• Words To Live By
• Words For Living
• Life-giving Words
• Words of Life
• Words of Wisdom and Humility
• The Life of Words
• The Life in Words
• The Prosperity of The Word
• Freedom in The Word
• LIFE IN THE WORD

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,
because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

---

Jesus said,
"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. ..."

Jesus said,
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again,
and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. ..."

(Proverbs 1:7, 2:1-6; James 1:5-8; Matthew 7:7, 13:44
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

---

Jesus said, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and
the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. ..."

(Proverbs 3:5-7, 21, 4:23-27; Luke 6:45
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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For wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

---

Jesus said,
"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
He who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said,
"But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ..."

(Proverbs 8:11-14, 17, 9:9; John 14:21-24
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.
A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but the LORD condemns a crafty man.

The way of a fool seems right to him,
but a wise man listens to advice.

A righteous man is cautious in friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.

---

Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest.
They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him
over to the power and authority of the governor.
So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach
what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God
in accordance with the truth.
Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,
"Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"
"Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's,
and to God what is God's."

They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public.
And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

(Proverbs 10:17, 11:3, 30, 12:1, 2, 15, 26, 28; Luke 20:20-26
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

He whose walk is upright fears the LORD, but he whose ways are devious despises him.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.

A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
The LORD detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.
He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

---

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.
There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.

Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"

But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.

Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?"

And they had nothing to say.

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:

"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor,
for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.
If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you,
`Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.
But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you,
`Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

(Proverbs 13:10, 20, 14:2, 8, 15-16, 27, 15:8-9, 14, 29, 31-33; Luke 14:1-11
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

He who answers before listening -- that is his folly and his shame.

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

---

Jesus said,
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad,
for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him,
and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment
for every careless word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted,
and by your words you will be condemned."

(Proverbs 16:6, 9, 16, 17, 17:17, 27, 28, 18:10, 13, 15, 17, 21, 24; Matthew 12:33-37
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"?

Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,
or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.

---

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.
Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire.
He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.
When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?
He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

(Proverbs 19:19-21, 27, 20:9, 11, 21:3, 30, 22:3, 12, 24, 25; John 8:42-47
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.

Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad;
my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways,

Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did."

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

---

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;
a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
He thought to himself, `What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
"Then he said, `This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'
"But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

(Proverbs 23:4, 12, 15, 16, 19, 26, 24:14, 29, 26:12; Luke 12:13-21
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you -- better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.

Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

---

Jesus said,
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(Proverbs 27:1, 5, 6, 10, 12, 17, 19, 28:5, 9, 14, 26; Matt 6:19-34
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

---

Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
"He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them."

Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.
But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;
for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words;
that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.
I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."

(Proverbs 18:22, 21:9, 19, 25:24, 29:11, 25, 30:5, 31:10, 30; John 12:37-50
All scripture taken from New International Version.)

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