WISDOM'S PROVERBS
Scroll 1: Storm's Coming
Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
She utters Her voice in the public squares.
She calls at the head of noisy places.
At the entrance of the city gates, She utters Her words:
“How long will you take comfort in being numb for?
How long will you amuse yourselves to death?
How long will you reject what you were born to know?
Turn toward Me when I correct you.
Look—I am pouring My presence into the world.
I will make My words clear to anyone who will listen.
But I have called, and you have turned away;
I have reached out My hand, but you turned your shoulder;
You ignored My guidance,
and rejected every gentle course I offered;
So when calamity comes, I will not silence it.
When the storm rises, I will not pretend it isn't real.
When your world collapses like wind-tossed scaffolding,
when fear and anguish pour like the monsoon—
You cry out to Me, but I will not be found where you last left Me.
Because you turned from understanding,
and invoked fear over awe with The Name;
Because you refused the way of Mercy,
and mocked correction as if it were cruelty—
You will eat of the fruit of your own decisions,
You will be filled with the shape of your own designs.
For the unrooted are torn up by the storm,
and the indifferent swallowed whole by what they've ignored.
But whoever listens to Me will live in safety—
free from fear, at home in their own Soul.”
SCROLL 2: DON'T BE A PLAGUE
“Astonishment at The Name is the beginning of knowledge,
but take care to heed both Wisdom and The Logoscript.
Whatever you do, if a predator entices you, do not even.
If they say, "Come with me. We'll lie in wait for blood. We'll lurk for innocent bystanders...
We'll eat them alive like Sheol, the bottomless pit.
Everything of value will be ours and we'll build our houses on plunder.
Place your bet with me, I share the winnings,"
Whatever you do, do not walk the predator's way.
The predator walks the path of pestilence and death follows close behind.
A plague lays its trap in vain,
If the host sees it coming.
These ones lay in wait for their hosts-they are doomed.
They lurk for their hosts-their fate is self-destruction.
So too are the ways of those who are greedy for gain.
Greed takes a life of its own—
A plague on the gainful.”
Scroll 3: Good Health is Good Wealth
“Blessed is the one who finds me,
and then understands me.
My profits net more than silver.
My returns compound faster than gold.
I am more precious than any ring.
Nothing compares to me.
I keep long life in one hand,
and prosperity in the other.
My ways are delightful.
My paths lead to peace.
I am the tree of life whose branches are for hanging.
Blessed are all who hold on to me.”
Scroll 4: Four Commandments for Peace
“I, Wisdom, was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
before the earth existed.
When there were no depths,
when there were no springs abounding with water, I was born.
Before the mountains were settled in place,
before their caverns and before the hills, I was born;
while as yet I had not made the tundra, nor the swamp,
nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
When The Name established the heavens,
when he set a circle of fire on the surface of the deep, I was there.
When he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong, I was there;
then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight by day,
always rejoicing before him,
rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the children of men.
Now therefore, my children, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my commandments.
You shall not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
You shall not excuse your withholding by saying,
'Go and come again;
tomorrow I will give it,'
when you have it with you.
You shall not plan harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustingly beside you.
You shall not quarrel with anyone without cause,
when no harm has been done to you.
Keep my commandments, and live.
Do not forget them.
Do not deviate from them.
Do not forsake me, and I will preserve you.
Love me, and I will keep you.
Esteem me, and I will exalt you.
Embrace me, and I will reward you.
A garland of grace,
and a crown of splendor.”
SCROLL 5: EYES ON THE PRIZE
“Attend to my words.
Turn your ear to my sayings.
Let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep them in the center of your heart.
My words are life to those who find them,
and health to their whole body.
Keep your heart with all diligence,
for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Fix your gaze directly before you.”
SCROLL 6: THE ANT AND THE SLUG
“Look to the ant, slug.
Consider its ways, and learn from them;
which having no judge, no jailer, or no accuser,
provides her bread in the summer,
and gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you take, slug?
When will you walk instead of crawl?
A little further, just a little more,
A little rest before the next crawl—
So impoverishment shall come to jail you,
And wanting, like an armed accuser,
shall bring you before the judge.”
SCROLL 7: SEVEN THINGS —— ABOUT SLUGS
“There are seven things I cannot bear in slugs,
And each one delays their salvation:
Slugs who gaze outward but never inward,
Slugs who tell shallow lies to evade deep truths,
Slugs who crawl over other slugs to get nowhere;
Slugs who circle endlessly,
Slugs who crawl towards harm again and again;
Slugs who lie ad nauseum,
Slugs whose lies unravel threads of loving-kindness.”
SCROLL 8: WISDOM'S FEAST
“I, Wisdom, have built my house.
I, Wisdom, have carved out seven pillars.
I have prepared the harvest.
I have poured the water.
I have set the table.
Eat my bounties!
Drink my waters!
Leave mundanity, and live,
and walk in the ways of insight.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
The years your life will be increased.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you mock, you alone will bear it.”
SOLOMON'S PROVERBS
Scroll X
There was no Scroll 9, and there never needed to be.
The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father;
but a foolish soon brings grief to his mother.
The wise in heart accept commandments,
but a chattering fool will fall.
The mouth of the righteous is the wellspring of life,
but violence covers the mouth of the predator.
The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.
The heart of the predator is of little worth.
The lips of the righteous feed many,
But the predator dies for lack of understanding.
Scroll 11
When hubris comes, then comes shame,
but with humility comes Wisdom.
Integrity is the compass of the upright;
the corruption of the treacherous shall destroy them.
Loose lips sink ships,
but one earns a trustworthy reputation for each kept secret.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,
but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
He who trusts in his riches shall fall,
but the righteous shall flourish as the new spring leaf.
Scroll 12
Whoever welcomes correction loves knowledge,
but he who hates being challenged is a fool.
A righteous man respects the life of his animal,
but the predator shows only cruelty and no mercy.
The predator desires the plunder of other predators,
but the root of the righteous flourishes.
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
The work of a man's hands shall be rewarded to him.
There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise heals.
Deceit is in the heart of those who plot violence,
but joy comes to the promoters of peace.
Scroll 13
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
One who walks with sages grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Scroll 14
Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;
she will not share these with a stranger.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,
and mirth may end in heaviness.
Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
Scroll 15
A gentle tongue is a branch on the tree of life,
but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so with the hearts of fools.
A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.
How good is a word at the right time!
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.
Good news gives health to the bones.
Scroll 16
How much better it is to get Wisdom than gold!
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Hubris goes before destruction
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
He who heeds Wisdom finds prosperity,
Whoever trusts in Her is blessed.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent.
Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
The wise in heart instructs his own mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the Soul, and health to the bones.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.
One who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
Scroll 17
Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
than a house full of feasting with strife.
He who covers an offense promotes love;
but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding
than a hundred lashes to a fool.
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,
therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
A friend loves at all times;
And a brother is born for adversity.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
He who spares his words has knowledge.
He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
Scroll 18
A fool has no delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own opinon.
The words of a sage's mouth are like deep waters.
The fountain of Wisdom like a flowing brook.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud,
but before honor is humility.
He who answers before he hears,
that is folly and shame to him.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge,
The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
Those who love it will eat its fruit.
Scroll 19
He who gets Wisdom loves his own Soul.
He who keeps understanding shall find good.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger.
It is his glory to overlook an offense.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
that you may be wise in your latter end.
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness.
A poor man is better than a liar.
Scroll 20
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
But every fool will be quarreling.
Who can say, "I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without scars"?
There is gold and abundance of money
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
The spirit of man is Wisdom's lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
Scroll 21
To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to The Name than sacrifice.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps his Soul from troubles.
There is no Wisdom nor understanding
without The Name.
Scroll 22
A good name is more desirable than great riches,
and loving-kindness is better than silver or gold.
Whoever loves a pure heart and speaks with grace
will always have a friend in Solomon the Wise.
THE SAYINGS OF THE WISE
Scroll 23
Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to their teaching.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
They teach you today, yes, even you,
So that your trust may be in Wisdom.
Haven't we written to you many excellent things
of counsel and knowledge,
To teach you truth, reliable words,
to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
Don't exploit the poor because you can
and don't crush them in court.
Don't befriend a hot-tempered man.
Don't associate with one who harbors anger,
Lest you learn his ways,
and ensnare your Soul.
When you sit to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently the plate set before you;
If you are a man given to appetite,
put the knife to your throat and be done with it.
Don't be desirous of his dainties,
since they are deceitful delicacies.
Don't burn yourself out to be rich,
Cool yourself in Wisdom and relax.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not?
For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Apply your heart to instruction,
and your ears to the words of knowledge.
If your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, yes even mine.
My heart will rejoice
when your lips speak it is right.
Indeed surely there is future hope,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Calls on truth. 📈 Puts on lies. 📉
Invest in Wisdom and instruction,
and your return will be understanding.
Scroll 24
Don't be envious of predators,
neither desire to lay with them.
For their hearts plot violence
and their lips talk about mischief.
Through Wisdom a house is built;
by understanding it is established;
By knowledge the rooms are furnished
with the rarest and most beautiful treasures.
Rescue those who are being led away to death!
Indeed, hold back the walking dead!
If you plead ignorance before the accuser,
do you think the judge weighing your heart will consider it?
The jailer who keeps your Soul, do they consider it?
Every Soul shall be rendered according to Its work.
My child, eat honey, for it is good,
the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste.
So you shall know Wisdom as your own Soul.
If you have found Her, you will be rewarded.
Your hope will not be cut off.
Don't lay in wait, predator, against the habitation of the righteous.
Don't destroy their resting place;
For the righteous fall seven times and rise,
And the predator is always returned to calamity.
An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
Don't be against your neighbor without cause.
Do not slander them.
Do not justify your false testimony by saying, “I will slander him as he has slandered me;
I will slander him in kind.”
HEZEKIAH'S PROVERBS
Scroll 25
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the scribes of King Hezekiah of Judah preserved.
It is the glory of The Name to conceal a thing.
but the glory of Wisdom to reveal it.
A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
so is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
for he refreshes the Soul of his masters.
As the deserts who miss the rain,
so is the one who boasts of gifts they did not, in fact, receive.
By patience a ruler is persuaded.
A soft tongue breaks the bone.
Have you found honey?
Eat as much as is sufficient for you,
If you eat too much, you will vomit.
Like cold water to a thirsty Soul,
so is good news from a far country.
It is not good to eat much honey,
nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.
Like a city that is broken down and without walls
is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
Scroll 26
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I'm just joking!"
Scroll 27
Don't boast about tomorrow
for you don't know what tomorrow may bring.
Let someone else praise you,
and not your own mouth.
Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
The wounds of a friend are faithful,
but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
A full Soul loathes a honeycomb;
but to a hungry Soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart;
so does earnest counsel from a friend.
Don't go to your father's house in the day of your disaster.
A neighbor who is near is better than a distant relative.
As iron sharpens iron;
so a friend sharpens the wits of another.
Like water reflects a face,
so a man's heart reflects the man.
Scroll 28
A poor man who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
Predators don't understand justice;
but those seek Wisdom understand it fully.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
than the rich whose ways are crooked.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes;
but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
One who rebukes a rich man will afterward find more favor
than one who flatters him with the tongue.
One who is greedy stirs up strife;
but one who trusts in Wisdom shall prosper.
Scroll 29
Whoever flatters a predator
spreads a net for their feet.
The righteous care about the rights of the poor,
the predator has no such concern.
A fool gives full vent to their spirit,
but the wise quietly hold it back.
The oppressed and the oppressor have this in common:
The Sun shines its light on the eyes of both.
A man's hubris diminishes his glory,
but a humble man gains the highest honor.
Fear of others lays a snare,
but one who trusts in Wisdom is kept safe.
AUGUR'S ORACLE — Scroll 30
The words of Augur son of Jakehl—an oracle:
“Surely I am the stupidest man, and will never have a sage's understanding.
I have not learned Wisdom, neither do I have knowledge of The Name.
Who has ascended then descended?
Who has gathered the wind in Her hands—
Who has bound the seas in Her garments of myst?
Who has carved the edges of the earth?
What is Her name? What is Her child's Name? Do you know?
Two things I have asked of you.
Don't deny me before I die:
Remove from me all falsehood and performance.
Give me neither wealth nor lack,
Feed me only what is needed for the journey.
Three things are too wonderful for me;
three I cannot trace to their source:
The eagle in flight.
The serpent coiling the eagle.
The drift of the ship on the high seas.
There are four things which are little on earth,
but are exceedingly wise:
The hyraxes are a feeble folk,
yet they make their homes in the rocks.
The ants are not a strong people,
yet they prepare their food in the summer.
The lizard you can catch with your hands,
yet it finds its way into kings' palaces.”
The locusts have no king,
yet they march in ranks. ️
LEMUEL'S MOTHER'S ORACLE — Scroll 31
The words of King Lemuel—an oracle which is mother taught him:
“Son!
Son of my womb!
Son of my vows!
Whoever is ready to die, give them a strong drink.
To the bitter Soul, wine.
Let him forget his poverty and remember his misery no more,
when he drinks.
Speak up for those who cannot speak!
Speak up for the destitute!
Speak up and speak out for justice!
Defend the rights of the poor and needy!”
I see her—she opens her arms to the poor!
Yes, she extends her hand to the needy!”
Strength and poise are her garments!
She laughs in the face of death!”
I hear her—she opens her mouth with Wisdom!
Teaching loving-kindness off the tip of her tongue!”
Her children rise up and call her blessed
Her husband also praises her:
‘Many woman do noble things
But you... you excel them all!’“