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5 May 2012
Fatherly Advice- The Proverbs of Solomon – Extracted from Proverbs, Chapter 12:
1 Whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge, stupid are those who hate correction.
2 The honest obtains Yahweh's favour, the schemer incurs his condemnation.
3 No one is made secure by wickedness, but nothing shakes the roots of the upright.
4 A capable wife, her husband's crown, a shameless wife, a cancer in his bones.
5 The plans of the upright are honest, the intrigues of the wicked are full of deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are snares to shed blood, what the honest say keeps them safe.
7 Once thrown down, the wicked are no more, but the house of the upright stands firm.
8 Prudence wins praise, but a tortuous heart incurs only contempt.
9 Better a common fellow who does his own work than one who play the lord and has nothing to eat.
10 The upright has compassion on his animals, but the heart of the wicked is ruthless.
11 Whoever works his land shall have bread and to spare, but no one who chases fantasies has any sense.
12 The godless delights in the snare of the wicked, but the root of the upright bears fruit.
13 In the sin of the lips lies a disastrous trap, but the upright finds a way out of misfortune.
14 Abundance of good things is the fruit of the lips; labour brings its own return.
15 Fools think the way they go is straight, the wise listens to advice.
16 The fool shows anger straightaway, the discreet conceals dislike.
17 To tell the truth is to further justice, a false witness is nothing but deceit.
18 Thoughtless words can wound like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Sincere lips endure for ever, the lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of the schemer, joy with those who give counsels of peace.
21 No harm can come to the upright, but the wicked are swamped by misfortunes.
22 Lying lips are abhorrent to Yahweh; dear to him those who make truth their way of life.
23 The discreet keeps knowledge hidden, the heart of fools proclaims their folly.
24 For the diligent hand, authority; for the slack hand, forced labour.
25 Worry makes a heart heavy, a kindly word makes it glad.
26 The upright shows the way to a friend; the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The idle has no game to roast; diligence is anyone's most precious possession.
28 In the way of uprightness is life, the ways of the vengeful lead to death. 5 May 2012 |
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His commandments are these: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another - Extracted from the 1st letter of Saint John, Chapter 3:
My children,
our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active; only by this can we be certain that we are children of the truth and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence,
whatever accusations it may raise against us, because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.
My dear people,
if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience, we need not be afraid in God’s presence, and whatever we ask him, we shall receive,
because we keep his commandments and live the kind of life that he wants.
His commandments are these: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another as he told us to.
Whoever keeps his commandments lives in God and God lives in him.
We know that he lives in us by the Spirit that he has given us.
12 May 2012
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12 May 2012
Fatherly Advice: The fear of God in time of ordeal - Extracted from Ecclesiasticus / Sirach Chapter 2:
1 My child, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal.
2 Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes.
3 Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honoured at the end of your days.
4 Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient,
5 since gold is tested in the fire, and the chosen in the furnace of humiliation.
6 Trust him and he will uphold you, follow a straight path and hope in him.
7 You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; do not turn aside, for fear you fall.
8 You who fear the Lord, trust him, and you will not be robbed of your reward.
9 You who fear the Lord, hope for those good gifts of his, everlasting joy and mercy. |
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10 Look at the generations of old and see: whoever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or whoever, steadfastly fearing him, was forsaken? Or whoever called to him and was ignored?
11 For the Lord is compassionate and merciful, he forgives sins and saves in the time of distress.
12 Woe to faint hearts and listless hands, and to the sinner who treads two paths.
13 Woe to the listless heart that has no faith, for such will have no protection.
14 Woe to you who have lost the strength to endure; what will you do at the Lord's visitation?
15 Those who fear the Lord do not disdain his words, and those who love him keep his ways.
16 Those who fear the Lord do their best to please him, and those who love him will find satisfaction in the Law.
17 Those who fear the Lord keep their hearts prepared and humble themselves in his presence.
18 Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, not into any human clutches; for as his majesty is, so too is his mercy. |
