Thursday 13th October 2022

Admonition to Trust and Honour God

3My child, do not forget my teaching,
   but let your heart keep my commandments;
² for length of days and years of life
   and abundant welfare they will give you.

³ Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
   bind them round your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favour and good repute
   in the sight of God and of people.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
   and do not rely on your own insight.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
   and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be a healing for your flesh
   and a refreshment for your body.

⁹ Honour the Lord with your substance
   and with the first fruits of all your produce;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty,
   and your vats will be bursting with wine.

¹¹ My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
   or be weary of his reproof,
¹² for the Lord reproves the one he loves,
   as a father the son in whom he delights.

The True Wealth

¹³ Happy are those who find wisdom,
   and those who get understanding,
¹⁴ for her income is better than silver,
   and her revenue better than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels,
   and nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
   in her left hand are riches and honour.
¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
   and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
   those who hold her fast are called happy.

God’s Wisdom in Creation

¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
   by understanding he established the heavens;
²⁰ by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
   and the clouds drop down the dew.

The True Security

²¹ My child, do not let these escape from your sight:
   keep sound wisdom and prudence,
²² and they will be life for your soul
   and adornment for your neck.
²³ Then you will walk on your way securely
   and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ If you sit down,^* you will not be afraid;
   when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden panic,
   or of the storm that strikes the wicked;
²⁶ for the Lord will be your confidence
   and will keep your foot from being caught.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^*
   when it is in your power to do it.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Go, and come again;
   tomorrow I will give it’—when you have it with you.
²⁹ Do not plan harm against your neighbour
   who lives trustingly beside you.
³⁰ Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
   when no harm has been done to you.
³¹ Do not envy the violent
   and do not choose any of their ways;
³² for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
   but the upright are in his confidence.
³³ The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
   but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
³⁴ Towards the scorners he is scornful,
   but to the humble he shows favour.
³⁵ The wise will inherit honour,
   but stubborn fools, disgrace.

NRSV