WORDS for your PSYCHE - Part I

Old Testament: Books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

“When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4 / NLT)

PROVERBS

“Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart. If you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you.” (Proverbs 3:3-4 / TEV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 / TEV)

“The Lord created the earth by his wisdom; by his knowledge he set the sky in place. His wisdom caused the rivers to flow and the clouds to give rain to the earth.” (Proverbs 3:19-20 / TEV)

“Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor. She will be your crowning glory.” (Proverbs 4:8-9 / TEV)

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (Proverbs 4:23 / TEV)

“Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way.” (Proverbs 4:26-27 / TEV)

“There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 / TEV)

“Keep my teaching with you all the time; write it on your heart. Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend. They will keep you away from other men’s wives, from women of seductive words.” (Proverbs 7:3-5 / TEV)

“A sensible person gathers the crops when they are ready; it is a disgrace to sleep through the time of harvest.” (Proverbs 10:5 / TEV)

“Hate stirs trouble, but love forgives all offenses.” (Proverbs 10:12 / TEV)

“It is the Lord’s blessing that makes you wealthy. Hard work can make you no richer.” (Proverbs 10:22 / TEV)

“Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.” (Proverbs 25:11 / NLT)

“A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.” (Proverbs 25:14 / NLT)

“Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.” (Proverbs 25:15 / NLT)

“Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.” (Proverbs 25:18 / NLT)

“Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.” (Proverbs 26:1 / NLT)

“Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison! A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.” (Proverbs 26:6-7 / NLT)

“Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.” (Proverbs 26:16 / NLT)

“Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.” (Proverbs 26:20-21 / NLT)

“Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy…. The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” (Proverbs 27:6 and 9 / NLT)

“A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.” (Proverbs 28:3 / NLT)

“Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.” (Proverbs 28:6 / NLT)

“God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.” (Proverbs 28:9 / NLT)

“Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.” (Proverbs 28:27 / NLT)

“Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.” (Proverbs 29:1 / NLT)

“A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it.” (Proverbs 29:4 / NLT)

“Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.” (Proverbs 29:11 / NLT)

“If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked.” (Proverbs 29:12 / NLT)

“A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel.” (Proverbs 29:21 / NLT)

“An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.” (Proverbs 29:22 / NLT)

“Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies…. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.” (Proverbs 31:10 and 25-27 / NLT)

ECCLESIASTES

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under the heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quite and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 / NLT)

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 / NLT)

“When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4 / NLT)

“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” (Ecclesiastes 5:10 / NLT)

“We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.” (Ecclesiastes 5:15 / NLT)

“A wise person thinks a lot of death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.” (Ecclesiastes 7:4 / NLT)

“Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.” (Ecclesiastes 7:5 / NLT)

“When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11 / NLT)

“…Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor. The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious.” (Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 / NLT)

“A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him. So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long.” (Ecclesiastes 9:15-16 / NLT)

“Better to hear the quite words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king.” (Ecclesiastes 9:17 / NLT)

“As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.” (Ecclesiastes 10:1 / NLT)

“Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words.” (Ecclesiastes 10:12 / NLT)

“…Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 / NLT)

SONG OF SONGS

“Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine.” (Song of Songs 1:2 / NLT)

“Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one! Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air. The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!” (Song of Songs 2:10-13 / NLT)

“How beautiful you are, my love! How your eyes shine with love behind your veil.” (Song of Songs 4:1 / TEV)

“The look in your eyes, my sweetheart and bride, and the necklace you are wearing have stolen my heart.” (Song of Songs 4:9 / TEV)

“Your love delights me, my sweetheart and bride. Your love is better than wine; your perfume more fragrant than any spice.” (Song of Songs 4:10 / TEV)