Posted on 07/04/2018 6:57:39 AM PDT by OneVike
Proverb 4 (NKJV)
Security in Wisdom
01 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
00 And give attention to know understanding;
02 For I give you good doctrine:
00 Do not forsake my law.
03 When I was my father's son,
00 Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
04 He also taught me, and said to me:
00 "Let your heart retain my words;
00 Keep my commands, and live.
05 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
00 Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
06 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
00 Love her, and she will keep you.
07 Wisdom is the principal thing;
00 Therefore get wisdom.
00 And in all your getting, get understanding.
08 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
00 She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
09 She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
00 A crown of glory she will deliver to you."
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
00 And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
00 I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
00 And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
00 Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
00 And do not walk in the way of evil.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
00 Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
00 And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
00 And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
00 That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness;
00 They do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, give attention to my words;
00 Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
00 Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
00 And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
00 For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
00 And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
00 And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet,
00 And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
00 Remove your foot from evil.
The Declaration contains several other references to a higher power. The introduction states that the “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” entitle the American people to a separate and equal station among the powers of the earth. In the conclusion, Congress appeals to “the Supreme Judge of the world” for the rectitude of its intentions and professes its “firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” In each case, reference to a deity serves to validate the assertion of independence.
The genius of the Declaration is the inclusive way the divine is given expression. The appellations of God are generic. Adherents of traditional theistic sects can read the words “Nature’s God,” “Creator,” and “Supreme Judge,” and understand them to mean the god they worship. The claims made on numerous Christian websites attest to this. Yet opponents of dogma read those same words and see an embracive, non-sectarian concept of divinity. This is no small testimony to the wisdom and foresight of the Founding Fathers. All Americans could support the Revolution and independence. All can regard their rights as unalienable, their liberty as inviolable.
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Thank you.
But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
00 That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
May it be morning in America
Thank You very much.
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