Preface To the Book Of Proverbs “RNT”

I grew up in a small town in Northeastern Oklahoma, We were country folks. Also by some we were called Hillbilly, Hick and later on the word Red Neck came into being to describe country folk. I just say people with a lot of good common sense, good country cooking, good morals simple living country and gospel music. I remember spending much of my time growing up on the creek bank fishing or going out at night with my dad listening to our coon hounds run and tree raccoons.

I raised hogs and showed them at the fair, rode horses even to school once when I was in the 3rd grade. My teacher of course made me take it home. I raised chickens and lived a simple country life. Also I ventured out from my country roots when The Beatles became popular. I sung Beatle songs all over town and each class room and was even paid money for singing. Not bad for a 7 year old.

At age 8 I had an experience with God and began to sing Gospel music before my dad would preach, so my hunger for God started early and my introduction to the scriptures.

For many years I struggled trying to understand the Bible at that time, reading mostly The King James Version. The words were not familiar to me so I gave up easily until later on at the age of 20 I became a diligent student of the scriptures. I suppose I have read the Book of Proverbs, conservatively speaking, at least a hundred times. I have traveled to several nations and 46 states spoken in 100’s of churches, business seminars conferences and ministered personally to tens of thousands of people.

My mother instilled in me the integrity of the scriptures and respect for the authority therein. I have tried in this Red Neck Translation to adhere to that integrity while changing the way it is said.

It is important to read the scripture as God talking to you in your language, with your accent, and communicating it simply in a way that country folks can understand. Humor will make this wonderful book of proverbs come alive in a fresh way.

This does not imply that country folks are ignorant or uneducated. It is quite the opposite. They are educated in the simple ways of life and are some of the best people on the planet.

Finally I changed the way it is said and use words like “yer” and also “Pa” and “Ma”, “the Good Lord”, and for wisdom “Good Horse sense”. I understand those who are proficient in the english language may cringe, but I invite you to put it aside for a moment while you read and draw from the country King Solomon in a Red Neck Translation.