If you exalt wisdom, she will exalt you. Hold her fast and she will lead you to great honor; she will place a beautiful crown upon your head. My son, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long good life.

   I would have you learn this great fact: that a life of doing right is the wisest life there is. If you live that kind of life, you'll not limp or stumble as you run. Carry out my instructions; don't forget them, for they will lead you to real living.

   My child, pay attention to my words. Listen closely to what I say. Don't ever forget my words. Keep them deep within your heart. These words are the secret to life for those who find them. They bring health to the whole body.

   For the Word that God speaks is alive and active; it cuts more keenly than any two-edged sword: it strikes through to the place where soul and spirit meet, to the innermost intimacies of a man's being: it examines the very thoughts and motives of a man's heart.

   God, examine me and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any bad thing in me. Lead me in the way You set long ago.

   My child, hold on to wisdom and reason. Don't let them out of your sight! They will give you life.

   [Jesus said these things:] "Only the Holy Spirit gives eternal life. Those born only once, with physical birth, will never receive this gift. But now I have told you how to get this true spiritual life.

   "For these are not My own ideas, but I have told you what the Father said to tell you. And I know His instructions lead to eternal life; so whatever He tells me to say, I say!

   "And this is the way to have eternal life - by knowing You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth!"

   And what is it that God has said? That He has given us eternal life, and that this life is in His Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have His Son, does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life. And He Himself has promised us this: eternal life.

Taken from Pr. 4, Heb. 4, Ps. 189, Pr. 3, Jn. 6, 12, 17, I Jn. 2, 5, The Living Bible,
The Everyday Bible and The Phillips Translation. For free Lifescope book,
write to Box 1575, Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.