Page 434 - Wisdom and Sound Advice from the Torah

WISDOM AND SOUND ADVICE FROM THE TORAH

[There are] those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not
cleansed of their filth; those whose eyes are ev er so haugh ty,
whose glan ces are so dis dain ful; those whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are set with knives... (Proverbs, 30:12-14)

"Four things on earth are small, yet they are ex treme ly wise: Ants
are crea tures of lit tle strength, yet they store up their food in the
sum mer; co neys are crea tures of lit tle pow er, yet they make their
home in the crags; lo custs have no king, yet they ad vance to geth -
er in ranks; a liz ard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found
in kings' pal aces."... "If you have played the fool and ex alt ed
your self, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your
mouth! For as churn ing the milk pro du ces but ter... so stir ring up
an ger pro du ces strife." (Proverbs, 30:24-33)

"Speak up for those who can not speak for them selves, for the
rights of all who are des ti tute. Speak up and judge fair ly; de fend
the rights of the poor and needy." A wife of no ble char ac ter who
can find? She is worth far more than ru bies. Her hus band has full
con fi dence in her and lacks noth ing of val ue. She brings him

good, not harm, all the days of her life... She opens her arms to
the poor and ex tends her hands to the needy... She is clothed
with strength and dig ni ty; she is fac ing the fu ture with a smile.
She speaks with wis dom, and faith ful in struc tion is on her
tongue. She watch es over the af fairs of her house hold and does
not eat the bread of idle ness... Charm is de cep tive, and beau ty is
fleet ing; but a wom an who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give

her the re ward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise
at the city gate. (Proverbs, 31:8-31)

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