Website owner:  James Miller

Wisdom / Foolishness

   Prov 4:5-9   Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; 
   neither decline from the words of my mouth. {6} Forsake her 
   not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep 
   thee. {7} Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: 
   and with all thy getting get understanding. {8} Exalt her, and 
   she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when 
   thou dost embrace her. {9} She shall give to thine head an 
   ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 

   Prov 2   My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my 
   commandments with thee; {2} So that thou incline thine ear unto 
   wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; {3} Yea, if 
   thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for 
   understanding; {4} If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest 
   for her as for hid treasures; {5} Then shalt thou understand 
   the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. {6} For 
   the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and 
   understanding. {7} He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: 
   he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. {8} He keepeth the 
   paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. {9} 
   Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and 
   equity; yea, every good path. {10} When wisdom entereth into 
   thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; {11} 
   Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 
   {12} To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man 
   that speaketh froward things; {13} Who leave the paths of 
   uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; {14} Who rejoice 
   to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; {15} 
   Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: {16} 
   To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger 
   which flattereth with her words; {17} Which forsaketh the guide 
   of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. {18} For 
   her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 
   {19} None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold 
   of the paths of life. {20} That thou mayest walk in the way of 
   good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. {21} For the 
   upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain 
   in it. {22} But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and 
   the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. 

   Prov 8   Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her 
   voice? {2} She standeth in the top of high places, by the way 
   in the places of the paths. {3} She crieth at the gates, at the 
   entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. {4} Unto you, 
   O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. {5} O ye 
   simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an 
   understanding heart. {6} Hear; for I will speak of excellent 
   things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. {7} 
   For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an 
   abomination to my lips. {8} All the words of my mouth are in 
   righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 
   {9} They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to 
   them that find knowledge. {10} Receive my instruction, and not 
   silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. {11} For wisdom 
   is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired 
   are not to be compared to it. {12} I wisdom dwell with 
   prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. {13} The 
   fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the 
   evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. {14} Counsel is 
   mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 
   {15} By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. {16} By me 
   princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 
   {17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early 
   shall find me. {18} Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable 
   riches and righteousness. {19} My fruit is better than gold, 
   yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. {20} I 
   lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of 
   judgment: {21} That I may cause those that love me to inherit 
   substance; and I will fill their treasures. {22} The LORD 
   possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of 
   old. {23} I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or 
   ever the earth was. {24} When there were no depths, I was 
   brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with 
   water. {25} Before the mountains were settled, before the hills 
   was I brought forth: {26} While as yet he had not made the 
   earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the 
   world. {27} When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he 
   set a compass upon the face of the depth: {28} When he 
   established the clouds above: when he strengthened the 
   fountains of the deep: {29} When he gave to the sea his decree, 
   that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he 
   appointed the foundations of the earth: {30} Then I was by him, 
   as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, 
   rejoicing always before him; {31} Rejoicing in the habitable 
   part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 
   {32} Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed 
   are they that keep my ways. {33} Hear instruction, and be wise, 
   and refuse it not. {34} Blessed is the man that heareth me, 
   watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 
   {35} For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour 
   of the LORD. {36} But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his 
   own soul: all they that hate me love death. 

   Job 28:28  The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart 
   from evil is understanding. 

   Prov 9:10   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: 
   and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

   Prov 15:21  Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but 
   a man of understanding walks uprightly.

   Prov 18:2  A fool has no delight in understanding, but in
   expressing his own opinions.  

   Prov 16:22  Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that 
   hath it: but the instruction of fools is foly.

   Prov 1:7   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: 
   but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

   Prov 19:8  He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that 
   keepeth understanding shall find good.

   Prov 1:20-33   Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in 
   the streets: {21} She crieth in the chief place of concourse, 
   in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her 
   words, saying, {22} How long, ye simple ones, will ye love 
   simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and 
   fools hate knowledge? {23} Turn you at my reproof: behold, I 
   will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words 
   unto you. {24} Because I have called, and ye refused; I have 
   stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; {25} But ye have 
   set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 
   {26} I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your 
   fear cometh; {27} When your fear cometh as desolation, and your 
   destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish 
   cometh upon you. {28} Then shall they call upon me, but I will 
   not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find 
   me: {29} For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the 
   fear of the LORD: {30} They would none of my counsel: they 
   despised all my reproof. {31} Therefore shall they eat of the 
   fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 
   {32} For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and 
   the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. {33} But whoso 
   hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from 
   fear of evil. 

   Prov 3:1-8   My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart 
   keep my commandments: {2} For length of days, and long life, 
   and peace, shall they add to thee. {3} Let not mercy and truth 
   forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the 
   table of thine heart: {4} So shalt thou find favour and good 
   understanding in the sight of God and man. {5} Trust in the 
   LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own 
   understanding. {6} In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he 
   shall direct thy paths. {7} Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear 
   the LORD, and depart from evil. {8} It shall be health to thy 
   navel, and marrow to thy bones. 

   Prov 3:13-35   Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the 
   man that getteth understanding. {14} For the merchandise of it 
   is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof 
   than fine gold. {15} She is more precious than rubies: and all 
   the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 
   {16} Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand 
   riches and honour. {17} Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and 
   all her paths are peace. {18} She is a tree of life to them 
   that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth 
   her. {19} The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by 
   understanding hath he established the heavens. {20} By his 
   knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down 
   the dew. {21} My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep 
   sound wisdom and discretion: {22} So shall they be life unto 
   thy soul, and grace to thy neck. {23} Then shalt thou walk in 
   thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. {24} When thou 
   liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, 
   and thy sleep shall be sweet. {25} Be not afraid of sudden 
   fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 
   {26} For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy 
   foot from being taken. {27} Withhold not good from them to whom 
   it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. {28} 
   Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I 
   will give; when thou hast it by thee. {29} Devise not evil 
   against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 
   {30} Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee 
   no harm. {31} Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of 
   his ways. {32} For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but 
   his secret is with the righteous. {33} The curse of the LORD is 
   in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of 
   the just. {34} Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth 
   grace unto the lowly. {35} The wise shall inherit glory: but 
   shame shall be the promotion of fools. 

   Prov 4:13-27   Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: 
   keep her; for she is thy life. {14} Enter not into the path of 
   the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. {15} Avoid it, 
   pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. {16} For they 
   sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is 
   taken away, unless they cause some to fall. {17} For they eat 
   the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. {18} 
   But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth 
   more and more unto the perfect day. {19} The way of the wicked 
   is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. {20} My 
   son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 
   {21} Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the 
   midst of thine heart. {22} For they are life unto those that 
   find them, and health to all their flesh. {23} Keep thy heart 
   with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. {24} 
   Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far 
   from thee. {25} Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine 
   eyelids look straight before thee. {26} Ponder the path of thy 
   feet, and let all thy ways be established. {27} Turn not to the 
   right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. 

   Prov 5:1-11   My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear 
   to my understanding: {2} That thou mayest regard discretion, 
   and that thy lips may keep knowledge. {3} For the lips of a 
   strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother 
   than oil: {4} But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a 
   twoedged sword. {5} Her feet go down to death; her steps take 
   hold on hell. {6} Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, 
   her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. {7} Hear 
   me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words 
   of my mouth. {8} Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh 
   the door of her house: {9} Lest thou give thine honour unto 
   others, and thy years unto the cruel: {10} Lest strangers be 
   filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a 
   stranger; {11} And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and 
   thy body are consumed, 

   Prov 6:20-26   My son, keep thy father's commandment, and 
   forsake not the law of thy mother: {21} Bind them continually 
   upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. {22} When thou 
   goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep 
   thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. {23} For 
   the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs 
   of instruction are the way of life: {24} To keep thee from the 
   evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 
   {25} Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her 
   take thee with her eyelids. {26} For by means of a whorish 
   woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress 
   will hunt for the precious life. 

   Prov 7   My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with 
   thee. {2} Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the 
   apple of thine eye. {3} Bind them upon thy fingers, write them 
   upon the table of thine heart. {4} Say unto wisdom, Thou art my 
   sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: {5} That they may 
   keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which 
   flattereth with her words. {6} For at the window of my house I 
   looked through my casement, {7} And beheld among the simple 
   ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of 
   understanding, {8} Passing through the street near her corner; 
   and he went the way to her house, {9} In the twilight, in the 
   evening, in the black and dark night: {10} And, behold, there 
   met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of 
   heart. {11} (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in 
   her house: {12} Now is she without, now in the streets, and 
   lieth in wait at every corner.) {13} So she caught him, and 
   kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, {14} I 
   have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. 
   {15} Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek 
   thy face, and I have found thee. {16} I have decked my bed with 
   coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of 
   Egypt. {17} I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and 
   cinnamon. {18} Come, let us take our fill of love until the 
   morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. {19} For the 
   goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: {20} He hath 
   taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day 
   appointed. {21} With her much fair speech she caused him to 
   yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. {22} He 
   goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, 
   or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; {23} Till a dart 
   strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and 
   knoweth not that it is for his life. {24} Hearken unto me now 
   therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 
   {25} Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in 
   her paths. {26} For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many 
   strong men have been slain by her. {27} Her house is the way to 
   hell, going down to the chambers of death. 

   Prov 11:1-5   A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a 
   just weight is his delight. {2} When pride cometh, then cometh 
   shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. {3} The integrity of the 
   upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors 
   shall destroy them. {4} Riches profit not in the day of wrath: 
   but righteousness delivereth from death. {5} The righteousness 
   of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall 
   by his own wickedness.