Jul 14 - Proverbs 8-10
Proverbs
1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?2On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;3beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:4"To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.5You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.6Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.7My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.8All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.9To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.10Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,11for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.12"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.14Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.15By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;16by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.17I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.18With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.19My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,21bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.22"The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,, before his deeds of old;23I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.24When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;25before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,26before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.27I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,28when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,29when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.30Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,31rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.32"Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.33Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.34Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.36But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."
1Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.2She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.3She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.4"Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment.5"Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.6Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.7"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.8Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.9Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.10"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.11For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.12If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."13The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge.14She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,15calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way.16"Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment.17"Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!"18But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.2Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.3The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.4Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.5He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.6Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.7The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.8The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.9The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.10He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.14Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.15The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.16The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.17He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.18He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.19When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.21The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.22The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.23A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.24What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.25When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.26As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him.27The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.28The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.29The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.30The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.32The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.