Proverbs 8-11 - Prayer Tents

Wisdom Calls for a Hearing

8Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!H2451H7121H8394H5414H6963 2On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.H5324H7218H4791H1870H1004H5410 3By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,H7442H3027H8179H6310H7176H3996H6607 4“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.H376H7121H6963H1121H120 5You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.H6612H995H6195H3684H995H3820 6Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right,H8085H1696H5057H4669H8193H4339 7for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.H2441H1897H571H7562H8441H8193 8My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.H561H6310H6664H6617H6141 9My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.H5228H995H3477H4672H1847 10Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.H3947H4148H3701H1847H977H2742 11For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.H2451H2896H6443H2656H7737 12“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.H2451H7931H6195H4672H1847H4209 13All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.H3374H3068H8130H7451H1344H1347H7451H1870H8419H6310H8130 14Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.H6098H8454H998H1369 15Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.H4428H4427H7336H2710H6664 16Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.H8269H8323H5081H8199H776 17“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.H157H157H7836H4672 18I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.H6239H3519H6276H1952H6666 19My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!H6529H2896H2742H6337H8393H977H3701 20I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.H1980H734H6666H8432H5410H4941 21Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.H157H5157H3426H4390H214 22“The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.H3068H7069H7225H1870H6924H4659 23I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.H5258H5769H7218H6924H776 24I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.H8415H2342H4599H3513H4325 25Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—H2022H2883H6440H1389H2342 26before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.H6213H776H2351H7218H6083H8398 27I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.H3559H8064H2710H2329H6440H8415 28I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.H553H7834H4605H5810H5869H8415 29I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,H7760H3220H2706H4325H5674H6310H2710H4144H776 30I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.H681H525H3117H3117H8191H7832H6256H6440 31And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!H7832H8398H776H8191H1121H120 32“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.H8085H1121H835H8104H1870 33Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.H8085H4148H2449H6544 34Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!H835H120H8085H8245H3117H3117H1817H8104H4201H6607 35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.H4672H4672H4672H2416H6329H7522H3068 36But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”H2398H2554H5315H8130H157H4194

9Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns.H2454H1129H1004H2672H7651H5982 2She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table.H2873H2874H4537H3196H6186H7979 3She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.H7971H5291H7121H1610H4791H7176 4“Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,H6612H5493H2638H3820H559 5“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.H3212H3898H3899H8354H3196H4537 6Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”H5800H6612H2421H833H1870H998 7Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.H3256H3887H3947H7036H3198H7563H3971 8So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.H3198H3887H8130H3198H2450H157 9Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.H5414H2450H2449H3045H6662H3254H3948 10Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.H3374H3068H8462H2451H1847H6918H998 11Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.H3117H7235H8141H2416H3254 12If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.H2449H2449H3887H5375

Folly Calls for a Hearing

13The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.H3687H802H1993H6615H1077H3045H4100 14She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city.H3427H6607H1004H3678H4791H7176 15She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business.H7121H5674H1870H3474H734 16“Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,H6612H5493H2638H3820H559 17“Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!”H1589H4325H4985H3899H5643H5276 18But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave.H3045H7496H7121H6012H7585

The Proverbs of Solomon

10The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.H4912H8010H2450H1121H8055H1H3684H1121H8424H517 2Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.H214H7562H3276H6666H5337H4194 3The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.H3068H7456H5315H6662H7456H1920H1942H7563 4Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.H7326H6213H7423H3709H3027H2742H6238 5A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.H103H7019H7919H1121H7290H7105H1121H954 6The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.H1293H7218H6662H2555H3680H6310H7563 7We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.H2143H6662H1293H8034H7563H7537 8The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.H2450H3820H3947H4687H8193H191H3832 9People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.H3212H8537H1980H983H6140H1870H3045 10People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.H7169H5869H5414H6094H8193H191H3832 11The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.H6310H6662H4726H2416H2555H3680H6310H7563 12Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.H8135H5782H4090H160H3680H6588 13Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.H8193H995H2451H4672H7626H1460H2638H3820 14Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.H2450H6845H1847H6310H191H7138H4288 15The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.H6223H1952H5797H7151H4288H1800H7389 16The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.H6468H6662H2416H8393H7563H2403 17People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.H734H2416H8104H4148H5800H8433H8582 18Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.H3680H8135H8267H8193H3318H1681H3684 19Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.H7230H1697H2308H6588H2820H8193H7919 20The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.H3956H6662H977H3701H3820H7563H4592 21The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.H8193H6662H7462H7227H191H4191H2638H3820 22The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.H1293H3068H6238H3254H6089 23Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.H7814H3684H6213H2154H376H8394H2451 24The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.H4034H7563H935H8378H6662H5414 25When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.H5492H5674H7563H6662H5769H3247 26Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.H2558H8127H6227H5869H6102H7971 27Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.H3374H3068H3254H3117H8141H7563H7114 28The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.H8431H6662H8057H8615H7563H6 29The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.H1870H3068H4581H8537H4288H6466H205 30The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.H6662H5769H4131H7563H7931H776 31The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.H6310H6662H5107H2451H8419H3956H3772 32The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.H8193H6662H3045H7522H6310H7563H8419

11The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.H4820H3976H8441H3068H8003H68H7522 2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.H2087H935H935H7036H6800H2451 3Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.H8538H3477H5148H5558H898H7703H7703 4Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death.H1952H3276H3117H5678H6666H5337H4194 5The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.H6666H8549H3474H1870H7563H5307H7564 6The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.H6666H3477H5337H898H3920H1942 7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.H7563H120H4194H8615H6H8431H205H6 8The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.H6662H2502H6869H7563H935 9With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.H2611H6310H7843H7453H1847H6662H2502 10The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die.H2898H6662H7151H5970H7563H6H7440 11Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.H1293H3477H7176H7311H2040H6310H7563 12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.H2638H3820H936H7453H376H8394H2790 13A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.H1980H7400H1540H5475H539H7307H3680H1697 14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.H8458H5971H5307H7230H3289H8668 15There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.H6148H2114H7321H7451H8130H8628H982 16A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.H2580H802H8551H3519H6184H8551H6239 17Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.H2617H376H1580H5315H394H5916H7607 18Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.H7563H6213H8267H6468H2232H6666H571H7938 19Godly people find life; evil people find death.H6666H2416H7291H7451H4194 20The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.H6141H3820H8441H3068H8549H1870H7522 21Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.H3027H3027H7451H5352H2233H6662H4422 22A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.H5141H2091H2386H639H3303H802H5493H2940 23The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.H8378H6662H2896H8615H7563H5678 24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.H3426H6340H3254H2820H3476H4270 25The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.H1293H5315H1878H7301H3384 26People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.H4513H1250H3816H5344H1293H7218H7666 27If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!H7836H2896H1245H7522H1875H7451H935 28Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.H982H6239H5307H6662H6524H5929 29Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise.H5916H1004H5157H7307H191H5650H2450H3820 30The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.H6529H6662H6086H2416H3947H5315H2450 31If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?H6662H7999H776H7563H2398