Life Walk Bible Lesson 16— The Holy Spirit Gives Wisdom
Skill and Craftsmanship
To a people group whom God brought out of Egypt, who had worked in the iron smelting and brick making professions, as slaves of the Egyptians under Pharaoh, God gave wisdom and knowledge, understanding and skill, to create everything according to the Heavenly Pattern He gave to Moses on the Mountain.
Scripture Reading: Exodus 28
For Making the Priest’s Clothing
Exodus 28:3 NASB
“You will speak to all the skillful persons [Literally: wise of heart] whom I have endowed with the Spirit of Wisdom [i.e. artistic skill] , that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as a priest to Me.”
From: The Septuagint (LXX):
“And speak thou to all those who are wise in understanding, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom and perception; and they shall make the holy apparel of Aaron for the sanctuary, in which apparel he shall minister to me as priest.”
For the Priest’s Workplace
Exodus 31:1-11
“Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship.
“And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of testimony, and the mercy seat upon it, and all the furniture of the tent, the table also and its utensils, and the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering also with all its utensils, and the laver and its stand, the woven garments as well, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, with which to carry on their priesthood; the anointing oil also, and the fragrant incense for the holy place, they are to make them according to all that I have commanded you.’”
For Generosity and the Tabernacle
Scripture Reading: Exodus 35
Cross reference: Ezekiel 16:1-14 — God reminds Ancient Israel of how He found her, took care of her, clothed her, and fed her.
For Respect and Reputation
Deuteronomy 4:5-7
“See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him?’”
Cross reference: Psalm 119
2 Samuel 14:20
“…But my Lord is wise, like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth.”
For Righteousness
1 Enoch 5:8-9
“And then there shall be bestowed upon the elect wisdom, and they shall all live and never sin again, either through ungodliness or through pride: but they who are wise shall be humble. And they shall not again transgress, nor shall they sin all the days of their life, nor shall they die of the Divine anger or wrath, but they shall complete the number of the days of their life. And their lives shall be increased in peace, and the years of their joy shall be multiplied, in eternal gladness and peace, all the days of their life.”
2Enoch 33:2-4
“And now, Enoch, all that I have told you, all that you have understood, all that you have seen of heavenly things, all that you have seen on earth, and all that I have written in books by My great wisdom, [all the things you have written in these books] all these things I have devised and created from the uppermost foundation to the lower and to the end, and there is no counsellor nor inheritor to My creations [There is no counsellor here]. I am Self-Eternal, not made with hands, and without change. My thought is My Counsellor, My Wisdom and My Word are made [and My word is deed] , and My eyes observe all things how they stand here [exist] and tremble with terror. [But] If I turn away My face, then all things will be destroyed.”
For Understanding Parables
Proverbs 1:1-7 [Catholic Bible, Apple APP Store]
1 The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel
2 In order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 To understand words of prudence, and to accept instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 By listening the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
7 For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
Cross Reference: 1John 2:13-14
13 “ I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
Additional Reading: 1Enoch 37-82 — The Parables: The Wisdom of God
For Judging in Righteousness and Truth
Isaiah 11:1-5 (LXX)
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root: and the Spirit of God shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and godliness shall fill him; the spirit of the fear of God. He shall not judge according to appearance, nor reprove according to report: but he shall judge the cause of the lowly, and shall reprove the lowly of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the word of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he destroy the ungodly one. And he shall have his loins girt with righteousness, and his sides clothed with truth.”
Cross reference: 1 Enoch 46:1-8 — The Head of Days and the Son of Man [Daniel 7]
“And there I saw One who had a head of days, and His head was white like wool, and with Him was another being whose countenance had the appearance of a man. And His face was full of graciousness, like one of the holy angels. And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, Who He was, and whence He was, (and) why He went with the Head of Days? And he answered and said unto me: This is the Son of Man Who hath righteousness, with Whom dwelleth righteousness, and Who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden, because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen Him, and Whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness for ever.
“And this Son of Man Whom thou hast seen shall raise up the kings and the mighty from their seats, [and the strong from their thrones] and shall loosen the reins of the strong, and break the teeth of the sinners. [And He shall put down the kings from their thrones and kingdoms] because they do not extol and praise Him, nor humbly acknowledge whence the kingdom was bestowed upon them. And He shall put down the countenance of the strong, and shall fill them with shame. “And darkness shall be their dwelling, and worms shall be their bed, and they shall have no hope of rising from their beds, because they do not extol the name of the Lord of Spirits. And these are they who judge the stars of heaven, [and raise their hands against the Most High], and tread upon the earth and dwell upon it. And all their deeds manifest unrighteousness, And their power rests upon their riches, and their faith is in the gods which they have made with their hands, and they deny the name of the Lord of Spirits, and they persecute the houses of His congregations, and the faithful who hang upon the name of the Lord of Spirits.”
Cross reference: The Book of Jude
Revelation 19:11-16
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
“He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’”
Revelation 22:14
“Blessed are whose who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter the gates into the city.”
Proverbs 11:30
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.”
Scripture Readings: Ephesians 1 and Colossians 1
The Wisdom of God for…
For Leadership
1 Kings 4:29-34
“Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was known in all the surrounding nations. He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish. Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.”
1 Kings 10:6-8
“Then she said to the king, ‘It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard. How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.”
1 Kings 11:41
“Now the rest of the acts of Solomon and whatever he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?”
Note: Of the many writings of King Solomon, only a very few remain, and only three have been included in the Canon of our Bible. However, there are other writings extant, which were discovered more recently than the Canons were compiled, which are available to us.
Among these are:
The Book of Wisdom often speaks in “the voice of” King Solomon, as the writer recounts the wisdom of Solomon in his work:
The Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon: The Testament of Solomon, verses 108-116
Concerning King Solomon, and, The Books of Solomon, pages 205-220 of The Uncanonical Writings of the Old Testament (Armenian Apocrypha)
1 Kings 10:24
“All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God ha put in his heart.”
For Recognizing Spiritual Warfare
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”
Solomon says, in Proverbs 15:4, “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.”
The Testament of Solomon serves to remind us of the wiles of the devil and his demons. When we recognize the devil’s schemes against mankind, and especially the children of God, we can more adequately resist him. Just as in the beginning chapters of 1Enoch, where we find a list of the fallen angels and what they taught humans, we find also a far lengthier list in The Testament of Solomon, and a description in far greater detail as to their evil works against all humans in the earth.
Whereas within The Testament of Solomon, words are given which stop the demons from doing their evil, it must be noted that when Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, came to earth as our Messiah, He, the Wisdom of God, lived to show us how to live wisely.
Jesus cast out the demons with a word: “GO!” Jesus died for our sins, and rose again to life from death. He is victorious over sin, death, hell and the grave and confers, on all who believe in Him and are baptized into His name, His Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven, where we are seated with Him, far above all principalities and powers thrones, dominions and authorities which seek to destroy God’s creation.
Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, our Elder Brother, forever lives to intercede on our behalf, having bought us with His Own blood. And He is ever compelling us to drive out demons wherever we go on His behalf, and to heal the sick, and raise the dead, just as He did while here on earth — that, as it is written, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.”
This is now the name above all names, which renders the enemies of our spirit, soul, and body, powerless — the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, before Whom demons tremble, in Whose name we pray to our Father in Heaven. Once we have driven out the demonic influences in our environment, wherever God sends us, we can bring healing spirit, soul and body to those God sends us to. We can feed, clothe, and shelter them, and shepherds them, even as He intends, according to Scripture.
For Understanding the Signs of the Times
Matthew 16:2-4
2 “But He replied to them, ‘When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
3 And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?
4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.’ And He left them and went away.”
Matthew 13:1-8
1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
8 And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
The Ancient Book of Jasher 2 — The Wisdom of Cainan (Kenan)
Cross Reference: Genesis 4-5
The Ancient Book of Jasher 2:7-14
7 “And in those days there was neither sowing nor reaping in the earth; and there was no food for the sons of men and the famine was very great in those days.
8 And the seed which they sowed in those days in the ground became thorns, thistles and briers; for from the days of Adam was this declaration concerning the earth, of the curse of God, which he cursed the earth, on account of the sin which Adam sinned before the Lord.
9 And it was when men continued to rebel and transgress against God, and to corrupt their ways, that the earth also became corrupt.
10 And Enosh lived ninety years and he begat Cainan;
11 And Cainan grew up and he was forty years old, and he became wise and had knowledge and skill in all wisdom, and he reigned over all the sons of men, and he led the sons of men to wisdom and knowledge; for Cainan was a very wise man and had understanding in all wisdom, and with his wisdom he ruled over spirits and demons;
12 And Cainan knew by his wisdom that God would destroy the sons of men for having sinned upon earth, and that the Lord would in the latter days bring upon them the waters of the flood.
13 And in those days Cainan wrote upon tablets of stone, what was to take place in time to come, and he put them in his treasures.
14 And Cainan reigned over the whole earth, and he turned some of the sons of men to the service of God.”
The Reward for applying God’s Wisdom in our Lifestyle
Matthew 25:31-40
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”
1Enoch 48
1. And in that place I saw the fountain of righteousness
Which was inexhaustible:
And around it were many fountains of wisdom;
And all the thirsty drank of them,
And were filled with wisdom,
And their dwellings were with the righteous and holy and elect.
2. And at that hour that Son of Man was named In the presence of the Lord of Spirits,
And his name before the Head of Days.
3. Yea, before the sun and the signs were created,
Before the stars of the heaven were made,
His name was named before the Lord of Spirits.
4. He shall be a staff to the righteous whereon to stay themselves and not fall,
And he shall be the light of the Gentiles,
And the hope of those who are troubled of heart.
5. All who dwell on earth shall fall down and worship before him,
And will praise and bless and celebrate with song the Lord of Spirits.
6. And for this reason hath he been chosen and hidden before Him,
Before the creation of the world and for evermore.
7. And the wisdom of the Lord of Spirits hath revealed him to the holy and righteous;
For he hath preserved the lot of the righteous,
Because they have hated and despised this world of unrighteousness,
And have hated all its works and ways in the name of the Lord of Spirits: for in his name they are saved, and according to his good pleasure hath it been in regard to their life.
8. In these days downcast in countenance shall the kings of the earth have become, and the strong who possess the land because of the works of their hands; for on the day of their anguish and affliction they shall not (be able to) save themselves.
9. And I will give them over into the hands of Mine elect:
As straw in the fire so shall they burn before the face of the holy:
As lead in the water shall they sink before the face of the righteous,
And no trace of them shall any more be found.
10. And on the day of their affliction there shall be rest on the earth,
And before them they shall fall and not rise again:
And there shall be no one to take them with his hands and raise them:
For they have denied the Lord of Spirits and His Anointed.
The name of the Lord of Spirits be blessed.”
1 Enoch 49:1-4
“For wisdom is poured out like water, and glory faileth not before Him for evermore. For He is mighty in all the secrets of righteousness, and unrighteousness shall disappear as a shadow, and have no continuance; because the Elect One standeth before the Lord of Spirits, and His glory is for ever and ever. And His might unto all generations. And in Him dwells the spirit of wisdom. And the spirit which gives insight, and the spirit of understanding and of might, and the spirit of those who have fallen asleep in righteousness. And He shall judge the secret things, and none shall be able to utter a lying word before him; for He is the Elect One before the Lord of Spirits according to His good pleasure.”
Wisdom and Healing
All Scripture, unless otherwise stated is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)
James 1:5
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Isaiah 11:1-5 (Septuagint)
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root: and the Spirit of God shall rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and godliness shall fill him; the Spirit of the fear of God. He shall not judge according to appearance, nor reprove according to report: but he shall judge the cause of the lowly, and shall reprove the lowly of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the word of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he destroy the ungodly one. And he shall have his loins girt with righteousness, and his sides clothed with truth.”
Galatians 6:10-17
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Psalm 112 — Prosperity of the One Who Fears the Lord.
1 “Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgment.
6 For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever.
7 He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
9 He has given freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish.
Additional Scripture Readings from the Catholic Canon:
Like a Tree
Genesis 2:9
“Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Proverbs 11:30
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.”
Proverbs 13:12
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Proverbs 15:4
“A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.”
Revelation 2:7 [Written to the Church at Ephesus, regarding their first love]
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”
2Enoch 5
From there, the men took me up to the Third Heaven and placed me in the middle of Paradise. This place is of immense beauty. I saw all kinds of trees with sweet blossoms, and their fruits were ripe and aromatic, and all food brought along {there} gave off a beautiful fragrance. In the midst of it was the Tree of Life, exactly on the spot where God rests when He goes into Paradise. This tree, in its goodness and fragrance, is unspeakably gorgeous beyond all other existing creations. All around it looks like gold and fire-like red, covering entire Paradise. It combines properties of all trees {ever} planted and all fruits. Its roots are in Paradise at the exit to Earth. Paradise lies between mortality and immortality.
From it two springs emanate, from one of which milk and honey issue forth, and {from the other} oil and wine. They divide into four parts; while streaming silently they approach Eden's Paradise between mortality and immortality. Going further to the other side, they divide into 40 parts and pour out gently onto Earth. They make a circuit and revolve, like all elements of the air. There is not a single tree {in Paradise} which does not bear fruit and each tree provides an abundant harvest. This entire place is blessed, and 300 exceedingly luminous angels who guard Paradise with unceasing voices and melodic singing serve God all day long.
And I said, 'How beautiful this place is!' The {two} men said to me, 'Enoch, this place is prepared for the righteous who suffered all kinds of misfortunes in their lives. When their souls were becoming embittered, they turned their eyes from iniquity and they were judging justly. They gave bread to the hungry, they dressed the naked with garments, they raised the fallen, they helped the oppressed and orphans. They walked without vices before the face of God and served only Him. This place is prepared for them for an eternal inheritance.’”
Cross References: Matthew 25:31-40
Ezekiel 47:12
“By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
Like a River
John 4:7-14
7 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give Me a drink.’
8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
9 Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’
11 She said to Him, ‘Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?
12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?’
13 Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.’”
Galatians 5:22-23
22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Revelation 22:1-2
1 “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds [or: crops] of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
KEY: Imparting Wisdom, and Healing, Covers the Earth with God’s Glory
Colossians 2:3
“In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.”
Proverbs 3:15-19 [AMPC]
15 "Skillful and godly Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and happy (blessed, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who holds her fast.
19 The Lord by skillful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens.”
Proverbs 8:12-36 [AMPC]
12 I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.
15 By me kings reign and rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God).
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver.
20 I [Wisdom] walk in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), in the midst of the paths of justice,
21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit [true] riches and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 The Lord formed and brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old.
23 I [Wisdom] was inaugurated and ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed.
24 When there were no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 While as yet He had not made the land or the fields or the first of the dust of the earth.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when He drew a circle upon the face of the deep and stretched out the firmament over it,
28 When He made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep,
29 When He gave to the sea its limit and His decree that the waters should not transgress [across the boundaries set by] His command, when He appointed the foundations of the earth—
30 Then I [Wisdom] was beside Him as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.
32 Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it.
34 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord.
36 But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death.”
Wisdom 7:25-27 [CEB]
25 "Wisdom is the warm breath of God’s power. She pours forth from the all-powerful one’s pure glory. Therefore, nothing impure can enter her.
26 She’s the brightness that shines forth from eternal light. She’s a mirror that flawlessly reflects God’s activity. She’s the perfect image of God’s goodness.
27 She can do anything, since she’s one and undivided. She never changes, and yet she makes everything new. Generation after generation, she enters souls and shapes them into God’s friends and prophets."
Ephesians 5:1-2 [AMP]
“Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 2 and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.”
