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rules of the road

Proverbs 4:1-27 (JDV).

Proverbs 4:1 Listen, sons, to a father’s correction, and pay attention to know understanding,
Proverbs 4:2 because I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching.
Proverbs 4:3 When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,
Proverbs 4:4 he taught me and said: “Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.
Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.
Proverbs 4:6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is first – so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
Proverbs 4:9 She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a beautiful crown.”
Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.
Proverbs 4:11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.
Proverbs 4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not trip.
Proverbs 4:13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Proverbs 4:14 Keep off the path of the wicked; don’t go straight on the road of evil ones.
Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it. Turn away from it and pass it by.
Proverbs 4:16 Because they can’t sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone trip.
Proverbs 4:17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
Proverbs 4:19 But the road of the wicked is like the thick darkest; they don’t know what makes them stumble.
Proverbs 4:20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.
Proverbs 4:21 Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
Proverbs 4:22 Because they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body.
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, because it is the source of life.
Proverbs 4:24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Proverbs 4:26 Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your roads will be established.
Proverbs 4:27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.

rules of the road

When you are learning to drive, some of the advice you get sounds very much like Solomon’s wisdom for his sons. You need to turn the headlights on when it gets dark so that you can see and avoid all possible obstacles. You must pay attention to what is ahead of you, not straying your gaze to the right or left. You need to learn the rules because they will keep you safe.

The road we are on in life is an adventure, but without following the rules of wisdom, it can be a dangerous trap.

LORD, give us all the wisdom to be good drivers in life.