Proverbs, starting at chapter 7
{7:1} My son, keep my words.
Lay up my commandments within you.
{7:2} Keep my commandments and live!
Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
{7:3} Bind them on your fingers.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
{7:4} Tell wisdom, "You are my sister."
Call understanding your relative,
{7:5} that they may keep you from the strange woman,
from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
{7:6} For at the window of my house,
I looked out through my lattice.
{7:7} I saw among the simple ones.
I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
{7:8} passing through the street near her corner,
he went the way to her house,
{7:9} in the twilight, in the evening of the day,
in the middle of the night and in the darkness.
{7:10} Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute,
and with crafty intent.
{7:11} She is loud and defiant.
Her feet don't stay in her house.
{7:12} Now she is in the streets, now in the squares,
and lurking at every corner.
{7:13} So she caught him, and kissed him.
With an impudent face she said to him:
{7:14} "Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me.
This day I have paid my vows.
{7:15} Therefore I came out to meet you,
to diligently seek your face,
and I have found you.
{7:16} I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry,
with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
{7:17} I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
{7:18} Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning.
Let's solace ourselves with loving.
{7:19} For my husband isn't at home.
He has gone on a long journey.
{7:20} He has taken a bag of money with him.
He will come home at the full moon."
{7:21} With persuasive words, she led him astray.
With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
{7:22} He followed her immediately,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
as a fool stepping into a noose.
{7:23} Until an arrow strikes through his liver,
as a bird hurries to the snare,
and doesn't know that it will cost his life.
{7:24} Now therefore, sons, listen to me.
Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
{7:25} Don't let your heart turn to her ways.
Don't go astray in her paths,
{7:26} for she has thrown down many wounded.
Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.
{7:27} Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.
{8:1} Doesn't wisdom cry out?
Doesn't understanding raise her voice?
{8:2} On the top of high places by the way,
where the paths meet, she stands.
{8:3} Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
{8:4} "To you men, I call!
I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
{8:5} You simple, understand prudence.
You fools, be of an understanding heart.
{8:6} Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
The opening of my lips is for right things.
{8:7} For my mouth speaks truth.
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
{8:8} All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
{8:9} They are all plain to him who understands,
right to those who find knowledge.
{8:10} Receive my instruction rather than silver;
knowledge rather than choice gold.
{8:11} For wisdom is better than rubies.
All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.
{8:12} "I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
Find out knowledge and discretion.
{8:13} The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
{8:14} Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
I have understanding and power.
{8:15} By me kings reign,
and princes decree justice.
{8:16} By me princes rule;
nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
{8:17} I love those who love me.
Those who seek me diligently will find me.
{8:18} With me are riches, honor,
enduring wealth, and prosperity.
{8:19} My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold;
my yield than choice silver.
{8:20} I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the midst of the paths of justice;
{8:21} That I may give wealth to those who love me.
I fill their treasuries.
{8:22} "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work,
before his deeds of old.
{8:23} I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
before the earth existed.
{8:24} When there were no depths, I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
{8:25} Before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
{8:26} while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
{8:27} When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
{8:28} when he established the clouds above,
when the springs of the deep became strong,
{8:29} when he gave to the sea its boundary,
that the waters should not violate his commandment,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth;
{8:30} then I was the craftsman by his side.
I was a delight day by day,
always rejoicing before him,
{8:31} Rejoicing in his whole world.
My delight was with the sons of men.
{8:32} "Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
for blessed are those who keep my ways.
{8:33} Hear instruction, and be wise.
Don't refuse it.
{8:34} Blessed is the man who hears me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my door posts.
{8:35} For whoever finds me, finds life,
and will obtain favor from the LORD.
{8:36} But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
All those who hate me love death."
{9:1} Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
{9:2} She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her wine.
She has also set her table.
{9:3} She has sent out her maidens.
She cries from the highest places of the city:
{9:4} "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
{9:5} "Come, eat some of my bread,
Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
{9:6} Leave your simple ways, and live.
Walk in the way of understanding."
{9:7} He who corrects a mocker invites insult.
He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
{9:8} Don't reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
{9:9} Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser.
Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
{9:10} The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
{9:11} For by me your days will be multiplied.
The years of your life will be increased.
{9:12} If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you mock, you alone will bear it.
{9:13} The foolish woman is loud,
Undisciplined, and knows nothing.
{9:14} She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
{9:15} To call to those who pass by,
who go straight on their ways,
{9:16} "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here."
as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
{9:17} "Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret is pleasant."
{9:18} But he doesn't know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
___
This Bible reading mailing list and web site are paid for by donations
marked "HNV project" and payable to:
Rainbow Missions
PO BOX 275
MESA CO 81643-0275
To cancel your free email subscription, please send
email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
unsubscribe hnv
in the body of the message OR go to http://ebible.org/subscribe.htm
