Heavy stone, weighty sand, and a fools wrath.

A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.

                                                                                                                    Proverbs 27:3

Gold

 The teachings of Jesus are perfect;
       they give new strength.
 The rules of Jesus can be trusted;
       they make plain people wise.
 The orders of Jesus are right;
       they make people happy.
 The commands of Jesus are pure;
       they light up the way.
 Respect for Jesus is good;
       it will last forever.
The judgments of Jesus are true;
       they are completely right.
They are worth more than gold,
       even the purest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
       even the finest honey.
By them your servant is warned.
       Keeping them brings great reward.

People cannot see their own mistakes.
       Forgive me for my secret sins.
Keep me from the sins of pride;
       don’t let them rule me.
Then I can be pure
       and innocent of the greatest of sins.

I hope my words and thoughts please you.
       Jesus, you are my Rock, the one who saves me.

                                       King David

 

If you sit down to eat with a ruler…

If you sit down to eat with a ruler,
       notice the food that is in front of you. 
Control yourself
       if you have a big appetite.
Don’t be greedy for his fine foods,
       because that food might be a trick. 

Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich;
       be wise enough to control yourself. 
Wealth can vanish in the wink of an eye.
       It can seem to grow wings
       and fly away like an eagle. 

Don’t eat the food of selfish people;
       don’t be greedy for their fine foods. 
Selfish people are always worrying
       about how much the food costs.
They tell you, “Eat and drink,”
       but they don’t really mean it.
You will throw up the little you have eaten,
       and you will have wasted your kind words. 

Don’t speak to fools;
       they will only ignore your wise words. 

Don’t move an old stone that marks a border,
       and don’t take fields that belong to orphans. 
God, their defender, is strong;
       he will take their side against you. 

Remember what you are taught,
       and listen carefully to words of knowledge. 

Don’t fail to punish children.
       If you spank them, they won’t die. 
If you spank them,
       you will save them from death. 

My child, if you are wise,
       then I will be happy. 
I will be so pleased
       if you speak what is right. 

Don’t envy sinners,
       but always respect the Lord. 
Then you will have hope for the future,
       and your wishes will come true. 

Listen, my child, and be wise.
       Keep your mind on what is right. 
Don’t drink too much wine
       or eat too much food.
Those who drink and eat too much become poor.
       They sleep too much and end up wearing rags. 

Listen to your father, who gave you life,
       and do not forget your mother when she is old. 
Learn the truth and never reject it.
       Get wisdom, self-control, and understanding.
The father of a good child is very happy;
       parents who have wise children are glad because of them.
Make your father and mother happy;
       give your mother a reason to be glad. 

My son, pay attention to me,
       and watch closely what I do. 
A prostitute is as dangerous as a deep pit,
       and an unfaithful wife is like a narrow well.
They ambush you like robbers
       and cause many men to be unfaithful to their wives.

Who has trouble? Who has pain?
       Who fights? Who complains?
Who has unnecessary bruises?
       Who has bloodshot eyes?
It is people who drink too much wine,
       who try out all different kinds of strong drinks.
Don’t stare at the wine when it is red,
       when it sparkles in the cup,
       when it goes down smoothly.
Later it bites like a snake
       with poison in its fangs.
Your eyes will see strange sights,
       and your mind will be confused.
You will feel dizzy as if you’re in a storm on the ocean,

       as if you’re on top of a ship’s sails.
You will think, “They hit me, but I’m not hurt.
       They beat me up, but I don’t remember it.
I wish I could wake up.
       Then I would get another drink.” 

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Proverbs 23(New Century Version) 

New Century Version (NCV)The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Wisdom has built her house…

Proverbs 9

Being Wise or Foolish

Wisdom has built her house;
       she has made its seven columns. 
She has prepared her food and wine;
       she has set her table. 
She has sent out her servant girls,
       and she calls out from the highest place in the city.
She says to those who are uneducated,
       “Come in here, you foolish people!
Come and eat my food
       and drink the wine I have prepared.
Stop your foolish ways, and you will live;
       take the road of understanding. 

“If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will be insulted.
       If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt. 
Do not correct those who make fun of wisdom, or they will hate you.
       But correct the wise, and they will love you.
Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser;
       teach good people, and they will learn even more. 

“Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord,
       and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.
If you live wisely, you will live a long time;
       wisdom will add years to your life.
The wise person is rewarded by wisdom,
       but whoever makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it.” 

Foolishness is like a loud woman;
       she does not have wisdom or knowledge. 
 She sits at the door of her house
       at the highest place in the city.
 She calls out to those who are passing by,
       who are going along, minding their own business.
She says to those who are uneducated,
       “Come in here, you foolish people!
Stolen water is sweeter,
       and food eaten in secret tastes better.”
But these people don’t know that everyone who goes there dies,
       that her guests end up deep in the grave

New Century Version (NCV)The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Wisdom

Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets:  She cries in the chief place of concourse, in the opening of the gates; in the city she utters her words saying, 

How long , you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof:  behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Because I have called and you refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded:  But you have set at nought all my counsel, and would non of my reproof:   I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes upon you

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:  They would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices;

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them,

But whoever pays attention to me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil

King Solomon/Proverb 1 KJV 

Translated  into modern English:

Wisdom is like a woman shouting in the street; she raises her voice in the city squares. 

 She cries out in the noisy street and shouts at the city gates: “You fools, how long will you be foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom and hate knowledge?

If only you had listened when I corrected you, I would have told you what’s in my heart; I would have told you what I am thinking. 

I called, but you refused to listen; I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.  You did not follow my advice and did not listen when I corrected you. 

So I will laugh when you are in trouble. I will make fun when disaster strikes you, when disaster comes over you like a storm, when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind, when pain and trouble overwhelm you.  

“Then you will call to me, but I will not answer. You will look for me, but you will not find me. 

 It is because you rejected knowledge and did not choose to respect the Lord.  You did not accept my advice, and you rejected my correction.  So you will get what you deserve; you will get what you planned for others.  

Fools will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care.  But those who listen to me will live in safety and be at peace, without fear of injury.”

King Solomon/Proverb 1 NCV