Proverbs to live by

George W Bush and his neo-con minions are gone, but it's still a dangerous world. Swine flu, greedy pigs (bankers and financiers) and other dangers continue to threaten our safety and peace of mind.

Here're a cache of wise instructions to provide you with a strategy to survive the dangerous times. They are excerpts from the Old Testament Book of Proverbs. I preferred the magisterial language of the King James Version because it sounds more motivating. As the author of Proverbs reminds us: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." [25:11]

In fact, these instructions are so important that I'm going to memorise and internalise them so that they become the guardian angel of my action, speech and thought:

Good speech & wicked tongue
4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Talebearer
20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

26:22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Strong drinks
20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

23:29, 30 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Wisdowm, knowledge & learning
3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

Good works, charity
3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

25:21,22 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.