7Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.H1121H8104H561H6845H46872Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.H8104H4687H2421H8451H380H58693Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.H7194H676H3789H3871H38204Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.H559H2451H269H7121H998H41295Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.H8104H2114H802H5237H2505H5616While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain,H2474H1004H8259H8227I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense.H7200H6612H995H1121H5288H2638H38208He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house.H5674H7784H681H6434H6805H1870H10049It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell.H5399H3117H6153H380H653H391510The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart.H7125H802H7897H2181H5341H382011She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home.H1993H5637H7272H7931H100412She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner.H6471H2351H6471H7339H693H681H643813She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said,H2388H5401H5810H6440H55914“I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows.H8002H2077H3117H7999H508815You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!H3318H7125H7836H6440H467216My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.H7234H6210H4765H2405H330H471417I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.H5130H4904H4753H174H707618Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,H3212H7301H1730H1242H5965H15919for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip.H376H1004H1980H7350H187020He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month.”H3947H6872H3701H3027H935H1004H3117H367721So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery.H7230H3948H5186H2506H8193H508022He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap,H1980H310H6597H7794H935H2874H191H4148H591423awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.H2671H6398H3516H6833H4116H6341H3045H531524So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words.H8085H1121H7181H561H631025Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path.H3820H7847H1870H8582H541026For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims.H5307H7227H2491H6099H202627Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.H1004H1870H7585H3381H2315H4194
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
8Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!H2451H7121H8394H5414H69632On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.H5324H7218H4791H1870H1004H54103By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,H7442H3027H8179H6310H7176H3996H66074“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.H376H7121H6963H1121H1205You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.H6612H995H6195H3684H995H38206Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right,H8085H1696H5057H4669H8193H43397for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.H2441H1897H571H7562H8441H81938My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.H561H6310H6664H6617H61419My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.H5228H995H3477H4672H184710Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.H3947H4148H3701H1847H977H274211For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.H2451H2896H6443H2656H773712“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.H2451H7931H6195H4672H1847H420913All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.H3374H3068H8130H7451H1344H1347H7451H1870H8419H6310H813014Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.H6098H8454H998H136915Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.H4428H4427H7336H2710H666416Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.H8269H8323H5081H8199H77617“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.H157H157H7836H467218I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.H6239H3519H6276H1952H666619My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!H6529H2896H2742H6337H8393H977H370120I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.H1980H734H6666H8432H5410H494121Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.H157H5157H3426H4390H21422“The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.H3068H7069H7225H1870H6924H465923I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.H5258H5769H7218H6924H77624I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.H8415H2342H4599H3513H432525Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—H2022H2883H6440H1389H234226before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.H6213H776H2351H7218H6083H839827I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.H3559H8064H2710H2329H6440H841528I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.H553H7834H4605H5810H5869H841529I 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,H7760H3220H2706H4325H5674H6310H2710H4144H77630I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.H681H525H3117H3117H8191H7832H6256H644031And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!H7832H8398H776H8191H1121H12032“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.H8085H1121H835H8104H187033Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.H8085H4148H2449H654434Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!H835H120H8085H8245H3117H3117H1817H8104H4201H660735For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.H4672H4672H4672H2416H6329H7522H306836But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”H2398H2554H5315H8130H157H4194
9Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns.H2454H1129H1004H2672H7651H59822She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table.H2873H2874H4537H3196H6186H79793She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.H7971H5291H7121H1610H4791H71764“Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,H6612H5493H2638H3820H5595“Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.H3212H3898H3899H8354H3196H45376Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”H5800H6612H2421H833H1870H9987Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.H3256H3887H3947H7036H3198H7563H39718So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.H3198H3887H8130H3198H2450H1579Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.H5414H2450H2449H3045H6662H3254H394810Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.H3374H3068H8462H2451H1847H6918H99811Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.H3117H7235H8141H2416H325412If 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.H3687H802H1993H6615H1077H3045H410014She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city.H3427H6607H1004H3678H4791H717615She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business.H7121H5674H1870H3474H73416“Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,H6612H5493H2638H3820H55917“Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!”H1589H4325H4985H3899H5643H527618But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave.H3045H7496H7121H6012H7585
150Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven!H1984H3050H1984H410H6944H1984H7549H57972Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!H1984H1369H1984H7230H14333Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp!H1984H8629H7782H1984H5035H36584Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!H1984H8596H4234H1984H4482H57485Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.H1984H8088H6767H1984H8643H67676Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!H5397H1984H3050H1984H3050
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