To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel.
To receive moral instruction in skillful living, in righteousness, justice, and equity.
To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, and a discerning plan to the young person. Prov. 1:2-4 (read whole chapter)
Fearing the LORD is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother.
For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck. Prov. 1:7-9 (read whole chapter)
Wisdom calls out in the street, she shouts loudly in the plazas;
at the head of the noisy streets she calls, in the entrances of the gates in the city she utters her words:
"How long will you simpletons love naivet?? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
If only you will respond to my rebuke, then I will pour out my thoughts to you and I will make my words known to you.
However, because I called but you refused to listen, because I stretched out my hand but no one paid attention,
because you neglected all my advice, and did not comply with my rebuke,
so I myself will laugh when disaster strikes you, I will mock when what you dread comes,
when what you dread comes like a whirlwind, and disaster strikes you like a devastating storm, when distressing trouble comes on you.
Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me.
Because they hated moral knowledge, and did not choose to fear the LORD,
they did not comply with my advice, they spurned all my rebuke.
Therefore they will eat from the fruit of their way, and they will be stuffed full of their own counsel.
For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.
But the one who listens to me will live in security, and will be at ease from the dread of harm. Prov. 1:20-33 (read whole chapter)
My child, if you receive my words, and store up my commands within you,
by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding,
indeed, if you call out for discernment - raise your voice for understanding -
if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure, Prov. 2:1-4 (read whole chapter)
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
He stores up effective counsel for the upright, and is like a shield for those who live with integrity, Prov. 2:6-7 (read whole chapter)
For wisdom will enter your heart, and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.
Discretion will protect you, understanding will guard you,
to deliver you from the way of the wicked, from those speaking perversity,
who leave the upright paths to walk on the dark ways,
who delight in doing evil, they rejoice in perverse evil;
whose paths are morally crooked, and who are devious in their ways;
to deliver you from the adulteress, from the sexually loose woman who speaks flattering words; Prov. 2:10-16 (read whole chapter)
So you will walk in the way of good people, and will keep on the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will reside in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, Prov. 2:20-21 (read whole chapter)
My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
for they will provide a long and full life, and they will add well-being to you.
Do not let truth and mercy leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people. Prov. 3:1-4 (read whole chapter)
This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self.
Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first fruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
My child, do not despise discipline from the LORD, and do not loathe his rebuke.
For the LORD disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding.
For her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold.
She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
She is like a tree of life to those who obtain her, and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed. Prov. 3:8-18 (read whole chapter)
My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.
So they will give life to you, and grace to adorn your neck.
Then you will walk on your way with security, and you will not stumble.
When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant. Prov. 3:21-24 (read whole chapter)
The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up to public contempt. Prov. 3:35 (read whole chapter)
Wisdom is supreme - so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!
Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you."
Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life. Prov. 4:7-13 (read whole chapter)
Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body. Prov. 4:21-22 (read whole chapter)
And you will say, "How I hated discipline! My heart spurned reproof! Prov. 5:12 (read whole chapter)
When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.
For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life, Prov. 6:22-23 (read whole chapter)
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
At the top of the elevated places along the way, at the intersection of the paths she takes her stand;
beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:
"To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind.
You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!
Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.
For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them twisted or crooked.
All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge.
Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.
"I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.
Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might.
Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness;
by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than the purest gold, and what I produce is better than choice silver.
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice,
that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I may fill their treasuries.
The LORD created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago.
From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed.
When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no springs overflowing with water;
before the mountains were set in place - before the hills - I was born,
before he made the earth and its fields, or the beginning of the dust of the world.
When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,
when he established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep grew strong,
when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,
rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people.
"So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it.
Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway.
For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death."Prov. 8:1-36 (read whole chapter)
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat, she has mixed her wine; she also has arranged her table.
She has sent out her female servants; she calls out on the highest places of the city.
"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here," she says to those who lack understanding.
"Come, eat some of my food, and drink some of the wine I have mixed.
Abandon your foolish ways so that you may live, and proceed in the way of understanding."
Whoever corrects a mocker is asking for insult; whoever reproves a wicked person receives abuse.
Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you; reprove a wise person and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.
The beginning of wisdom is to fear the LORD, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.
For because of me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you are a mocker, you alone must bear it. Prov. 9:1-12 (read whole chapter)
The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin. Prov. 10:8 (read whole chapter)
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Prov. 11:2 (read whole chapter)
The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person. Prov. 11:29 (read whole chapter)
Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen. Prov. 14:4 (read whole chapter)
The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. Prov. 15:14 (read whole chapter)
A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool. Prov. 17:10 (read whole chapter)
One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. Prov. 18:1 (read whole chapter)
The one who acquires wisdom loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper. Prov. 19:8 (read whole chapter)
The one who wanders from the way of wisdom will end up in the company of the departed. Prov. 21:16 (read whole chapter)
Acquire truth and do not sell it - wisdom, and discipline, and understanding. Prov. 23:23 (read whole chapter)
The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy. Prov. 28:8 (read whole chapter)
When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he! Prov. 29:18 (read whole chapter)
Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding;
I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One. Prov. 30:2-3 (read whole chapter)
There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise:
ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;
rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags;
locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks; Prov. 30:24-27 (read whole chapter)