Poems from Proverbs (part 1)

Timeless virtue, born of old,
Held of God, its worth untold.
Heed the warning given bold,
And seek for wisdom more than gold!
- 8:10, 22, 23

You will bear the credit or the shame
Of all you are alone.
Whether wise or scoffing vane
You'll live with what you've sown.
- 9:12

Hold your peace
Or reap the cost.
When words don't cease
Then wisdom's lost.
- 10:19

Grace and honor,
Beauty and sense,
A lady of glamour
Should give no offense.
- 11:16, 22

Compassion shown
To lesser life
Shows one who's known
Apart from strife.
- 12:10

Words as weapons falsely used
Displease the Lord above.
But truthful tongues who hate refused
Delight the Lord of love.
- 12:18, 19, 20, 22

Where life springs forth like waters clear
And understanding shines,
There wisdom spreads to those who hear
And death no longer binds.
- 13:14-15

Hidden pain that mars the heart
An outward smile veils.
When laughter never dares depart
An inward pain regales.
- 14:10, 13

Contentment for the things you have
With reverence for the Lord
Is to greed a healing salve,
And peace is your reward.
- 15:16

Honest business, truthful tongues,
Find delight as God's own sons.
In the end the road of life
Takes the wise away from strife.
- 16:2, 7, 8, 11, 13, 17

How sweet the words of one who knows
The cares of all his friends and foes!
His heart with wisdom gives him voice
To guide with prudence every choice.
- 16:21, 23, 24

Far beyond the circle's end
Lies the treasure fools would seek.
But if he would deign to bend,
He'd find true wisdom at his feet.
- 17:24

(All poems original works by R. Samuel Braden)