Jul 14 - Proverbs 8-10
Proverbs
1Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?2On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;3beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:4"To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.5O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.6Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,7for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.8All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.9They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,11for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.12"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.13The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,21granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.22"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.23Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.24When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.25Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,26before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.27When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,28when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,29when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,30then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,31rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.32"And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.33Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.34Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.35For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,36but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death."
1Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.2She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.3She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town,4"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says,5"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.6Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight."7Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.11For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.13The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.14She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,15calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,16"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" And to him who lacks sense she says,17"Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."18But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.2Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.3The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.4A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.5He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.8The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.10Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.13On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.14The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.15A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.16The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.19When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.22The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.23Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.24What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.25When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.27The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.28The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.30The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.