Jesus Christ: prophet,
carpenter, mystic,
son of God, savior
and friend; he is known
by many names.
The birth of this beloved
teacher and master
who was born
in Bethlehem marks
the beginning
of the Western calendar;
so important was his
influence on humanity.
The birth of this man
who was one with God is
a sacred event that marks
an entire era.
Jesus made his appearance
on the world’s stage
in the humble manger,
born to the devout Jewish
couple, Joseph and Mary,
who were given signs
of his greatness.
From the Bible, we know
that when Jesus was 12
years old, he stayed
in a temple in Jerusalem
in order to talk with
and ask questions
of the teachers.
The people were amazed
at his understanding.
Some sources say that
Jesus went to India, the land
of spiritual knowledge
since time immemorial,
where he studied
with adept
and wise teachers.
He next enters the Gospel
narrative at about
the age of 30
when he was baptized
by John the Baptist,
an event that marks
the beginning of his brief
public life as a teacher.
Jesus taught God’s love
and forgiveness to all
people with open hearts.
Jesus could discuss
the scriptures with
the erudite and learned
but mostly he told simple
stories, called parables,
that everyone
could understand.
Jesus is especially loved
and remembered
because of his sacrifice.
Three days
after his crucifixion,
he arose
in glory and triumph.
Today we present to you
excerpts from
the Book of Proverbs,
Chapters 2-4 & 8-9
in the Holy Bible.
We appreciate your
open-minded company
for today’s episode of
Between Master
and Disciples.
Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants
is up next right after
Noteworthy News
here on
Supreme Master Television.
May God grace you
and your loved ones
with evermore fulfillment
and peace.
Proverbs 2
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
My son,
if you accept my words
and store up
my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart
to understanding -
indeed, if you call out
for insight and cry aloud
for understanding,
and if you look for it
as for silver
and search for it
as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand
the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge
of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth
come knowledge
and understanding.
He holds success
in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those
whose walk is blameless,
for he guards
the course of the just
and protects the way
of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand
what is right and just and
fair - every good path.
For wisdom
will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be
pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding
will guard you.
Wisdom will save you
from the ways
of wicked men, from men
whose words are perverse,
who have left
the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
who delight
in doing wrong
and rejoice in
the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
and who are devious
in their ways.
Wisdom will save you
also from
the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman
with her seductive words,
who has left the partner
of her youth
and ignored the covenant
she made before God….
Thus you will walk
in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths
of the righteous.
For the upright
will live in the land,
and the blameless
will remain in it;
but the wicked will be
cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful
will be torn from it.
Proverbs 3
Wisdom Bestows
Well-Being
My son,
do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands
in your heart,
for they will prolong
your life many years
and bring you peace
and prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness
never leave you; bind them
around your neck,
write them on the tablet
of your heart.
Then you will win favor
and a good name
in the sight
of God and man.
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart
and lean not on
your own understanding;
in all your ways
submit to him,
and he will
make your paths straight.
Do not be wise
in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health
to your body
and nourishment
to your bones.
Honor the Lord
with your wealth,
with the first fruits
of all your crops;
then your barns will be
filled to overflowing, and
your vats will brim over
with new wine.
My son, do not despise
the Lord’s discipline, and
do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord
disciplines those he loves,
as a father
the son he delights in.
Blessed are those
who find wisdom, those
who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable
than silver
and yields better returns
than gold.
She is more precious
than rubies;
nothing you desire
can compare with her.
Long life is
in her right hand;
in her left hand
are riches and honor.
Her ways are
pleasant ways, and
all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to
those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast
will be blessed.
By wisdom the Lord
laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding
he set the heavens in place;
by his knowledge
the watery depths
were divided, and
the clouds let drop the dew.
My son, do not let
wisdom and understanding
out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment
and discretion;
they will be life for you,
an ornament
to grace your neck.
Then you will go
on your way in safety,
and your foot
will not stumble.
When you lie down,
you will not be afraid;
when you lie down,
your sleep will be sweet.
Have no fear
of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that
overtakes the wicked,
for the Lord will be
at your side
and will keep your foot
from being snared.
Do not withhold good
from those
to whom it is due, when
it is in your power to act.
Do not say
to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow
and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it
with you.
Do not plot harm
against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully
near you.
Do not accuse anyone
for no reason—
when they have done you
no harm.
Do not envy the violent
or choose
any of their ways….
The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Proverbs 4
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
Listen, my sons,
to a father’s instruction;
pay attention
and gain understanding.
I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake
my teaching.
For I too was a son
to my father,
still tender, and cherished
by my mother.
Then he taught me,
and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words
with all your heart;
keep my commands,
and you will live.
Get wisdom,
get understanding;
do not forget my words
or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom,
and she will protect you;
love her, and
she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom
is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have,
get understanding.
Cherish her,
and she will exalt you;
embrace her,
and she will honor you.
She will give you a garland
to grace your head
and present you
with a glorious crown.”
Listen, my son,
accept what I say,
and the years of your life
will be many.
I instruct you
in the way of wisdom
and lead you
along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps
will not be hampered;
when you run,
you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction,
do not let it go;
guard it well,
for it is your life.
Do not set foot
on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way
of evildoers.
Avoid it,
do not travel on it;
turn from it
and go on your way.
For they cannot rest
until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep
till they make
someone stumble.
They eat the bread
of wickedness
and drink the wine
of violence.
The path of the righteous
is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter
till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked
is like deep darkness;
they do not know what
makes them stumble.
My son, pay attention
to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out
of your sight,
keep them
within your heart;
for they are life
to those who find them
and health
to one’s whole body.
Above all else,
guard your heart,
for everything you do
flows from it.
Keep your mouth
free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk
far from your lips.
Let your eyes
look straight ahead;
fix your gaze
directly before you.
Give careful thought to
the paths for your feet
and be steadfast
in all your ways.
Do not turn
to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
Proverbs 8
Wisdom’s Call
Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding
raise her voice?
At the highest point
along the way,
where the paths meet,
she takes her stand;
beside the gate
leading into the city,
at the entrance,
she cries aloud:
“To you,
O people, I call out;
I raise my voice
to all mankind.
You who are simple,
gain prudence;
you who are foolish,
set your hearts on it.
Listen, for I have
trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips
to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks
what is true, for my lips
detest wickedness.
All the words
of my mouth are just;
none of them
is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning
all of them are right;
they are upright to those
who have found knowledge.
Choose my instruction
instead of silver,
knowledge
rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is
more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire
can compare with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell
together with prudence;
I possess knowledge
and discretion.
To fear the Lord
is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior
and perverse speech.
Counsel and
sound judgment are mine;
I have insight,
I have power.
By me kings reign
and rulers issue decrees
that are just;
by me princes govern,
and nobles –
all who rule on earth.
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me
find me.
With me
are riches and honor,
enduring wealth
and prosperity.
My fruit is better than
fine gold; what I yield
surpasses choice silver.
I walk in the way
of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
bestowing a
rich inheritance on those
who love me and making
their treasuries full.
“The Lord
brought me forth
as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
I was formed
long ages ago,
at the very beginning,
when the world came to be.
When there were
no watery depths,
I was given birth, when
there were no springs
overflowing with water;
before the mountains
were settled in place,
before the hills,
I was given birth,
before he made
the world or its fields or
any of the dust of the earth.
I was there when he set
the heavens in place,
when he marked out
the horizon
on the face of the deep,
when he established
the clouds above
and fixed securely
the fountains of the deep,
when he gave the sea
its boundary
so the waters would not
overstep his command,
and when he marked out
the foundations
of the earth.
Then I was constantly
at his side.
I was filled with delight
day after day,
rejoicing always
in his presence,
rejoicing
in his whole world and
delighting in mankind.
“Now then, my children,
listen to me;
blessed are those
who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction
and be wise;
do not disregard it.
Blessed are those
who listen to me,
watching daily
at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
For those who find me
find life and receive favor
from the Lord.
But those
who fail to find me
harm themselves;
all who hate me
love death.”
Proverbs 9
Invitations
of Wisdom and Folly
Wisdom has built
her house;
she has set up
its seven pillars….
She has sent out her
servants, and she calls
from the highest point
of the city,
“Let all who are simple
come to my house!”
To those
who have no sense
she says,
“Come, eat my food….
Leave your simple ways
and you will live; walk
in the way of insight.”
Whoever corrects a mocker
invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked
incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke mockers
or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise
and they will love you.
Instruct the wise and
they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous
and they will
add to their learning.
The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge
of the Holy One
is understanding.
For through wisdom
your days will be many,
and years will be added
to your life.
If you are wise, your
wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker,
you alone will suffer.
Folly is an unruly woman;
she is simple
and knows nothing.
She sits
at the door of her house,
on a seat at the
highest point of the city,
calling out
to those who pass by,
who go straight
on their way,
“Let all who are simple
come to my house!”
To those who
have no sense she says,
“Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret
is delicious!”
But little do they know
that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep
in the realm of the dead.