Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2
A wise man's heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool's heart to the left.
3
Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4
If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,
for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8
He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9
He who quarries stones is hurt by them,
and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
10
If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
11
If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.
12
The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor,
but the lips of a fool consume him.
13
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
and the end of his talk is evil madness.
14
A fool multiplies words,
though no man knows what is to be,
and who can tell him what will be after him?
15
The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know the way to the city.
16
Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
and your princes feast in the morning!
17
Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility,
and your princes feast at the proper time,
for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18
Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.
19
Bread is made for laughter,
and wine gladdens life,
and money answers everything.
20
Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Isn't it interesting how simple wisdom is? Like verse 4: if your boss is angry with you, remain calm; it will bring peace. Reading about wisdom is easy, understanding it is easy, but applying wisdom to our words and actions is where the difficulty comes in.
ReplyDelete