Gnana Marga

SPIRITUAL - JNANA MARGA

THE VALUE OF PROVERBS

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel. Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. They can teach you how to live intelligently, and how to be honest, fair and just. They can make an inexperienced person clever, and teach young men how to be resourceful. These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of wise men, and give guidence to the educated, so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs, and the problems that wise men raise. If you listen to me you will know what is right ,just and fair.You will know what you should do. You will become wise and your knowledge will give you pleasure. Your insight and understanding will protect you, and prevent you from doing the wrong thing. They will keep you away from people who stir up trouble by what they say - men who have abandoned a righteous life to live in the darkness of sin, men who find pleasure in doing wrong and enjoy senseless evil, unreliable men who cannot be trusted.

IN PRAISE OF WISDOM!!

Wisdom is calling out. Reason is making herself heard. On the hilltops near the road and at the crossroads she stands, At the entrance to the city, beside the gate she calls: " I appeal to you, mankind; I call to everyone on earth, Are you immature? Learn to be mature. Are you foolish? Learn to have sense. Listen to my excellent words; all I tell you is right. What I say is the truth; lies are hateful to me. Everything I say is true; nothing is false or misleading. To the man with insight, it is all clear;to the well informed, it is all plain. Choose my instruction instead of silver; choose knowledge rather than the finest gold. I am Wisdom, I am better than jewels; nothing you want can compare with me. I am Wisdom, and I have insight; I have knowledge and sound judgement. To honor the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words. I make plans and carry them out. I have understanding, and I am strong. I help kings to govern and rulers to make good laws. Every ruler on earth governs with my help, statesman and noblemen alike. I love those who love me; whoever looks for me can find me. I have riches and honor to give, prosperity and success. What you get from me is better than the finest gold, better than the purest silver. I walk the way of righteousness; I follow the paths of justice, giving wealth to those who love me, filling their houses with treasures. The Lord created me first of all, the first of his works, long ago. I was made in the very beginning, at the first, before the world began. I was born before the oceans, when there were no springs of water. I was born before the mountains, before the hills were set in place, before God made the earth and its fields, or even the first handful of soil. I was there when he set the sky in place, when he stretched the horizon across the ocean, when he placed the clouds in the sky, when he opened the springs of the ocean and ordered the waters of the sea to rise no further source than he said. I was there when he laid the earth's foundations. I was beside him like an architect, I was his daily source of joy, always happy in his presence- happy with the world and pleased with the human race. Now, young men, listen to me, do as I say and you will be happy. Listen to what you are taught. Be wise, do not neglect it, the man who listenes to me will be happy - the man who stays at my door everyday, waiting at the entrance to my home. The man who finds me, finds life, and the Lord will be pleased with him. The man who does not find me hurts himself; anyone who hates me loves death".