Principles gleaned from the book of Proverbs that include many words of wisdom that give meaning to a life of understanding and righteousness.
Proverbs 1:
The value of discernment and instruction is in wisdom for correction and reproof.
Proverbs 2:
There is safety and security in the pursuit of wisdom as we cherish it and incline our hearts to understanding, discernment, and upright behaviors.
Proverbs 3:
Wisdom rewards those to seek to understand it and live by it. Trust in the LORD first and foremost and not what we understand by default consideration. Put the LORD first with all our heart and lean on Him for understanding.
Proverbs 4:
Do not forsake the words of wisdom and instruction. Instead, treasure wisdom and understanding as it comes from parents and wise elders who are a source of watchful guidance.
Proverbs 5:
Do not spurn reproof or hate instruction in favor of the adulteress or lady folly. Instead, be satisfied with the wife of your youth and do not become entangled in the trappings of sin.
Proverbs 6:
Shun laziness, be diligent, and do not forsake the wisdom and instruction of your parents. Keep yourself from the allure of adultery and adhere to discipline and wisdom as a way of life.
Proverbs 7:
The seductions of lust that feed a desire for intimacy with an adulterer will lead to certain destruction. The lusts of the flesh that betrays a covenant obligation are self-destruction that forfeits one’s life.
Proverbs 8:
The way of wisdom is to fear God, hate evil, and seek understanding. Take heed to instruction and discretion rooted in wisdom for blessing and well-being.
Proverbs 9:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and to know God is to understand His ways. Lady folly is a dissipation of life and ultimately leads to death.
Proverbs 10:
Words of the wise and the foolish are indicators of character, identity, and status before God and others.
Proverbs 11:
The righteous, generous, gracious, and wise person is antithetical to the wicked who squander their lives who suffer hardship and loss.
Proverbs 12:
The righteous and the wicked are opposites where the weight of the righteous is far greater for the good of himself and others, and the weight of the wicked is troublesome, crippling, and fraught with terror.
Proverbs 13:
The ways of the righteous are fruitful, disciplined, peaceful, and reverent, while the ways of the wicked are wasteful, disgusting, insolent, and full of strife.
Proverbs 14:
The many upright ways of the righteous are a repudiation of the wicked who is senseless and leads a life of ruin.
Proverbs 15:
It isn’t just a character difference between those who abide in wisdom and righteousness and those who do not. The routine and intentional actions of the wicked, both large and small, are often disgraceful, senseless, and deceptive.
Proverbs 16:
While the proud of heart is an abomination to the LORD, there is a wide range of corresponding wicked behaviors that are immersed in perversion, strife, slander, and violence. By comparison, a righteous and humble spirit before the LORD is pleasing and delightful.
Proverbs 17:
The wicked and foolish of mind cannot stand the words of the righteous and wise. The mind of the wicked returns evil and senselessness for good. The good coming from those who are righteous and pursue wisdom.
Proverbs 18:
How the foolish speak, communicate verbally, or online gives sufficient cause for the righteous and wise to dismiss or avoid engagement and dialog. They inevitably become their own undoing and lead to their own demise.
Proverbs 19:
The priorities of the foolish and wicked are reckless or driven by evil motives, while the priorities of the wise and righteous lead to understanding, discipline, and peace.
Proverbs 20:
How the righteous and wise live is an anathema to the wicked and foolish. On the issues of life, one is repulsive to the other.
Proverbs 21:
The sovereignty of God permits for a time the soul of the wicked to crave evil. The evil of the wicked offers no mercy to others. It is the proud heart, the look of arrogance, inclinations, and dispositions of the wicked that reveal them.
Proverbs 22:
The everyday path of the perverse person is distant and rejected by the righteous and wise who carry out lives of honor and gracious conduct.
Proverbs 23:
The foolish despise wise words from the diligent and wise. If a foolish and wicked person is listening, expect contentiousness. So, it is better to avoid high-risk hostilities that could arise from the unwise and wicked person who speaks from a perverse or reprobate mind.
Proverbs 24:
It is better to value wisdom, understanding, and instruction than to be envious of wicked people who are continuously talking about trouble and devising schemes of evil.
Proverbs 25:
Seeking one’s own glory from platitudes of self-interest is dishonorable and isn’t good. To chase glory continuously is a form of spiritual gluttony that brings repulsive outcomes.
Proverbs 26:
Never underestimate the potential harms caused by the stratospheric error of foolish people who reject wisdom by incoherent thought, consistently flawed rationale, and wicked motives.
Proverbs 27:
The desires of man are never fully sated as there is no such thing as complete fulfillment apart from God.
Proverbs 28:
The contrast between good and evil is apparent by the motives and conduct of people. From the wicked to the poor and oppressed, or from the rich, righteous, faithful, and miserly, there are pronounced differences that point to disaster and destruction or peace and stability.
Proverbs 29:
The righteous are concerned about injustices among oppressed and exploited people, whereas the wicked are the oppressors themselves who are indifferent and even at times hostile to people in general.
Proverbs 30:
The magnificent Creator God and His Son have names who are worthy of worship as they are known and glorified forever.
Proverbs 31:
A valiant woman of God is to be praised and valued far above riches just as lady wisdom is to be treasured above all precious gems of exceeding value.
