Proverbs 9:7-12 Complete Jewish Bible
7 “He who corrects a scoffer only gets insulted;
reproving a wicked man becomes his blemish.
8 If you reprove a scoffer, he will hate you;
if you reprove a wise man, he will love you.
9 Give to a wise man, and he grows still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will learn still more.
10 The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of holy ones is understanding.
11 For with me, your days will be increased;
years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom helps you;
but if you scoff, you bear the consequences alone.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
In today’s world, we are flooded with information – misinformation, fake news manipulated news to satisfy someone’s propaganda, someone’s ulterior motive someone else’s political or financial or “I need to be in control of it all” agenda.
From every manner of social media to 24-hour news cycles, covering just about every imaginable angle, from good, to bad to outright criminal or falsified, we have more access to more knowledge (%wisdom??) than any other generation.
Yet, despite this abundance of information, wisdom seems increasingly scarce.
People make decisions every day that lead to pain, confusion, and chaos.
Who is smart enough or discerning or wise enough to sort out fact from fiction?
What is missing?
Personally, I tend to err on the far side of caution. If there is risk involved, I will pause and evaluate, even over-evaluate the given situation so that I can make a rational and “well reasoned” decision that should keep me as safe as possible.
At an early age I learned from my parents that respecting things like the law of gravity, that rocks are always going to be harder than my skull, the authority of the people in charge was better than disrespecting things that I cannot control.
Basically what they did was to deeply ingrain, weave into my young soul the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 20 Complete Jewish Bible
20 Then God said all these words:
א 2 “I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery.
ב 3 “You are to have no other gods before me. 4 You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline. 5 You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot.
ג 7 “You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God, because Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly.
ד 8 “Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. 9 You have six days to labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Shabbat for Adonai your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work — not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. 11 For in six days, Adonai made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why Adonai blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself.
ה 12 “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which Adonai your God is giving you.
ו 13 “Do not murder.
ז (14) “Do not commit adultery.
ח (15) “Do not steal.
ט (16) “Do not give false evidence against your neighbor.
י 14 (17) “Do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
(A: vii) 15 (18) All the people experienced the thunder, the lightning, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled. Standing at a distance, 16 (19) they said to Moshe, “You, speak with us; and we will listen. But don’t let God speak with us, or we will die.” 17 (20) Moshe answered the people, “Don’t be afraid, because God has come only to test you and make you fear him, so that you won’t commit sins.”
What’s Missing? What has been/gone un-noticed?
The Bible gives us the answer.
I have found that the Bible contains all the answers to all the questions we will ever ask, even those answers to those questions we are not wise enough to ask.
Proverbs 9:10 (NLT) declares, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”
Proverbs 9:10 Amplified Bible “The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence],
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.”
Proverbs 9:10 Easy-to-Read Version “10 Wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord. Knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 Contemporary English Version
“10 Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the beginning
of wisdom.[a]
To have understanding,
you must know the Holy God.
Here, we see that true wisdom, the kind that emanates from the Word of God, which wisely used, leads to a flourishing life, begins with the fear of the Lord.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 Amplified Bible
14 But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness]. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the [a]man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
That truth, brought to remembrance by the Holy Spirit of God helps me to reason out, pray through, discern, what the author of Proverbs is saying here.
Fearing the Lord does not mean being scared of God, as if he were a tyrant waiting to take his anger out on us.
To fear the Lord is to give him respect and reverence.
After all, God is the Creator who graciously made a covenant with his people.
He deserves our respect.
God has promised to provide his people with all that they need. He deserves our reverence.
Revering the Lord is the first step in developing a vibrant relationship with him.
Revering God calls for us to submit ourselves humbly to him—seeking him, listening for him and to him, and obeying him, and serving with Him. Fearing the Lord puts us in the position of a true servant who loves God and trusts God.
That is precisely where God wants us to be, and that is where we need to be.
To understand the fear of the Lord, we must first clarify what it is not.
Fear in this context isn’t a terror making us cower in dread or guilt before God.
Instead, the Hebrew word for fear here, yirah, refers to a reverence, awe, and deep respect for God.
It is a recognition of His greatness, holiness, and authority over all creation.
Psalm 111:10 (NLT) reinforces this: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.”
To fear the Lord is to acknowledge, recognize Him as the sovereign King and Creator, to stand in awe of His power, majesty, to align our lives with His will.
In contrast, the opposite of fearing the Lord is living as though God does not matter or is irrelevant.
This is the essence of foolishness, according to the Bible. Psalm 14:1 (NLT) declares: “Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’”
When we flat out reject or refuse to acknowledge the fear of the Lord, we turn away from the very source of wisdom.
” To fear God is not to be afraid of Him but to stand in awe of His majesty, power, and greatness.”
Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Just as a building cannot stand without a strong foundation, our lives cannot, won’t flourish without the foundation of wisdom that begins with reverence for God.
Wisdom, in biblical terms, is not simply knowledge or intelligence.
The Hebrew word hokmah refers to skill in living—our knowing how to apply knowledge in the right way at the right time. It is the ability to to learn through experience to live well, to make choices that lead to life, peace, and godliness.
In James 1:5 (NLT), we are strongly encouraged to seek this wisdom: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” The wisdom we need comes from God alone, and it begins when we humbly recognize our need for Him in every area of our lives.
The world offers many competing definitions of wisdom.
Some seek wisdom in self-help books, others in success, wealth, or power or by media produced over dramatized, paid appearance televised self help programs.
But true wisdom is found in God’s Word and through a relationship with Him.
Colossians 2:3 (NLT) tells us, “In him (Christ) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Jesus is the living embodiment of God’s wisdom, and through Him, we can each access, act upon the wisdom that leads to eternal life.
Imagine trying to build a house on sand. No matter how beautiful or well-designed the house is, it will crumble because its foundation is weak.
This is what life is like when we build without God.
But when we build on the solid rock of God’s wisdom, our lives can withstand the storms of life (Matthew 7:24-27).
The Fear of the Lord and Good Judgment
The second part of Proverbs 9:10 promises that “Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” When we grow in our understanding of who God is—His holiness, His justice, His mercy—it leads to better decision-making.
The phrase good judgment can also be translated as discernment.
Discernment is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and lies.
In a world filled with moral confusion, we desperately need this discernment.
Hebrews 5:14 (NLT) says: “Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”
The more we grow in our knowledge of God, the more our minds are disciplined and trained to think as He thinks and to make decisions that align with His will.
This is why Romans 12:2 (NLT) instructs us all: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
When we fear the Lord and seek His wisdom, He transforms our minds and equips us with the discernment needed to navigate life’s challenges.
“True wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective, and it comes as we grow in our relationship with Him.” – Reverend Dr. Charles Stanley
Living in the Fear of the Lord
So, what does it look like to live in the fear of the Lord?
First, it means living a life of obedience.
Proverbs 8:13 (NLT) says: “All who fear the Lord will hate evil.” When we fear the Lord, we align our lives with His Word, rejecting sin and pursuing holiness.
Second, it means living a life of trust.
Psalm 34:9 (NLT) encourages us: “Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.”
When we revere God, we trust Him to provide for our needs and guide us in every situation.
Finally, living in the fear of the Lord means walking in humility.
Proverbs 22:4 (NLT) declares: “True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honour, and long life.”
Recognizing our dependence on God, we approach life with humility, understanding that every blessing comes from Him.
Think of a compass.
Without it, a sailor can easily get lost at sea, drifting off course.
The fear of the Lord is like that compass—it keeps us on course, guiding us toward the life God intends for us.
Conclusion: A Call to Wisdom
In closing, the fear of the Lord is not just an abstract concept.
It is a way of life. It is the surest foundation upon which we build everything, and it leads us to true wisdom, good judgment, and a life that honor’s God.
Today, I challenge each and every one of us to examine our hearts. Are we living in the fear of the Lord? Are we sure, building our lives on the foundation of His wisdom, or are we following the world’s definitions of success and knowledge?
In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 14 Complete Jewish Bible
14 (0) For the leader. By David:
(1) Fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile,
not one does what is right.
2 From heaven Adonai observes humankind
to see if anyone has understanding,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But all turn aside, all alike are corrupt;
no one does what is right,
not a single one.
4 Don’t they ever learn,
all those evildoers,
who eat up my people as if eating bread
and never call on Adonai?
5 There they are, utterly terrified;
for God is with those who are righteous.
6 You may mock the plans of the poor,
but their refuge is Adonai.
7 How I wish Isra’el’s salvation
would come out of Tziyon!
When Adonai restores his people’s fortunes,
Ya‘akov will rejoice, Isra’el will be glad!
Psalm 139:23-24 The Message
23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 