Proverbs Chapter 2 - The Value of Wisdom

The Value of Wisdom

1. My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2. So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3. Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4. If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5. Then you will understand the fear of the Lord.
And find the knowledge of God.
6. For the Lord gives wisdom;
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7. He stores up sound wisdom from the upright;
He is shield to those who walk uprightly;
8. He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of his saints.
9. Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
10. When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11. Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
12. To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
13. From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness
14. Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
15. Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;
16. To deliver you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words,
17. Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.
18. For her house leads down to death,
And her paths to the dead;
19. None who go to her return;
Nor do they regain the paths of life ---
20. So you may walk in the way of goodness,
And keep to the paths of righteousness.
21. For the upright will dwell in the land,
And the blameless will remain in it;
22. But the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

Proverbs Chapter 3 - Guidance for Young

Guidance for Young


1. My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2. For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
3. Let no mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4. And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6. In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7. Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8. It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
9. Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10. So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11. My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest his correction;
12. For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13. Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14. For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15. She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her
16. Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
19. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20. By his knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21. My son, let them not depart from your eyes ----
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22. So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23. Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24. When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25. Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26. For the Lord will be 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 the power of your hand to do so,
28. Do not say to your neighbour,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
29. Do not devise evil against your neighbour,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30. Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
31. Do not envy the oppressor,
And chose none of his ways;
32. For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord.
But the secret counsel is with the upright.
33. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But he blesses the habitation of the just.
34. Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35. The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Murder Begins in the Heart.

A Reading from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 21 - 26

21. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder,' and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgement.
22. 'But I say to you that whoever is angry with  his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement. And whoever says to his brother, "Raca!" shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, "You Fool," shall be in danger of hell fire.
23. "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24. "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25. " Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you are thrown into prison.
26. "Assuredly. I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Go tell it on the Mountain

While shepherds kept their watching

O'er wandering flocks by night,

Behold from out of heaven,

There shone a holy light.

Chorus

Go tell it on the mountain,

Over the hills and everywhere,

Go tell it on the mountain,

That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger,

The humble Christ was born,

And God sent out salvation,

That blessed Christmas morn.

Chorus

Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

 
When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day,
I asked the Lord to help me,
And he showed me the way.

Chorus
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.


He made me a watchman
Upon a city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.


Chorus
Go tell it on the mountin,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.

Christ Fulfills the Law.

A Reading from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 17 - 20

17. "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18. "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19. "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so,
shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20. "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Believers are Salt and Light

A Reading from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 13 - 16

13. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Beatitudes

A Reading from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verse 1-12

1. And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.

2. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10."Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11."Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12. "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets
      who were before you.