The Book of Proverbs: School of Wisdom - 3

Proverbs 3:1-35 (NIV)

Proverbs 3

Further Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,

² for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ^a]">[a]

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

⁸ This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,

¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father ^b]">[b] the son he delights in.

¹³ Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,

¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

¹⁹ By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;

²⁰ by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;

²² they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

²³ Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;

²⁴ when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

²⁶ for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"—when you now have it with you.

²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.

³⁰ Do not accuse a man for no reason— when he has done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,

³² for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

³³ The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

³⁴ He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

³⁵ The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
2. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint / and he punishes

3fold blessing to those who remember and keep the commandments:

1. Length of days (v 2)
2. Long life (v 2)
3. Peace (v 2)

7 examples of heart trust

1, Abraham (Genesis 24:1-8)
2. Eleazar (Genesis 24:12-27)
3. Jephthah (Judges 11:11)
4. David (1 Samuel 30:6-8)
5. Asa (2 Chronicles 14:9-15)
6. Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4-7; 19:14-37)
7. Nehemiah (1:4-11; 2:4-8)

4 illustrations of being self-wise:

1. Ahab (1 Kings 22:30-35)
2. Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:26-33; 13:33)
3. Asa (1 Kings 15:19)
4. Ben-hadad (1 Kings 20:10-11)

3 illustrations of chastening:

1. David (2 Samuel 15-16:23:5)
2. Hezekiah (Isaiah 39:5-8)
3. Israel (Deuteronomy 11:2; 2 Chronicles 6:24)

8 beatitudes in Proverbs:

1. Proverbs 3:13; 8:32-34; 14:21; 16:20; 20:7; 28:14; 29:18)

Wisdom and understanding better than:

1. Silver (v 14)
2. Fine gold (v 14)
3. Rubies (v 15)
4. Other things (v 15)

6 blessings of wisdom-knowledge

1. Lengths of days (v 16)
2, Riches and honor (v 16)
3. Pleasantness (v 17)
4. Peace ( v 17)
5. Tree of life (v 18)
6. Happiness (v 18)

8 things that will bring life:

1. Law and commandments (v 1-2)
2. Mercy and truth (v 3-4)
3. Trust in God (v 5)
4. Acknowledgement of God (v 6)
5. Reverence for God (v 7-8)
6. Departure from evil (v 7-8)
7. Wisdom-understanding (v 21-24)

4 illustrations of not being afraid:

1. Moses (Exodus 14:13-14)
2. Rahab (Joshua 6:24-25)
3. Elisha (2 Kings, 6:16-17)
4. Ebed-melech (Jeremiah 39;15-18)

4 examples of withholding good:

1. Jacob (Genesis 25:29-33)
2. The Ammonites (Deuteronomy 23:3-4)
3. Nabal (1 Samuel 25:10-11)
4. The priest and Levite (Luke 10:30-35)

3 examples of not withholding good:

1. Abraham (Genesis 13:9; 14:23)
2. The widow (1 Kings 17:9-16)
3. The good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)

3 examples of plotting evil:

1. Rebekah and Jacob (Genesis 27)
2. Joseph's brethren (Genesis 37:18-23)
3. Daniel's enemies (Daniel 6)

3 examples of strife without cause:

1. Saul (1 Samuel 18:8-9)
2. The Ammonites (2 Samuel 10)
3. Ahab (1 Kings 21)

2 examples envying not oppressors:

1. Moses (Hebrews 11:25-26)
2. Elijah (1 Kings 21:17-24)

20 things an abomination to God:

1. The froward man (perverse; one who turns aside)
2. A proud look (6:16-17)
3. A lying tongue (6:17; 12:22)
4. Hands that shed innocent blood (6:17)
5. A wicked scheming heart (6:18)
6. Feet quick to sin (6:18)
7. A false witness that speaks lies (6:19)
8. A sower of discord (6:19)
9. Wickedness (8:7)
10. A false balance (11:1)
11. Sacrifice of the wicked (15:8; 21:27)
12. The way of the wicked (15:9)
13. The thoughts of the wicked (15:26)
14. The proud of heart (16:5)
15. Justifying the wicked (17:15)
16. Condemning the just (17:15)
17. Divers weights (20:10, 23)
18. Divers measures (20:10)
19. Refusing to hear the law (28:9)
20. Prayer of the rebel (28:9)