The Day is coming…..!

“For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,

And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts,
“ That will leave them neither root nor branch.

But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
You shall trample the wicked,
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet

On the day that I do this,”
Says the LORD of hosts.

“ Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,
Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

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.

Anyone who loves learning accepts correction…

  Anyone who loves learning accepts correction,
       but a person who hates being corrected is stupid. 

  The Lord is pleased with a good person,
       but he will punish anyone who plans evil. 

  Doing evil brings no safety at all,
       but a good person has safety and security. 

  A good wife is like a crown for her husband,
       but a disgraceful wife is like a disease in his bones. 

  The plans that good people make are fair,
       but the advice of the wicked will trick you. 

  The wicked talk about killing people,
       but the words of good people will save them. 

  Wicked people die and they are no more,
       but a good person’s family continues.

 The wisdom of the wise wins praise,
       but there is no respect for the stupid. 

  A person who is not important but has a servant is better off
       than someone who acts important but has no food. 

 Good people take care of their animals,
       but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. 

  Those who work their land will have plenty of food,
       but the one who chases empty dreams is not wise. 

 The wicked want what other evil people have stolen,
       but good people want to give what they have to others. 

 Evil people are trapped by their evil talk,
       but good people stay out of trouble. 

 People will be rewarded for what they say,
       and they will also be rewarded for what they do. 

 Fools think they are doing right,
       but the wise listen to advice. 

 Fools quickly show that they are upset,
       but the wise ignore insults.

An honest witness tells the truth,
       but a dishonest witness tells lies. 

Careless words stab like a sword,
       but wise words bring healing. 

Truth will continue forever,
       but lies are only for a moment. 

 Those who plan evil are full of lies,
       but those who plan peace are happy. 

 No harm comes to a good person,
       but an evil person’s life is full of trouble.

The Lord hates those who tell lies
       but is pleased with those who keep their promises.

Wise people keep what they know to themselves,
       but fools can’t keep from showing how foolish they are.

Hard workers will become leaders,
       but those who are lazy will be slaves. 

 Worry is a heavy load,
       but a kind word cheers you up.

Good people take advice from their friends,
       but an evil person is easily led to do wrong.

The lazy catch no food to cook,
       but a hard worker will have great wealth.

Doing what is right is the way to life,
       but there is another way that leads to death

 

Proverbs 12 (New Century Version)

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

 

Wisdom calls

 

Proverbs 8

Listen to Wisdom

Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting;
       understanding raises her voice.
 On the hilltops along the road
       and at the crossroads, she stands calling.
Beside the city gates,
       at the entrances into the city, she calls out:
Listen, everyone, I’m calling out to you;
       I am shouting to all people.
You who are uneducated, seek wisdom.
       You who are foolish, get understanding.
Listen, because I have important things to say,
       and what I tell you is right.
 What I say is true,
       I refuse to speak evil.
 Everything I say is honest;
       nothing I say is crooked or false.
 People with good sense know what I say is true;
       and those with knowledge know my words are right.
 Choose my teachings instead of silver,
       and knowledge rather than the finest gold.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
       Nothing you could want is equal to it.

“I am wisdom, and I have good judgment.
       I also have knowledge and good sense.
 If you respect the Lord, you will also hate evil.
       I hate pride and bragging,
       evil ways and lies.
 I have good sense and advice,
       and I have understanding and power.
 I help kings to govern
       and rulers to make fair laws.
 Princes use me to lead,
       and so do all important people who judge fairly.
I love those who love me,
       and those who seek me find me.
 Riches and honor are mine to give.
       So are wealth and lasting success.
 What I give is better than the finest gold,
       better than the purest silver.
I do what is right
       and follow the path of justice.
I give wealth to those who love me,
       filling their houses with treasures.

 “I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work,
       long before he made anything else.
  I was created in the very beginning,
       even before the world began.
  I was born before there were oceans,
       or springs overflowing with water,
  before the hills were there,
       before the mountains were put in place.
  God had not made the earth or fields,
       not even the first dust of the earth.
  I was there when God put the skies in place,
       when he stretched the horizon over the oceans,
  when he made the clouds above
       and put the deep underground springs in place.
  I was there when he ordered the sea
       not to go beyond the borders he had set.
  I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.
  I was like a child by his side.
  I was delighted every day,
       enjoying his presence all the time,
  enjoying the whole world,
       and delighted with all its people.

  “Now, my children, listen to me,
       because those who follow my ways are happy.
  Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise;
       do not ignore it.
  Happy are those who listen to me,
       watching at my door every day,
       waiting at my open doorway.
  Those who find me find life,
       and the Lord will be pleased with them.
  Those who do not find me hurt themselves.
       Those who hate me love death.”

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

           

It is good to give thanks…..

 Song 92

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:  To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. 

Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.  For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work:  I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

 O Lord how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever;

But thou Lord, art most high for evermore. 

For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn:  I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked  that rise up against me.

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

To  shew that the Lord is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.   

                                                                                                         

King David