ORGANISATION OF PROVERBS TEXTS ON GUIDANCE
Simon van Bruchem
COVERING A RANGE OF ADVICE SOURCES (TEXT)
(13) Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
(14) The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
(15) Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
(16) In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
(17) A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
(18) Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
(19) A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
(20) Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
GENERAL – NEED FOR ADVICE
(14) Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
(1) A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
(12) A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
(22) Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
(18) Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
(5) A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
(6) for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
ADVICE/TEMPTATION FROM OTHERS (WICKED)
(10) My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
(24) Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
(25) Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
(26) Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
(27) Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
(8) Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
(9) lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,
(21) With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
(22) All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast
(23) till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
(5) The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
(26) One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
(8) The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
(25) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
(26) A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.
(27) A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
(28) A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
(29) A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.
(30) Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
(1) Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
(14) The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.
(27) For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.
ADVICE FROM WISDOM/GOD
(23) If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
(24) Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
(25) because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
(1) My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
(2) making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;
(3) yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
(4) if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
(5) then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
(6) For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
(7) he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
(8) guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
(9) Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;
(10) for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
(11) discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,
(12) delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,
(13) who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,
(14) who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil,
(15) men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
(7) When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
(16) Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.
(20) Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
(21) Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
(22) What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.
(23) The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
(30) No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.
(7) The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
(8) Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.
(9) If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
(2) Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.
(3) I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
(4) Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!
(5) Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
(6) Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
ADVICE FROM WISE/FATHER
(1) My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
(1) Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
(2) for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
(3) When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
(4) he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
(5) Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
(6) Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
(7) Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,
(8) she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
(19) a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
(20) My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
(21) Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.
(22) When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.
(23) For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
(24) to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
(5) The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
(26) One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
(1) A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
(17) Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,
(18) for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
(19) That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.
(20) Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,
(21) to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
ADVICE FROM OWN DESIRES
(6) The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
(12) Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
(31) Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
(1) Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,
(3) Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
(4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,
(5) lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
ADVICE FROM GOOD OR BAD SENSE (PERSONAL VIEW)
(8) A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is despised.
(15) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
(8) The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
(12) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
(15) The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
(16) One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
(25) There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
(26) A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.
(27) A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
(28) A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
(29) A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.
(30) Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
(11) Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
(2) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.
(16) The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.