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Proverbs 1: Introduction
What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
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Proverbs 1:1–2 These are wise sayings from Solomon, son of David, king of Israel for understanding, discernment, and wisdom.
King James
Proverbs 1:1–2 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
With so many voices saying what is right, how can a person know what is right, prudent, and just?
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Proverbs 1:3–4 You need to know what is right, prudent, and just so even dummies can become smart. Young people can learn and have good sense.
John 16:13 But when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own authority but will say only what he hears. He will reveal to you things to come.
King James
Proverbs 1:3–4 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Why do so many young people seem to lack common sense?
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Proverbs 1:3–4 You need to know what is right, prudent, and just so even dummies can become smart. Young people can learn and have good sense.
King James
Proverbs 1:3–4 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
What motivates wise people to listen?
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Proverbs 1:5 Eager to learn more, a wise person will listen. Prudent people want good advice.
King James
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
How can good advice be distinguished from bad?
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Proverbs 1:5 Eager to learn more, a wise person will listen. Prudent people want good advice.
King James
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
What are the best ways for ordinary people to become extraordinary ?
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Proverbs 1:6 Ordinary people who consider proverbs and parables can interpret the words of the wise and solve their riddles.t
King James
Proverbs 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
What is the difference between fearing the Lord and having reverence for him?
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Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise correction and wisdom.
King James
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Why are fools resistant to correction?
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Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise correction and wisdom.
King James
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Why do children need to be told to obey their parents?
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Proverbs 1:8–9 My child, accept your father’s discipline and follow your mother’s direction. Wear their words like a jeweled crown upon your head or gold chains around your neck.
King James
Proverbs 1:8–9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
How do sinners tempt people to do evil?
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Proverbs 1:10–14 My child, don’t let sinners tempt you to do evil. Don’t listen to them. Some may say, “Come on, let’s attack innocent people and take their lives. Let’s consume their assets like death leaves them nothing but the grave. We can take everything of value and fill our houses with stolen goods. Join us, and you claim your share of wealth.”
King James
Proverbs 1:10–14 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
Of what value is telling people not to yield to temptation?
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Proverbs 1:10 My child, don’t let sinners tempt you to do evil. Don’t listen to them.
Proverbs 1:15–16 My child, turn away from them. Don’t take one step on their path. Their ways are a fast track to criminal behavior and even murder.
King James
Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Proverbs 1:15–16 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
In what ways are traps concealed?
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Proverbs 1:17 A trap set in the presence of the birds is useless.
King James
Proverbs 1:17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
How can people be caught in the traps they set?
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Proverbs 1:18–19 People will be caught in the traps they set for others. That’s the way it is for greedy people. What they steal winds up taking away their lives.
King James
Proverbs 1:18–19 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
If wisdom proclaims its truth on the street corner, why is it so often missed?
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Proverbs 1:20–21 Wisdom stands on the street corner, proclaiming the truth.
At the opening of the city gates and on the busy streets, wisdom is never silent.
At the opening of the city gates and on the busy streets, wisdom is never silent.
King James
Proverbs 1:20–21 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
What do people gain by mocking the truth?
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Proverbs 1:22 How much longer will you play the fool, hating knowledge and mocking the truth?
King James
Proverbs 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Why are people often reluctant to share advice?
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Proverbs 1:23–24 If you would turn to hear my advice, I would pour out my heart and tell you what I know.
I reached out to you, but you ignored what I had to say. You refused to listen.
King James
Proverbs 1:23–24 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
How should we feel when people refuse our good advice and suffer because of it?
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Proverbs 1:25–27 Since you won’t listen to reason and accept correction, I will laugh when disaster strikes and say, “I told you so,” when you panic in ruin, destroyed like you’ve been through a tornado, pain and suffering becoming more than you can bear.
King James
Proverbs 1:25–27 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
How can people desperately search but not find what they are looking for?
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Proverbs 1:28–31 Then you will call for wisdom but hear nothing. You will desperately search but not find it, because you hated knowledge and had no respect for the Lord’s ways.
You would not take my advice or accept my correction. Therefore, you will get what you deserve. You will receive what you gave to others.
Matthew 7:7–8 Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock.
King James
Proverbs 1:28–31 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Matthew 7:7–8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Why is complacency destructive?
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Proverbs 1:32 Fools will die because they don’t want to know and follow the truth. Their complacency will destroy them.
King James
Proverbs 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
What should we do when people won’t listen?
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Proverbs 1:33 But if people would listen to me, they could be safe and secure, fearing no harm.
Matthew 10:14 When people do not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the offense like dust from your feet and leave that house or town for another.
Matthew 10:27 What I whisper to you in the darkness, you must shout in broad daylight. What your ears have heard, preach from the housetops.
King James
Proverbs 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Matthew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.