PROLOGUE: PURPOSE AND THEME

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

       for attaining wisdom and discipline;

          for understanding words of insight;

       for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,

          doing what is right and just and fair;

       for giving prudence to the simple,

          knowledge and discretion to the young--

       let the wise listen and add to their learning,

          and let the discerning get guidance--

       for understanding proverbs and parables,

          the sayings and riddles of the wise.

       The fear of THE LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

          but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 1, verses 1 - 7

Warning Against Enticement

       Listen, my son, to your father's instruction

          and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

       They will be a garland to grace your head

          and a chain to adorn your neck.

       My son, if sinners entice you,

          do not give in to them.

       If they say, "Come along with us;

          let's lie in wait for someone's blood,

          let's waylay some harmless soul;

       let's swallow them alive, like the grave,

          and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

       we will get all sorts of valuable things

          and fill our houses with plunder;

       throw in your lot with us,

          and we will share a common purse"--

       my son, do not go along with them,

          do not set foot on their paths;

       for their feet rush into sin,

          they are swift to shed blood.

       How useless to spread a net

          in full view of all the birds!

       These men lie in wait for their own blood;

          they waylay only themselves!

       Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain;

          it takes away the lives of those who get it.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 1, verses 8 - 19

Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom

       Wisdom calls aloud in the street,

          she raises her voice in the public squares;

       at the head of the noisy streets she cries out,

          in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:

       "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?

          How long will mockers delight in mockery

          and fools hate knowledge?

       If you had responded to my rebuke,

          I would have poured out my heart to you

          and made my thoughts known to you.

       But since you rejected me when I called

          and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,

       since you ignored all my advice

          and would not accept my rebuke,

       I in turn will laugh at your disaster;

          I will mock when calamity overtakes you--

       when calamity overtakes you like a storm,

          when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,

          when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

       "Then they will call to me but I will not answer;

          they will look for me but will not find me.

       Since they hated knowledge

          and did not choose to fear THE LORD,

       since they would not accept my advice

          and spurned my rebuke,

       they will eat the fruit of their ways

          and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

       For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

          and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

       but whoever listens to me will live in safety

          and be at ease, without fear of harm."

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 1, verses 20 - 33

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

       My son, if you accept my words

          and store up my commands within you,

       turning your ear to wisdom

          and applying your heart to understanding,

       and if you call out for insight

          and cry aloud for understanding,

       and if you look for it as for silver

          and search for it as for hidden treasure,

       then you will understand the fear of THE LORD

          and find the knowledge of GOD.

       For THE LORD gives wisdom,

          and from HIS mouth come knowledge and understanding.

       HE holds victory in store for the upright,

          HE is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

       for HE guards the course of the just

          and protects the way of HIS faithful ones.

       Then you will understand what is right and just

          and fair--every good path.

       For wisdom will enter your heart,

          and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

       Discretion will protect you,

          and understanding will guard you.

       Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,

          from men whose words are perverse,

       who leave the straight paths

          to walk in dark ways,

       who delight in doing wrong

          and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

       whose paths are crooked

          and who are devious in their ways.

       It will save you also from the adulteress,

          from the wayward wife with her seductive words,

       who has left the partner of her youth

          and ignored the covenant she made before GOD.

       For her house leads down to death

          and her paths to the spirits of the dead.

       None who go to her return

          or attain the paths of life.

       Thus you will walk in the ways of good men

          and keep to the paths of the righteous.

       For the upright will live in the land,

          and the blameless will remain in it;

       but the wicked will be cut off from the land,

          and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 2

Further Benefits of Wisdom

       My son, do not forget my teaching,

          but keep my commands in your heart,

       for they will prolong your life many years

          and bring you prosperity.

       Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

          bind them around your neck,

          write them on the tablet of your heart.

       Then you will win favor and a good name

          in the sight of GOD and man.

       Trust in THE LORD with all your heart

          and lean not on your own understanding;

       in all your ways acknowledge HIM,

          and HE will make your paths straight.

       Do not be wise in your own eyes;

          fear THE LORD and shun evil.

       This will bring health to your body

          and nourishment to your bones.

       Honor THE LORD with your wealth,

          with the firstfruits of all your crops;

       then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

          and your vats will brim over with new wine.

       My son, do not despise THE LORD'S discipline

          and do not resent HIS rebuke,

       because THE LORD disciplines those HE loves,

          as a father the son HE delights in.

       Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,

          the man who gains understanding,

       for she is more profitable than silver

          and yields better returns than gold.

       She is more precious than rubies;

          nothing you desire can compare with her.

       Long life is in her right hand;

          in her left hand are riches and honor.

       Her ways are pleasant ways,

          and all her paths are peace.

       She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;

          those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

       By wisdom THE LORD laid the earth's foundations,

          by understanding HE set the heavens in place;

       by HIS knowledge the deeps were divided,

          and the clouds let drop the dew.

       My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,

          do not let them out of your sight;

       they will be life for you,

          an ornament to grace your neck.

       Then you will go on your way in safety,

          and your foot will not stumble;

       when you lie down, you will not be afraid;

          when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

       Have no fear of sudden disaster

          or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

       for THE LORD will be your confidence

          and will keep your foot from being snared.

       Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,

          when it is in your power to act.

       Do not say to your neighbor,

          "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"--

          when you now have it with you.

       Do not plot harm against your neighbor,

          who lives trustfully near you.

       Do not accuse a man for no reason--

          when he has done you no harm.

       Do not envy a violent man

          or choose any of his ways,

       for THE LORD detests a perverse man

          but takes the upright into HIS confidence.

       THE LORD'S curse is on the house of the wicked,

          but HE blesses the home of the righteous.

       HE mocks proud mockers

          but gives grace to the humble.

       The wise inherit honor,

          but fools HE holds up to shame.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 3

Wisdom Is Supreme

       Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;

          pay attention and gain understanding.

       I give you sound learning,

          so do not forsake my teaching.

       When I was a boy in my father's house,

          still tender, and an only child of my mother,

       he taught me and said,

          "Lay hold of my words with all your heart;

          keep my commands and you will live.

       Get wisdom, get understanding;

          do not forget my words or swerve from them.

       Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

          love her, and she will watch over you.

       Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.

          Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

       Esteem her, and she will exalt you;

          embrace her, and she will honor you.

       She will set a garland of grace on your head

          and present you with a crown of splendor."

       Listen, my son, accept what I say,

          and the years of your life will be many.

       I guide you in the way of wisdom

          and lead you along straight paths.

       When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

          when you run, you will not stumble.

       Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

          guard it well, for it is your life.

       Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

          or walk in the way of evil men.

       Avoid it, do not travel on it;

          turn from it and go on your way.

       For they cannot sleep till they do evil;

          they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

       They eat the bread of wickedness

          and drink the wine of violence.

       The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

          shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

       But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

          they do not know what makes them stumble.

       My son, pay attention to what I say;

          listen closely to my words.

       Do not let them out of your sight,

          keep them within your heart;

       for they are life to those who find them

          and health to a man's whole body.

       Above all else, guard your heart,

          for it is the wellspring of life.

       Put away perversity from your mouth;

          keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

       Let your eyes look straight ahead,

          fix your gaze directly before you.

       Make level paths for your feet

          and take only ways that are firm.

       Do not swerve to the right or the left;

          keep your foot from evil.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 4

Warning Against Adultery

       My son, pay attention to my wisdom,

          listen well to my words of insight,

       that you may maintain discretion

          and your lips may preserve knowledge.

       For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,

          and her speech is smoother than oil;

       but in the end she is bitter as gall,

          sharp as a double-edged sword.

       Her feet go down to death;

          her steps lead straight to the grave.

       She gives no thought to the way of life;

          her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

       Now then, my sons, listen to me;

          do not turn aside from what I say.

       Keep to a path far from her,

          do not go near the door of her house,

       lest you give your best strength to others

          and your years to one who is cruel,

       lest strangers feast on your wealth

          and your toil enrich another man's house.

       At the end of your life you will groan,

          when your flesh and body are spent.

       You will say, "How I hated discipline!

          How my heart spurned correction!

       I would not obey my teachers

          or listen to my instructors.

       I have come to the brink of utter ruin

          in the midst of the whole assembly."

       Drink water from your own cistern,

          running water from your own well.

       Should your springs overflow in the streets,

          your streams of water in the public squares?

       Let them be yours alone,

          never to be shared with strangers.

       May your fountain be blessed,

          and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

       A loving doe, a graceful deer--

          may her breasts satisfy you always,

          may you ever be captivated by her love.

       Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress?

          Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?

       For a man's ways are in full view of THE LORD,

          and HE examines all his paths.

       The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him;

          the cords of his sin hold him fast.

       He will die for lack of discipline,

          led astray by his own great folly.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 5

Warnings Against Folly

       My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,

          if you have struck hands in pledge for another,

       if you have been trapped by what you said,

          ensnared by the words of your mouth,

       then do this, my son, to free yourself,

          since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:

       Go and humble yourself;

          press your plea with your neighbor!

       Allow no sleep to your eyes,

          no slumber to your eyelids.

       Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

          like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

       Go to the ant, you sluggard;

          consider its ways and be wise!

       It has no commander,

          no overseer or ruler,

       yet it stores its provisions in summer

          and gathers its food at harvest.

       How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

          When will you get up from your sleep?

       A little sleep, a little slumber,

          a little folding of the hands to rest--

       and poverty will come on you like a bandit

          and scarcity like an armed man.

       A scoundrel and villain,

          who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

          who winks with his eye,

          signals with his feet

          and motions with his fingers,

          who plots evil with deceit in his heart--

          he always stirs up dissension.

       Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;

          he will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy.

       There are six things THE LORD hates,

          seven that are detestable to him:

              haughty eyes,

              a lying tongue,

              hands that shed innocent blood,

              a heart that devises wicked schemes,

              feet that are quick to rush into evil,

              a false witness who pours out lies

              and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 6, verses 1 - 19

Warning Against Adultery

       My son, keep your father's commands

          and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

       Bind them upon your heart forever;

          fasten them around your neck.

       When you walk, they will guide you;

          when you sleep, they will watch over you;

          when you awake, they will speak to you.

       For these commands are a lamp,

          this teaching is a light,

       and the corrections of discipline

          are the way to life,

       keeping you from the immoral woman,

          from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

       Do not lust in your heart after her beauty

          or let her captivate you with her eyes,

       for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,

          and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

       Can a man scoop fire into his lap

          without his clothes being burned?

       Can a man walk on hot coals

          without his feet being scorched?

       So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;

          no one who touches her will go unpunished.

       Men do not despise a thief if he steals

          to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

       Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,

          though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

       But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;

          whoever does so destroys himself.

       Blows and disgrace are his lot,

          and his shame will never be wiped away;

       for jealousy arouses a husband's fury,

          and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

       He will not accept any compensation;

          he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 6, verses 20 - 35

Warning Against the Adulteress

       My son, keep my words

          and store up my commands within you.

       Keep my commands and you will live;

          guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

       Bind them on your fingers;

          write them on the tablet of your heart.

       Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"

          and call understanding your kinsman;

       they will keep you from the adulteress,

          from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

       At the window of my house

          I looked out through the lattice.

       I saw among the simple,

          I noticed among the young men,

          a youth who lacked judgment.

       He was going down the street near her corner,

          walking along in the direction of her house

       at twilight, as the day was fading,

          as the dark of night set in.

       Then out came a woman to meet him,

          dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

       (She is loud and defiant,

          her feet never stay at home;

       now in the street, now in the squares,

          at every corner she lurks.)

       She took hold of him and kissed him

          and with a brazen face she said:

      "I have fellowship offerings at home;

          today I fulfilled my vows.

       So I came out to meet you;

          I looked for you and have found you!

       I have covered my bed

          with colored linens from Egypt.

       I have perfumed my bed

          with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

       Come, let's drink deep of love till morning;

          let's enjoy ourselves with love!

       My husband is not at home;

          he has gone on a long journey.

       He took his purse filled with money

          and will not be home till full moon."

       With persuasive words she led him astray;

          she seduced him with her smooth talk.

       All at once he followed her

          like an ox going to the slaughter,

       like a deer stepping into a noose

          till an arrow pierces his liver,

       like a bird darting into a snare,

          little knowing it will cost him his life.

       Now then, my sons, listen to me;

          pay attention to what I say.

       Do not let your heart turn to her ways

          or stray into her paths.

       Many are the victims she has brought down;

          her slain are a mighty throng.

       Her house is a highway to the grave,

          leading down to the chambers of death.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 7

Wisdom's Call

       Does not wisdom call out?

          Does not understanding raise her voice?

       On the heights along the way,

          where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

       beside the gates leading into the city,

          at the entrances, she cries aloud:

       "To you, O men, I call out;

          I raise my voice to all mankind.

       You who are simple, gain prudence;

          you who are foolish, gain understanding.

       Listen, for I have worthy things to say;

          I open my lips to speak what is right.

       My mouth speaks what is true,

          for my lips detest wickedness.

       All the words of my mouth are just;

          none of them is crooked or perverse.

       To the discerning all of them are right;

          they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

       Choose my instruction instead of silver,

          knowledge rather than choice gold,

       for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

          and nothing you desire can compare with her.

       "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

          I possess knowledge and discretion.

       To fear THE LORD is to hate evil;

          I hate pride and arrogance,

          evil behavior and perverse speech.

       Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

          I have understanding and power.

       By me kings reign

          and rulers make laws that are just;

       by me princes govern,

          and all nobles who rule on earth.

       I love those who love me,

          and those who seek me find me.

       With me are riches and honor,

          enduring wealth and prosperity.

       My fruit is better than fine gold;

          what I yield surpasses choice silver.

       I walk in the way of righteousness,

          along the paths of justice,

       bestowing wealth on those who love me

          and making their treasuries full.

       "THE LORD brought me forth as the first of HIS works,

          before HIS deeds of old;

       I was appointed from eternity,

          from the beginning, before the world began.

       When there were no oceans, I was given birth,

          when there were no springs abounding with water;

       before the mountains were settled in place,

          before the hills, I was given birth,

       before HE made the earth or its fields

          or any of the dust of the world.

       I was there when HE set the heavens in place,

          when HE marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

       when HE established the clouds above

          and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

       when HE gave the sea its boundary

          so the waters would not overstep HIS command,

       and when HE marked out the foundations of the earth.

          Then I was the craftsman at HIS side.

       I was filled with delight day after day,

          rejoicing always in HIS presence,

       rejoicing in HIS whole world

          and delighting in mankind.

       "Now then, my sons, listen to me;

          blessed are those who keep my ways.

       Listen to my instruction and be wise;

          do not ignore it.

       Blessed is the man who listens to me,

          watching daily at my doors,

          waiting at my doorway.

       For whoever finds me finds life

          and receives favor from THE LORD.

       But whoever fails to find me harms himself;

          all who hate me love death."

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 8

Invitations of Wisdom and of Folly

       Wisdom has built her house;

          she has hewn out its seven pillars.

       She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;

          she has also set her table.

       She has sent out her maids, and she calls

          from the highest point of the city.

       "Let all who are simple come in here!"

          she says to those who lack judgment.

       "Come, eat my food

          and drink the wine I have mixed.

       Leave your simple ways and you will live;

          walk in the way of understanding.

       "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;

          whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

       Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;

          rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

       Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;

          teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

       "The fear of THE LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

          and knowledge of THE HOLY ONE is understanding.

       For through me your days will be many,

          and years will be added to your life.

       If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;

          if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

       The woman Folly is loud;

          she is undisciplined and without knowledge.

       She sits at the door of her house,

          on a seat at the highest point of the city,

       calling out to those who pass by,

          who go straight on their way.

       "Let all who are simple come in here!"

          she says to those who lack judgment.

       "Stolen water is sweet;

          food eaten in secret is delicious!"

       But little do they know that the dead are there,

          that her guests are in the depths of the grave.

The Book of Proverbs: chapter 9