Proverbs 7-9

¹My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.

²Keep my commandments and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye.

¹My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

²Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

³Bind them upon thy fingers; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.

⁴Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding thy kinswoman: ⁵That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.

³Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

⁴Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

⁵That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

⁶For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice; ⁷And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding, ⁸Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house, ⁹In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.

¹⁰And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.

¹¹(She is clamorous and wilful; Her feet abide not in her house: ¹²Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.)

⁶For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

⁷And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

⁸Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

⁹In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

¹⁰And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

¹¹(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

¹²Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

¹³So she caught him, and kissed him, And with an impudent face she said unto him: ¹⁴Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows.

¹⁵Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

¹⁶I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

¹⁷I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; Let us solace ourselves with loves.

¹³So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

¹⁴I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

¹⁵Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

¹⁶I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

¹⁷I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

¹⁹For the man is not at home; He is gone a long journey: ²⁰He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon.

²¹With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.

²²He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool; ²³Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.

¹⁹For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

²⁰He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

²¹With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

²²He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

²³Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

²⁴Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth.

²⁵Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.

²⁶For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

²⁷Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.

²⁴Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

²⁵Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

²⁶For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

²⁷Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

¹Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?

²On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth; ³Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud: ⁴Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.

¹Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

²She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

³She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

⁴Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

⁵O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.

⁶Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

⁷For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

⁵O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

⁶Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

⁷For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

⁹They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.

⁹They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

¹⁰Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.

¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.

¹⁰Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

¹²I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge and discretion.

¹³The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.

¹⁴Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.

¹⁵By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.

¹⁶By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

¹⁷I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.

¹²I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

¹³The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

¹⁴Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

¹⁵By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

¹⁶By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

¹⁷I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

¹⁸Riches and honor are with me; Yea, durable wealth and righteousness.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.

¹⁸Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice; ²¹That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.

²²Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.

²⁰I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

²¹That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

²²The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.

²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth; ²⁶While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

²⁵Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

²⁶While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, ²⁸When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, ²⁹When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; ³⁰Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him, ³¹Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.

²⁷When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

²⁸When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

²⁹When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

³⁰Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

³¹Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

³²Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.

³³Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.

³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

³⁵For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.

³²Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

³³Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

³⁵For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

³⁶But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.

³⁶But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

¹Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars: ²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table: ³She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:

¹Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

³She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, ⁵Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.

⁶Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.

⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

⁶Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

⁷He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

⁸Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

⁷He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

⁸Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

¹⁰The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.

¹²If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.

¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

¹²If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

¹³The foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knoweth nothing.

¹⁴And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city, ¹⁵To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways: ¹⁶Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, ¹⁷Stolen waters are sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

¹⁸But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

¹³A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

¹⁴For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

¹⁵To call passengers who go right on their ways:

¹⁶Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

¹⁷Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

¹⁸But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.