Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you'll know how to live. I'm giving you good counsel; don't let it go in one ear and out the other.
When I was a boy at my father's knee, the pride and joy of my mother, He would sit me down and drill me: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live! Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch! Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you. Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won't regret it; never let her go—she'll make your life glorious. She'll garland your life with grace, she'll festoon your days with beauty."
Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I'm writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I'm drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don't want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns. Hold tight to good advice; don't relax your grip. Guard it well—your life is at stake! Don't take Wicked Bypass; don't so much as set foot on that road. Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way.
Evil people are restless unless they're making trouble; They can't get a good night's sleep unless they've made life miserable for somebody. Perversity is their food and drink, violence their drug of choice.
The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker— travelers can't see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
Learn It by Heart
Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health.
Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.
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WHAT'S IN A NAME? Our last names are our heritage, but our first names are our potential. We were all named with a purpose. Mine happens to be Robert. The name Robert means -Wise in Counsel-. It took me 48 years of my life to find that out and actually start living up to my potential. I'm now approaching 55 and the wisdom I've acquired in the last 6 1/2 years astounds even myself. I actually look younger now than I did at 48 because back before Nov. 6th, 2005 I was a different man. I was stressed, angry, rebelious, self serving and just as the writing above says, wicked. I'm not saying if you dropped your wallet with $$$ loaded in it, I wouldn't have tried to return it to you or things like that. Only, I lived for myself (sorry Bonnie and thank you for staying with me even so) but now I live with a greater purpose and part of that is living up to my name.
In case you didn't recognize it, the above is a modern day translation of Proverbs 4 of the Bible. It's called the Message, the vernacular is different but the message remains the same. Although it's close to 3,000 years old, this text still applies to life today and will always apply to life until the end of time. In other words, the gist of this is timeless.
If you would like to know what your potential is, what your name means, just comment that wish and I will respond. You might be amazed.
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