Lessons for Daily Life

My child, if you have put up security for a friend's debt
 or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger-
if you have trapped yourself by your agreement
 and are caught by what you said--
follow my advice and save yourself,
 for you have placed yourself at your friend's mercy.
Now shallow your pride;
 go and beg to have your named erased.
Don't put it off; do it now!
 Don't rest until you do.
Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter,
 like a bird fleeing from a net.
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
 Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince
 or governor or ruler to make them work,
they labor hard all summer,
 gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
 When will you wake up?
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
 a little folding of the hands to rest--
then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
 scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Avoid Immoral Woman

My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
 listen carefully to my wise counsel.
Then you will show discernment,
 and your lips will express what you've learned.
For the lips of an immoral women are as sweet as honey,
 and her mouth is smoother than oil.
But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
 as dangerous as double-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
 her steps lead straight to the grave.
For she cares nothing about the path to life.
 She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn't realize it.

A Fathers's Wise Advice

My children, listen when your father corrects you.
 Pay attention and learn good judgement,
for I am giving you good guidance.
 Don't turn away from my instructions.
For I, too, was once my father's son,
 tenderly loved as my mother's only child.

My father taught me,
 "Take my words to heart.
   Follow my commands and you will live.
Get wisdom; develop good judgement.
 Don't forget my words or turn away from them.
Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
 Love her, and she will guard you.
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
 And whatever else you do, develop good judgement.
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
 Embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
 she will present you with a beautiful crown."

Trusting in the Lord

My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
 Store my commands in your heart.
If you do this, you will live many years,
 and your life will be satisfying.
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
 Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
 Write them deep within your heart.
Then you will find favor with both God and people
 and you will earn a good reputation.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
 do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
 and he will show you which path to take.

Paul's Final Advice

NOTICE WHAT LARGE LETTER I USE AS I WRITE THESE CLOSING WORDS IN MY OWN HANDWRITING.
Those who are trying to force to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. And even those who advocate circumcision don't keep the whole law themselves. They only want to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.
As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died. It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principles; they are the new people of God.

We Harvest What We Plant

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back unto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

The Benefits of wisdom

My child listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
 and concentrate to understanding.
Cry out for insight,
 and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver,
 and seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you understand what it means to fear the lord,
 and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom!
 Fro his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
 He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guards the path of the just
 and protect those who are faithful to him.

Living by the Spirit's Power

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desire that are the opposite of the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When you follow the desire of your sinful nature, the result are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God.

God's Promises Bring Hope

For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:
"I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."
Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.
Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who receive the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. this hope is a

Call to Spiritual Growth

 There is much more we would say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seems to listen. You have been believers for long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
So let us stop going over the basic teaching about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

Wisdom Shouts in the Streets

Wisdom shouts in the streets.
 She cries out in the public square.
She call to the crowds along the main street,
 to those gathered in front of the city gate:
"How long you simpletons,
 will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
 How long will you fools hate knowledge?
Come and listen to my counsel.
I'll share my heart with you
 and make you wise.

"I called you so often, but you wouldn't come.

A Father's Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom

My child, listen when your father corrects you.
  Don't neglect your mother's instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
  and be a chain of honor around your neck.

My child, if sinners entice you,
  turn your back on them!
They may say, "Come and join  us
  Let's hide and kill someone!
Just for fun, let's ambush the innocent!
  Let's swallow them alive, like the grave,
Let's swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.

The Purpose of Proverbs

These are the Proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
  to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives.
  to help them do what is right, just and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
  knowledge and discerning to the young.
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wise.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
  by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,

Battles Against Phillistine Giants

Once again the Phillistine were at war with Israel,
And when David and his men were in the thick of battle,
David became weak and exhausted.
Ishbi-benob was descendant of the giants,
his bronze spearhead weighted more than seven pounds,
and he was armed with a new sword.
He had cornered David and was about to kill him.
But Abishah son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue and killed the Phillistine.
Then David's men men declared.
"You are not going to battle with us again! Why risk snuffing out of the light of Israel"?
After this, there was another battle against the Phillistine at Gob.