Watch the Twist

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

I was confused by the word “decline” in the KJV.  The NASB has “turn away”.  So I did a little digging and found that one of the possible meanings of the Hebrew is to twist or warp.

It does not do any good to read truth if you forget it.  Even worse is the way in which we can take clear statements and twist them to fit in our personal agenda or belief system.  How many teachers and preachers take the Bible and pervert it for their own agenda?  More than I would like to admit.  Sometimes it is relatively harmless and other times it does major damage.

So?  Read for yourself.  Does the preacher give you a text for the sermon?  Read it yourself.  Does the author tell you, “The Bible says”?  Look it up.  God offers wisdom but even gold coins can be clipped and debased.