1 The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 [a]That people may know skillful and godly [b]Wisdom and instruction, discern andcomprehend the words of understanding and insight,
3 Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity,
4 That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth—
5 The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly] (Proverbs, Chapter 1, Verses 1-4, Amplified Bible)
This is my prayer for today and for this entire month, that all these advantages may be mine, that the obscure truths will become clear to me. Even though I am in age no longer a youth, I still have a youth’s hunger for learning. Even though I do not consider myself wise, to the contrary, I nevertheless pray that I may:
- Increase in learning
- Acquire skill
- Attain to sound counsel
- Steer my course rightly
The footnotes from the Amplified Bible give me reason to hope and motivation to seek these blessings.
- Proverbs 1:2 Over the doors of the school of Plato these words were written in Greek, “Let no one enter who is not a geometrician.” But Solomon opens wide the doors of his proverbs with a special message of welcome to the unlearned, the simple, the foolish, the young, and even to the wise—that all “will hear and increase in learning” (Prov. 1:5).
- Proverbs 1:2 A key term in the book of Proverbs, “Wisdom” is capitalized throughout, as God’s design for living and as a reminder of Christ, Whom the apostle Paul calls “the wisdom of God… in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (I Cor. 1:24; Col. 2:3 kjv).
