Proverbs 1:3-7

(The Complete Jewish Bible) Proverbs 1:
“3for gaining an intelligently disciplined life,
doing what is right, just and fair;
4 for endowing with caution those who don’t think
and the young person with knowledge and discretion.
5 Someone who is already wise
will hear and learn still more;
someone who already understands
will gain the ability to counsel well;
6 he will understand proverbs, obscure expressions,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

(King James Version) Proverbs 1:
“3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

In my previous post, I discussed the value of “perceiving the words of understanding”. For without perception, reading is a fruitless endeavor. It is a pointless past time. To understand is to fully grasp. Then, we must receive that knowledge. Otherwise, it is simply as  seeing an expensive gift in front of you, but, never reaching out to take it. By receiving it, we “gain an intelligently disciplined life”. We are also equipped to endow with caution those who don’t think and the young person with knowledge and discretion. In other words… those who learn .. TEACH. Sound familiar?
I remember many nights studying over homework that seemed to be beyond my grasp. My father told me, very often, “when you finally see it… it will be as though you always knew and understood.” I had my doubts, but, once again… he was right! Once I grasped that evasive tidbit of knowledge… I had no problems figuring out the rest!
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels”. We must always strive to learn.. to seek those who are more knowledgeable than we are…
We cannot allow ourselves to stagnate in our quest for wisdom and perception. “To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” Our quest for the unknown is never ending…. otherwise, we would not have researchers, or scientists… or engineers… or teachers. If we learn, and if we perceive that which we have learned… then and only then… can we gain an intelligently disciplined life in order to endow the younger generation. Always remembering that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction”.
For if we do not fear Him… if we do not stand in awe of His Omnipotence…. His Eternal Wisdom…. then our very lives are in vain. We were made to worship Him, in understanding, and in Truth. I will not willingly be a fool who despises wisdom. Teach me, Oh, Lord, Your wisdom.