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DAY 1 - CHAPTER 1
The Beginning of Knowledge - Audio Version
The Beginning of Knowledge
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To [a]perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will [b]attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Shun Evil Counsel
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like [c]Sheol,
And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious [d]possessions,
We shall fill our houses with [e]spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in [f]vain the net is spread
In the sight of any [g]bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.
The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom calls aloud [h]outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the [i]chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you [j]simple ones, will you love [k]simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the [l]turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be [m]secure, without fear of evil.”
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SUMMARY OF DAY 1 PROVERB CHALLENGE
Here the lord begin with us on the essence and need for wisdom. He went further to inform us that one who have insight to the need for wisdom and understanding will pay attention and make good use of it. The book of proverb is an advice from an elderly person whom God has help to a young person. Wisdom, understanding and knowledge are important aspect of human life and it will assist us in differentiating between good and evil in our life and be able to resist the evil doers when they come with their skim and enticement. The book of proveb will make us have the fear of the almighty and use it as a guide in everything we do. There is the quickness in the heart of evil doers which they tend to give others whom they co-opt into their group making evil look good. The truth is that the evil proposed by the bad to the good will not come to pass,but will eventually cash up with the evil doer himself or herself. Wisdom is always open and awaiting us to come to herself and fellowship with her to make our ways good and okay. Most times wisdom want most of us to be around her.
Infact if at the point of beckoning of wisdom we yielded to it will impact upon us no matter how something will show that wisdom has enter us,but if at the calling of wisdom we choose to turn a deaf hear what will happen is that no guide for us when evil overtake us as a result of our negligence,we will bear it and endure rather than enjoying good consequences. Infact everyone’s attitude and character to wisdom will determine what he or she will get at the end.
Proverbs gives insight on so many things and most importantly today’s Proverbs has taught me to “Listen To God”. God has proven He always speaks and the whole ideology behind Him speaking is us listening. When I hear God and honor him, I will be able to walk under His divine Guidance. staying off evil counsel, walking uprightly with Him. I have learnt that God in Himself is Wisdom and He beckons to us daily seeking our attention. It is through divine wisdom we can navigate through the rough paths of Life. God is Wisdom! Wisdom is Calling Out!! I accept Wisdom through the word! Amen