Proverbs 1:4 "To give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion" to give prudence to the naive prudence The word translated prudence is the Hebrew word arom which has both a positive and negative meaning. When used negatively, it means a crafty schemer – one who plans out destructive, sinful things. When used positively, it means prudence. The English dictionary definition of the word prudence is a quality which allows a person to always choose the sensible

Proverbs 10:2 "Ill-gotten gains do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death" The three-word phrase translated ill-gotten gains here in the New American Standard Bible is actually in the Hebrew two words: wicked treasures. The idea is that there is a treasury of wickedness or material gains that can be had from the storehouse of wickedness, but it does not profit a person. This is such a valuable lesson to learn. The younger that a person learns it, the better it will

Proverbs 9:2 "She has prepared her food; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table" Solomon mentions three aspects of the preparation of wisdom to receive guests. These give us a metaphorical picture of what wisdom does when you become its student. It has food prepared It has drink prepared It has a table prepared she has prepared her food The word translated prepared is actually the Hebrew word for slaughter. In fact, the actual Hebrew phrase is she has slaughtered

Proverbs 8:2 "On top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand" Wisdom wants to get the word out to people to live a different way. She does not hide what she knows in some dark place reserved only for the special few who will spend years looking and recite some bizarre incantations. Wisdom is right out in the market place. Wisdom is in a prominent place. When life is not working the way you have put it together, then look up for there is a wise

Proverbs 7:2 "Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye" What commandments are being mentioned? Clearly the whole, but specifically a group of commandments that are the capsulated summary of what will be said in the whole of the book. Proverbs 3:3-11 Do not let kindness and truth leave you Trust in the Lord with all your heart Do not lean on your own understanding In all your ways acknowledge Him Do not be wise in your own eyes Fear the Lord and

Proverbs 6:2 "If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, have been caught with the words of your mouth..." This verse is the continuation of the idea developed in verse one – namely, that you have promised to pay the debts of another person. But it also carries a nugget of wisdom about the use of the tongue that is surely independent of co-signing and borrowing. Namely, that one can be put into a snare by what they say. if you have been snared with the words of you

Proverbs 5:2 "That you may observe discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge" observe: This is the Hebrew word samar which means to keep guard, observe, give heed to. This is a fascinating insight that Solomon shares in this verse. He is saying that young people can flush their ability to make their own choices and plans through sin. How many times have I watched as men and women have made idiotic decisions that don't make any sense until you factor in some relationship,

PROVERBS 27:1 "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" One of the great dangers is to begin to count too heavily about tomorrow – this is going to happen or that is going to happen... When we boast about what we will accomplish tomorrow, it is even worse. All of our lives are under the sovereign control of God, and we do not really know what will happen tomorrow or what we will accomplish. We can prepare the best we can and we can pray, bu

PROVERBS 26:1 "Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool" like snow in summer and like rain in harvest The focus is on appropriateness. It is not appropriate to add value to a person who is selfish, impulsive, and rebellious. When a person who is a moral fool has value added to him or her, it destroys that person. It adds credence to their already inflated opinion of themselves. We make choices every day that will move us in the directio

PROVERBS 16:1 "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord" The whole of the first four verses of the 16th proverb is about the plans and direction that you are making. This is the way to discern what God wants you to do: First, listen to what you yourself are saying; it could be God trying to get through. Second, check your motives. Why are you planning to do a particular thing? Third, to make sure that you have God's best for you, pra