• The Beginning of Knowledge

Those who read David’s psalms, especially those towards the latter end, would be tempted to think that religion is all rapture and consists in nothing but the ecstasies and transports of devotion; and doubtless there is a time for them, and if there be a heaven upon earth it is in them: but, while we are on earth, we cannot be wholly taken up with them; we have a life to live in the flesh, must have a conversation in the world, and into that we must now be taught to carry our religion, which is a rational thing, and very serviceable to the government of human life, and tends as much to make us discreet as to make us devout, to make the face shine before men, in a prudent, honest, useful conversation, as to make the heart burn towards God in holy and pious affections.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction." — Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)

• The Call of Wisdom

"... whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil." — Proverbs 1:33 (NKJV)

• The Value of Wisdom

"Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life. Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding. That's right—if you make Insight your priority, and won't take no for an answer, Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; you'll have come upon the Knowledge of God. " — Proverbs 2:1-5 (MSG)

• Guidance for the Young

We must be constant to our duty because that is the way to be happy. We must live a life of dependence upon God because that is the way to be safe. We must keep up the fear of God because that is the way to be healthful. We must serve God with our estates because that is the way to be rich. We must hear afflictions well because that is the way to get good by them. We must take pains to obtain wisdom because that is the way to gain her, and to gain by her. We must always govern ourselves by the rules of wisdom, of right reason and religion, because that is the way to be always easy. We must do all the good we can, and no hurt, to our neighbours, because according as men are just or unjust, charitable or uncharitable, humble or haughty, accordingly they shall receive of God. From all this it appears what a tendency religion has to make men both blessed and blessings.

"My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man." — Proverbs 3:1-4 (NKJV)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct (make smooth or straight) your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, (Literally navel) And strength (Literally drink or refreshment) to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine." — Proverbs 3:5-10 (NKJV)

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her (wisdom) proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her." — Proverbs 3:13-18 (NKJV)

"Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of the trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught." — Proverbs 3:25-26 (NKJV)

"The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools." — Proverbs 3:35 (NKJV)

• Security in Wisdom

"... the path of the just is like the shining sun, (Literally light) That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble." — Proverbs 4:18-19 (NKJV)

"My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh." — Proverbs 4:20-22 (NKJV)

"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil." — Proverbs 4:23-27 (NKJV)

• The Peril of Adultery

Wisdom urges us to avoid the life-destroying adulteress and to find sexual and emotional satisfaction in faithfulness to the marriage bond.

• Dangerous Promises

"My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. _(That is, one who catches birds in a trap or snare)_" — Proverbs 6:1-5 (NKJV)

• The Wicked Man

"A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;13 He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy." — Proverbs 6:12-15 (NKJV)

6 = The number of imperfection

"These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven _ are_ an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren." — Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)

• The Excellence of Wisdom

"... for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her." — Proverbs 8:6-11 (NKJV)

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength." — Proverbs 8:13-14 (NKJV)

"I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries." — Proverbs 8:17-21 (NKJV)

• The Way of Wisdom

"He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." — Proverbs 9:7-9 (NKJV)

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. And if you scoff, you will bear it alone." — Proverbs 9:10-12 (NKJV)

• Wise Sayings of Solomon

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death. The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked." — Proverbs 10:2-3 (NKJV)

"He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame." — Proverbs 10:4-5 (NKJV)

"Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins." — Proverbs 10:12 (NKJV)

"He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray." — Proverbs 10:17 (NKJV)

"Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool." — Proverbs 10:18 (NKJV)

"The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it." — Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV)

• Security in Integrity

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight." — Proverbs 11:1 (NKJV)

"When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom." — Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV)

"He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace." — Proverbs 11:12 (NKJV)

"There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. The people will curse him who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil. He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage." — Proverbs 11:24-28 (NKJV)

• "Inherit the Wind"

"An excellent (Literally A wife of valor) wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones." — Proverbs 12:4 (NKJV)

"The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked are, "Lie in wait for blood," But the mouth of the upright will deliver them." — Proverbs 11:5-6 (NKJV)

"He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding. _(Literally heart)_" — Proverbs 12:11 (NKJV)

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. A fool's wrath is known at once, But a prudent man covers shame." — Proverbs 12:15-16 (NKJV)

"He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment, Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil. Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight." — Proverbs 12:17-22 (NKJV)

"A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness." — Proverbs 12:23 (NKJV)

"In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death." — Proverbs 12:28 (NKJV)

• The Righteous; the Wicked

"The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich." — Proverbs 13:4 (NKJV)

"There is on who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches." — Proverbs 13:7 (NKJV)

"Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase." — Proverbs 13:11 (NKJV)

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." — Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV)

"He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly." — Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV)

"The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want." — Proverbs 13:25 (NKJV)