Proverb Scavenger

by Mary Catherine Huneycutt (age 10)

I walked inside from a cold but enjoyable walk. To my surprise, there was a sticky note on the watermelon on the counter. I read it and automatically understood. My Dad prepared a “scavenger hunt” for me. It was a great start too. The first sticky note said, “Go to a place you look every day, many times.” I walked back to my room, not knowing what awaited me.

As I entered my room, I looked all around. I glanced in the mirror and saw the second clue. It all fit perfectly! A place that I look, many times each day: my mirror! I looked very closely and read the second clue. It said: “Go to the most published book in the world. Ever.” As I walked toward the living room (where most books are) I figured out the book … the Bible!

When I reached the living room I spotted my next clue above a Bible. This clue read: “Go to Proverbs under your saint.” So I picked up the Bible, went to the book of Proverbs and looked for something about my [patron] saint. I found nothing. I sat down in the recliner and read that clue at least 10 more times. The last time I read it I finally understood. The clue meant: “Go to Proverbs in the Bible in your room that is under [the icon of] your saint!” I rushed back to my room for the Bible.

I quickly got the Bible as soon as I walked into my room. I opened the front cover and found my assignment. It was: “Read through the book of Proverbs; list 5 favorite verses”. It was my first scavenger hunt and I finally understood how it worked. I think it was a great idea.

In the end I ended up having to ask Dad if I had to read the whole book of Proverbs and he said “No”. That was a big relief! Here are my favorite verses from the book of Proverbs. Thanks Dad! The scavenger hunt was great!

1:15 — My son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths.

3:3 — Let not loyalty and faithlessness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

3:11 — My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof.

6:12 — A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech.

26:1 — Like snow in the summer or rain in the harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool.

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Dad’s addendum …

I asked Mary Catherine why she chose those verses and she said they were ones she could understand. 🙂

When I was growing up I often found myself poking around in Proverbs. The pithy sayings were perfect for my leisure Bible reading. Besides, having gotten stalled out on the “Begats” after Genesis & Moses, what’s a kid to do?

In the spirit of the hunt, here’s some of my [current] favorites from Proverbs:

1:7 — The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2:6-8 — For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his saints.

3:5 — Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.

3:9-10 — Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

3:13-14 — Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold.

6:16-19 — There are six things which the LORD hates, seven which are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who sows discord among brothers.

9:8 — Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

10:17 — He who heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof goes astray.

10:24 — What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

11:22 — Like a gold ring in a swine’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

12:1 — Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

12:15-16 — The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent man ignores an insult.

12:19 — Truthful lips endure for ever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

13:1 — A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

13:11 — Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little will increase it.

13:24 — He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

15:16-17 — Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

16:2-3 — All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

17:1 — Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

17:10 — A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

17:24 — A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

17:28 — Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

18:2 — A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

18:17 — He who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

18:22 — He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.

19:18 — Discipline your son while there is hope; do not set your heart on his destruction.

20:3 — It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.

20:19 — He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.

20:22 — Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will help you.

21:9 — It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

21:13 — He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself cry out and not be heard.

21:26 — All day long the wicked covets, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

22:3 — A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.

22:6 — Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

24:17-18 — Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the LORD see it, and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.

26:7 — Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

28:14 — Blessed is the man who fears the LORD always; but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

29:11 — A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

29:15,17 — The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

You can scavenge your own Proverbs H E R E.