The Rewards of Wisdom

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my
   commandments;
For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own
   understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
Honor the Lord from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new
   wine.
My son, do not reject the discipline of
   The Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in 
   whom he delights.

How blessed is the man who finds
   wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with
   her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take
   hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the
   heavens.
By His knowledge the deeps were
   broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
My son, let them not vanish from your
   sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be
   afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be 
   sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked
   when it comes;
For The Lord will keep your foot from being
   caught.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and
   come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,"
When you have it with you.
Do not devise harm against your 
   neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
Do not contend with a man without
   cause,
If he has done you no harm.
Do not envy a man of violence
And do not choose any of his ways.
For the devious are an abomination to
   The Lord;
But He is intimate with the upright.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of 
   the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the 
   righteous.
Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
The wise will inherit honor,
But fools display dishonor.

-Proverbs 3 (NASB)


Featured Music:
Touch The Sky - Hillsong United