Folly

It is written:

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,

if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your own mouth,

then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands

Go and humble yourself, press your plea with your neighbor!
Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids,

Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest -
and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

A scoundrel and villian,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
who winks with his eye, signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
who plots evil with deceit in his heart -
he always stirs up dissension,

Therefore, disaster will overtake him in an instant, he will be suddenly destroyed - without remedy.

There are six things the LORD hates, seven are detestable to him:

haugthy eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissention among the brothers.

Proverbs 6: 1-19

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

More Warnings Against Adultery

It is written:

My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mothers teachings,
Bind them upon your heart forever fasten them around your neck.

When you walk, they will guide you,
when you sleep, they will watch over you,
when you awake they will speak to you,

For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline are the way to life

keeping you from the immoral woman,
from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife,

Do not lust in your heart after her beauty,
do not let her captivate you with her eyes,

for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread
and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?

So is he who sleeps with another man's wife,
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving,
Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it cost him all the wealth of his house,

But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment, whoever does so destroys himself.
Blows and disgraces are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away.

For jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge,
he will not accept any compensation, he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

Proverbs 6: 20 - 35

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Still More Warnings against the Adulteress

It is written:

My son, keep my words, and store up my commands within you
Keep my comands and you will live, guard my teachings as the apple of your eye,

Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
and call understanding your kinsman.

They will keep you from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

At the window of my house, I looked through the lattice,
I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men,
a youth who lacked judgment.

He was going down the street to near her corner, walking along the direction of her house
at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.

Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with a crafty intent,
She is Loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home.

Now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.
She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:

I have fellowship offerings at home, today I fulfilled my vows,
So I came out to meet you, I looked for you and have found you!
I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt, I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

Come let's drink deep of love till morning, let's enjoy ourselves with love!
My husband is not at home, he has gone on a long journey,
He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.

With persuasive words she led him astray, she seduced him with her smooth talk,
All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into the noose till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.

Now then, my sons, listen to me,
pay attention to what I say,

Do not let your heart turn to her ways,
or stray into her paths

Many are the victims she has brought down,
her slain are a mighty throng.

Her house is a highway to hell going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 7: 1 - 27

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Wisdom's Call

It is Written:

Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand
Beside the gates leading into the city.

At the entrances, she cries aloud:

To you, O men, I call out, I raise my voice to all mankind,
You who are simple, gain prudence, you who are foolish, gain understanding.

Listen, for I have worthy things to say, I open my lips to speak what is right,
My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

All the words of my mouth are just,
none of them is crooked or perverse

To the discerning all of them are right,
they are faultless to them who have knowledge,

Choose my instruction instead of silver
knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence,
I possess knowledge and discretion,

To fear the LORD is to hate evil,
I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech

Counsel and sound judgment are mine,
I have understanding and power,

By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just,
by me princes govern and all nobles who rule on earth.

I love those who love me,
and those who seek me early shall find me.

Riches and honor are with me, yes, and durable riches and righteousness,
My fruit is better than gold, yes, fine gold, and my revenue is better than choice silver.

I lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of judgment.
Bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old,
I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water,
before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth

before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world

I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

Then I was a craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day.

Rejoicing always in his presence,
rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

Now then, my sons, listen to me,
blessed are those who keep my ways.

Listen to my instruction and be wise, do not ignore it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway,

For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD,

But whoever fails to find me harms himself, all who hate me love death.

Proverbs 8: 1 - 36

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

It is Written:

Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out its seven pillars,
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine, she has also set her table,

She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point in the city,
Let all who are simple come in here! She says to those who lack judgment.

Come eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and live, walk in the way of understanding.

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult,
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise your wisdom will reward you.

If you are a mocker you alone will suffer.

The woman Folly is Loud. She is undisciplined and without knowledge,
She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,
calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way,

"Let all who are simple come in here!" She says to those who lack judgment.
"Stolen water is sweet, food eaten in secret is delicious!"

"But little do they know that the dead are there,
and that her guests are in the depths of hell."

Proverbs 9: 1 - 18

 

[Avatar4321]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not.

 

[Chuckt]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not.

God's "wisdom" on a matter never contradicts what He has recorded in Scripture. For this reason, one need not pray about matters that God has already given us His verdict on. One does not need to pray about whether to worship another god because the true God has already said it is wrong (Exodus 20:3). One does not need to pray about whether to participate in spiritism because God has already said it is wrong (Deuteronomy 18:9f.). Likewise, we need not pray about the Book of Mormon because God has already condemned all gospels that contradict that found in the Bible (Galatians 1:6-8).

Finally, it should be stressed that prayer is not the test for religious truth. We are instructed by the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to objectively "test all things," not pray to receive a subjective feeling that something is true. Though the Bereans believed in prayer, their barometer for truth was not prayer but Scripture (Acts 17:10-12). We should follow their example.

Should Christians pray about the Book of Mormon?

 

[Avatar4321]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not.

God's "wisdom" on a matter never contradicts what He has recorded in Scripture. For this reason, one need not pray about matters that God has already given us His verdict on. One does not need to pray about whether to worship another god because the true God has already said it is wrong (Exodus 20:3). One does not need to pray about whether to participate in spiritism because God has already said it is wrong (Deuteronomy 18:9f.). Likewise, we need not pray about the Book of Mormon because God has already condemned all gospels that contradict that found in the Bible (Galatians 1:6-8).

Finally, it should be stressed that prayer is not the test for religious truth. We are instructed by the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to objectively "test all things," not pray to receive a subjective feeling that something is true. Though the Bereans believed in prayer, their barometer for truth was not prayer but Scripture (Acts 17:10-12). We should follow their example.

Should Christians pray about the Book of Mormon?

I haven't mentioned the Book of Mormon in this thread. And while I have no problem having this discussion with you, I'd rather not derail Jeri's thread.

 

[Sunshine]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that liberals don't know enough about the Bible to look to the book of Ecclesiastes to justify abortion:

1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.


From Ecclesiastes 4

 

[Sunshine]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not.

Citation?

 

[Avatar4321]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not.

Citation?

Sorry. James 1:5

 

[Chuckt]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not.

God's "wisdom" on a matter never contradicts what He has recorded in Scripture. For this reason, one need not pray about matters that God has already given us His verdict on. One does not need to pray about whether to worship another god because the true God has already said it is wrong (Exodus 20:3). One does not need to pray about whether to participate in spiritism because God has already said it is wrong (Deuteronomy 18:9f.). Likewise, we need not pray about the Book of Mormon because God has already condemned all gospels that contradict that found in the Bible (Galatians 1:6-8).

Finally, it should be stressed that prayer is not the test for religious truth. We are instructed by the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to objectively "test all things," not pray to receive a subjective feeling that something is true. Though the Bereans believed in prayer, their barometer for truth was not prayer but Scripture (Acts 17:10-12). We should follow their example.

Should Christians pray about the Book of Mormon?

I haven't mentioned the Book of Mormon in this thread. And while I have no problem having this discussion with you, I'd rather not derail Jeri's thread.

You are saying that asking for wisdom is relevant. Is asking for wisdom relevant when you get the wrong answer or when you hear your own voice or when you hear a spirit that isn't God?