The Wisdom of Parents

New International Version (NIV)

Proverbs 1

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

⁸ Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
⁹ They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice you,
    do not give in to them.
¹¹ If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
¹² let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot”—
¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot on their paths;
¹⁶ for their feet rush into evil,
    they are swift to shed blood.
¹⁷ How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!
¹⁹ Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.


I remember growing up and my father always reminding me of the company I would keep and those whom I would call friend. In today's text Solomon reminds us to be aware of those around us and their motives. Verse 18 especially sticks out to me, that ill intent leads only to destruction of thyself. Their were times when I was young and thought that my parents were clueless to life as a youth, now I am sure that they understood all to well. There is something about the wisdom of parents.

Dear God open our ears that we may receive wise instruction and open our eyes that we may see who loves us and who means us harm so that we can respond accordingly. Amen. 

Be Well, P.J.