Proverbs on Children and Family
Proverbs
Proverbs is the single most practical and helpful book in the Bible. Proverbs are written in poetic style. They usually consist of two-line couplets. Each one-verse aphorism is a complete entity in itself.
There are three major types of poetic parallelism:
1. Synonymous parallelism, which restates the second line in a slightly different way to the truth of the first line, so as to reinforce its meaning:
To have a fool for a son brings
grief;
there is no joy for the father of a fool. (17:21)
2. Antithetic parallelism, which contrasts the second line with the truth of the first line:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son grief to his mother (10:1).
3. Synthetic parallelism, which advances the second line with the thought of the first line:
In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality (12:28).
Proverbs
will help us apply religion where it counts---in the family, in work and
business, in care of our health, and in our relationship with others and with
God. Proverbs is a
philosophical book that seeks to answer the eternal question: How should we
live? Proverbs presents to us the wisdom of God for our daily living. It
presents us with a much needed relational theology. Its moral maxims put
religion into the arena of daily relationships.
Billy Graham testifies: “For a number of years, I have made it a practice
to read five psalms and one chapter of Proverbs a day. The Psalms teach us
how to get along with God, and the Proverbs teach us how to get along with our
fellowmen. . . Reading this much in each book regularly takes me through
them once each month. You cannot imagine the blessing this encounter with the
Scriptures has been in my life, especially in recent years.” (Living Psalms
and Proverbs, Preface)
Charles Swindoll eulogizes: “Proverbs is the single most practical and
helpful book in all the Bible, . . . a volume loaded with capsules of truth that
face life head on.. . . I have never (and I mean never) opened my Bible to
Proverbs without finding a nugget or principle or insight that gave me just what
I needed at the moment. This book is not only wise, it is relevant and
timely, . . . constantly up to date.” (Proverbs Bible Guide, 1)
Chuck Swindoll characterizes the Book of Proverbs as “the most practical
book in the Old Testament and, in many ways, the most practical book in all the
Bible.” (The Living Insights Study Bible, 632)
When writing his Living Bible paraphrase of Proverbs,
Kenneth Taylor concluded, “No other [portions of the Word] have such exciting,
thoughtful wisdom as the Proverbs.”
C. Hassel Bullock wrote, “This book [Proverbs] represents the common
sense approach to life and faith. It touches the sacred concerns of all who
receive the gift of life and struggle how to live with it. .. . The book
distills the theological substance of the Old Testament religion into its
practical essence” (An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books).
The Sayings in PROVERBS are structured as follow:
Chapters 1 to 9 The Prologue
Chapters 10 to 22:16 Main sayings of Solomon
Chapters 22:17 to 24:34 Sayings of other sages of Israel
Chapters 25 to 29 More sayings of Solomon
Chapter 30 The sayings of Agur
Chapter 31:1—9 The sayings of Lemuel
Chapter 31:10—31 The Epilogue
Quotes on Children and Family from Proverbs (NIV)
Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
(4:10-11)
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
(4:5)
Blessed is the
man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she is more
profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold. (3:13-14)
Wisdom will save
you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
who leave the
straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing
wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are
crooked
and who are devious in their ways. (2:12-15)
My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
listen well to my words of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.
(5:1-2)
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.(2:11)
My son,
preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
they will be life
for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.(3:21-22)
My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad;
my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
(23:15-16)
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son grief to his mother. (10:1)
Be wise, my son,
and bring joy to my heart;
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt. (27:11)
The father of a righteous man has great
joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him.
May your father and mother be glad;
may she who gave you birth rejoice! (23:24-25)
Let love and faithfulness never leave
you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man. (3:3-4)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones. (3:5-8)
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (2:6)
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.(2:10)
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
(2:2)
Honor the LORD
with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will
be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine. (3:9-10)
Do not withhold
good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to
your neighbor,
"Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow---
when you now have it with you.
Do not plot harm
against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
Do not accuse a man
for no reason---
when he has done you no harm. (3:27-30)
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it. (22:6)
The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame. (3:35)
He who brings trouble on his family will
inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise. (11:29)
To have a fool for a son brings grief;
there is no joy for the father of a fool. (17:21)
A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the one who bore him. (17:25)
A foolish son is his father's ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. (19:13)
Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. (25:24)
A wise son heeds his father's
instruction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. (13:1)
A fool spurns his father's discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. (15:5)
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his
father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. (29:3)
My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
(1:10)
It (wisdom) will
save you also from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
who has left the
partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
For her house
leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
None who go to
her return
or attain the paths of life.
(2:16-19)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (1:7)
My son, do not
despise the Lord's discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD
disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in. (3:11-12)
He who ignores discipline despises
himself,
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. (15:32)
The rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. (29:15)
He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. (13:24)
Folly is bound up in the heart of a
child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. (22:15)
Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod
and save his soul from death. (23:13-14)
Discipline your son, and he will give you
peace;
he will bring delight to your soul. (29:17)
A servant cannot be corrected by mere
words;
though he understands, he will not respond. (29:19)
If a man pampers his servant from youth,
he will bring grief in the end. (29:21)
A wise servant will rule over a
disgraceful son,
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. (17:2)
Even a child is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and right. (20:11)
O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows, (31:2)
He who robs his father and drives out his
mother
is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
(19:26)
He who robs his father or mother
and says, "It's not wrong"---
he is partner to him who destroys. (28:24)
There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers; (30:11)
If a man curses his father or mother,
his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. (20:20)
Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding. (23:22-23)
Children's children are a crown to the
aged,
and parents are the pride of their children. (17:6)
A good man leaves an inheritance for his
children's children,
but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. (13:22)
The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. (14:1)
By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures. (24:3-4)
Finish your outdoor work
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house. (24:27)
The house of the wicked will be
destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish. (14:11)
He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. (28:7)
A greedy man brings trouble to his
family,
but he who hates bribes will live. (15:27)
He who fears the LORD has a secure
fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge. (14:26)
The righteous man leads a blameless life;
blessed are his children after him. (20:7)