Proverbs 7; Proverbs 8; Proverbs 9

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Proverbs 7

1 My son, obey my words. Store up my commands inside you.
2 Obey my commands and you will live. Guard my teachings as you would your own eyes.
3 Tie them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding a member of your family.
5 They will keep you from a woman who commits adultery. They will keep you from the smooth talk of a sinful wife.
6 I stood at the window of my house. I looked out through it.
7 Among those who were childish I saw a young man who had no sense.
8 He went down the street near that sinful woman's corner. He walked toward her house.
9 The sun had gone down. Day was fading. The darkness of night was falling.
10 A woman came out to meet him. She was dressed like a prostitute and had a clever plan.
11 She was a loud and pushy woman. She never stayed at home.
12 Sometimes in the streets, sometimes at other places, at every corner she would wait.
13 She took hold of the young man and kissed him. With a bold face she spoke to him.
14 She said, "At home I have meat left over from my offerings. Today I offered what I had promised I would.
15 So I came out to meet you. I looked for you. And I have found you!
16 I have covered my bed with colored sheets from Egypt.
17 I've perfumed my bed with spices. I used myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning. Let's enjoy ourselves by having sex!
19 My husband isn't home. He's gone on a long journey.
20 He took his bag full of money. He won't be home for several days."
21 She led him down the wrong path with her clever words. She charmed him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her. He was like an ox going to be killed. He was like a deer stepping into a trap
23 until an arrow struck its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a trap. Little did he know it would cost him his life!
24 My sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say.
25 Don't let your hearts turn to her ways. Don't step onto her paths.
26 She has brought down a lot of men. She has killed a huge crowd.
27 Her house is a road to the grave. It leads down to the place of the dead.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 8

1 Doesn't wisdom call out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?
2 On the high roads along the way, she takes her place where the paths meet.
3 Beside the gates leading into the city, she cries out at the entrances.
4 She says, "Men, I call out to you. I raise my voice to all human beings.
5 You who are childish, get some good sense. You who are foolish, gain understanding.
6 Listen! I have worthy things to say. I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true. My lips hate evil.
8 All the words of my mouth are honest. None of them is twisted or sinful.
9 To those who have understanding, all my words are right. To those who have knowledge, they are true.
10 Choose my teaching instead of silver. Choose knowledge rather than fine gold.
11 Wisdom is worth more than rubies. Nothing you want can compare with her.
12 "I, wisdom, live together with understanding. I have knowledge and good sense.
13 To have respect for the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride and bragging. I hate evil ways and twisted words.
14 I have good sense and give good advice. I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings rule. Leaders make laws that are fair.
16 By me princes govern. By me all nobles rule on earth.
17 I love those who love me. Those who look for me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor. With me are lasting wealth and success.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold. My gifts are better than the finest silver.
20 I walk in ways that are honest. I take paths that are right.
21 I leave riches to those who love me. I give them more than they have room for.
22 "The LORD created me as the first of his works, before his acts of long ago.
23 I was formed at the very beginning. I was formed before the world began.
24 Before there were any oceans, I was born. There weren't any springs of water at that time.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place, I was born. Before there were any hills, I was born.
26 It happened before the LORD made the earth and its fields. It was before he made the dust of the world.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place. When he marked out the place where the sky meets the sea, I was there.
28 That was when he put the clouds above. It was when he fixed the ocean springs in place.
29 It was when he set limits for the sea so that the waters had to obey his command. When he marked out the foundations of the earth, I was there.
30 I was the skilled worker at his side. I was filled with delight day after day. I was always happy to be with him.
31 His whole world filled me with joy. I took delight in all human beings.
32 "My children, listen to me. Blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my teaching and be wise. Don't turn away from it.
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me. He watches every day at my doors. He waits beside my doorway.
35 Those who find me find life. They receive favor from the Lord.
36 But those who don't find me harm only themselves. Everyone who hates me loves death."
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom has built her house. She has made its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her female servants. She calls out from the highest point of the city.
4 She says, "Let all who are childish come in here!" She speaks to those who have no sense.
5 "Come and eat my food. Drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your childish ways and you will live. Walk in the way that leads to understanding.
7 "When you correct someone who makes fun of others, you might be laughed at. When you warn a sinner, you might get hurt.
8 Don't warn those who make fun of others. They will hate you. Warn those who are wise. They will love you.
9 Teach a wise man. He will become even wiser. Teach a person who does right. He will learn even more.
10 "If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. To know the Holy One is to gain understanding.
11 Through me, you will live a long time. Years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you. If you make fun of others, you alone will suffer."
13 The woman called Foolishness is loud. She doesn't control herself. She doesn't know anything.
14 She sits at the door of her house. She sits at the highest point of the city.
15 She calls out to those who pass by. She calls out to those who go straight on their way.
16 She says, "Let all who are childish come in here!" She speaks to those who have no sense.
17 She says, "Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret tastes good!"
18 But they don't know that dead people are there. They don't know that her guests are in the deepest parts of the grave.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.