Three Minute Bible

 For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life...

Summary: God’s Word is a complete whole. We cannot separate the Old Testament God from the New. Both are one. 

Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.

Summary: Solomon encourages us to take more than a passive interest in God’s Word. 

There are six things the Lord hates,
    seven that are detestable to him:

Summary: You can learn a lot about who the bad guys are by reading through Proverbs. It is almost like there is going to be a test at some point. Oh wait — there is! It is called “real life.” 

A troublemaker and a villain…
…who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
    he always stirs up conflict.

Summary: Solomon gives us three clues to avoiding troublemakers and villains. The third clue sounds easy to spot but sometimes requires a discerning eye. 

 A troublemaker and a villain…
…who winks maliciously with his eye,
    signals with his feet
    and motions with his fingers,

Summary: Solomon gives us another warning. Keep an eye out for signs, winks, and gestures. They can be valuable clues to what is in a person’s heart. 

A troublemaker and a villain...
    who goes about with a corrupt mouth…

Summary: Spotting a corrupt mouth is easy if you know the truth to start with. 

A troublemaker and a villain…

Summary: What is Solomon doing here? What is he talking about? This information is intended for older children. These are young adults and adults who have to live in the adult world. 

A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest—
and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

Summary: This passage is similar to the one about ants. The difference is that instead of looking at how the ant stays busy, we look at how hunger and want surprise the sluggard. 

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.

Summary: Being born rich isn’t always a good thing. It can be easy to fall into bad habits. Solomon knows this about his children, and God knows this about us.