Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
2 for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
A Father talking to his Son teaches him the things he needs to succeed in life. A Father also teaches his Son how to the basic things he needs to know. There are three major sections: the first describes the need for wisdom and insight, second the path of righteousness, and finally the way of life.
Many parents desire their children to lead a better life than they did. Solomon knew the mistakes he had made, and desired his children to strive for the things of God. There is not one of us who has lived up to our confirmation pledge, but we hope that our children would. But our children tend to copy their parents. They fall into te same sins of their parents. They follow in the insight of their Father.
Jesus listened to the Words of His Father. He learned, or already knew, the wisdom of His Father. He followed in the footsteps the Father placed before him. Jesus Christ goes to the cross for the sack of his brothers. He dies for your forgiveness. He dies to call you back to the Way that leads to Life. He calls you to listen to walk the path of righteousness. He presents Wisdom for you to grow and learn.
Jesus does all this because he loves you. Your Father sends you Jesus so that you would be righteous and your wickedness is removed.
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