1:1 The Proverbs ¹  of ²  Solomon ³  son of David, ⁴  king of Israel: ⁵ 

1:2 To ⁶  learn ⁷  wisdom ⁸  and moral instruction, ⁹ 

and to discern ¹⁰  wise counsel. ¹¹ 

1:3 To receive ¹²  moral instruction ¹³  in skillful living, ¹⁴ 

in ¹⁵  righteousness, ¹⁶  justice, ¹⁷  and equity. ¹⁸ 

1:4 To impart ¹⁹  shrewdness ²⁰  to the morally naive, ²¹ 

and ²²  a discerning ²³  plan ²⁴  to the young person. ²⁵ 

1:5 (Let the wise also ²⁶  hear ²⁷  and gain ²⁸  instruction,

and let the discerning ²⁹  acquire ³⁰  guidance! ³¹ )

1:6 To discern ³²  the meaning of ³³  a proverb and a parable, ³⁴ 

the sayings of the wise ³⁵  and their ³⁶  riddles. ³⁷ 

1:7 Fearing the Lord ³⁸  is the beginning ³⁹  of moral knowledge, ⁴⁰ 

but ⁴¹  fools ⁴²  despise ⁴³  wisdom and instruction. ⁴⁴ 

1:8 Listen, ⁴⁵  my child, ⁴⁶  to the instruction ⁴⁷  from ⁴⁸  your father,

and do not forsake the teaching ⁴⁹  from ⁵⁰  your mother.

1:9 For they will be like ⁵¹  an elegant ⁵²  garland ⁵³  on ⁵⁴  your head,

and like ⁵⁵  pendants ⁵⁶  around ⁵⁷  your neck.

1:10 My child, if sinners ⁵⁸  try to entice ⁵⁹  you,

do not consent! ⁶⁰ 

1:11 If they say, “Come with us!

We will ⁶¹  lie in wait ⁶²  to shed blood; ⁶³ 

we will ambush ⁶⁴  an innocent person ⁶⁵  capriciously. ⁶⁶ 

1:12 We will swallow them alive ⁶⁷  like Sheol, ⁶⁸ 

those full of vigor ⁶⁹  like those going down to the Pit.

1:13 We will seize ⁷⁰  all kinds ⁷¹  of precious wealth;

we will fill our houses with plunder. ⁷² 

1:14 Join with us! ⁷³ 

We will all share ⁷⁴  equally in what we steal.” ⁷⁵ 

1:15 My child, do not go down ⁷⁶  their way, ⁷⁷ 

withhold yourself ⁷⁸  from their path; ⁷⁹ 

1:16 for they ⁸⁰  are eager ⁸¹  to inflict harm, ⁸² 

and they hasten ⁸³  to shed blood. ⁸⁴ 

1:17 Surely it is futile to spread ⁸⁵  a net

in plain sight of ⁸⁶  any bird, ⁸⁷ 

1:18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood, ⁸⁸ 

they ambush their own lives! ⁸⁹ 

1:19 Such ⁹⁰  are the ways ⁹¹  of all who gain profit unjustly; ⁹² 

it ⁹³  takes away the life ⁹⁴  of those who obtain it! ⁹⁵ 

1:20 Wisdom ⁹⁶  calls out ⁹⁷  in the street,

she shouts loudly ⁹⁸  in the plazas; ⁹⁹ 

1:21 at the head of the noisy ¹⁰⁰  streets she calls,

in the entrances of the gates in the city ¹⁰¹  she utters her words: ¹⁰² 

1:22 “How long will you simpletons ¹⁰³  love naiveté? ¹⁰⁴ 

How long ¹⁰⁵  will mockers ¹⁰⁶  delight ¹⁰⁷  in mockery ¹⁰⁸ 

and fools ¹⁰⁹  hate knowledge?

1:23 If only ¹¹⁰  you will respond ¹¹¹  to my rebuke, ¹¹² 

then ¹¹³  I will pour ¹¹⁴  out my thoughts ¹¹⁵  to you

and ¹¹⁶  I will make ¹¹⁷  my words known to you.

1:24 However, ¹¹⁸  because ¹¹⁹  I called but you refused to listen, ¹²⁰ 

because ¹²¹  I stretched out my hand ¹²²  but no one paid attention,

1:25 because ¹²³  you neglected ¹²⁴  all my advice,

and did not comply ¹²⁵  with my rebuke,

1:26 so ¹²⁶  I myself will laugh ¹²⁷  when disaster strikes you, ¹²⁸ 

I will mock when what you dread ¹²⁹  comes,

1:27 when what you dread ¹³⁰  comes like a whirlwind, ¹³¹ 

and disaster strikes you ¹³²  like a devastating storm, ¹³³ 

when distressing trouble ¹³⁴  comes on you.

1:28 Then they will call to me, but I will not answer;

they will diligently seek ¹³⁵  me, but they will not find me.

1:29 Because ¹³⁶  they hated moral knowledge, ¹³⁷ 

and did not choose to fear the Lord, ¹³⁸ 

1:30 they did not comply with my advice,

they spurned ¹³⁹  all my rebuke.

1:31 Therefore ¹⁴⁰  they will eat from the fruit ¹⁴¹  of their way, ¹⁴² 

and they will be stuffed full ¹⁴³  of their own counsel.

1:32 For the waywardness ¹⁴⁴  of the

simpletons will kill ¹⁴⁵  them,

and the careless ease ¹⁴⁶  of fools will destroy them.

1:33 But the one who listens ¹⁴⁷  to me will live in security, ¹⁴⁸ 

and will be at ease ¹⁴⁹  from the dread of harm.

2:1 My child, ¹⁵¹  if ¹⁵²  you receive my words,

and store up ¹⁵³  my commands within you,

2:2 by making ¹⁵⁴  your ear ¹⁵⁵  attentive to wisdom,

and ¹⁵⁶  by turning ¹⁵⁷  your heart ¹⁵⁸  to understanding,

2:3 indeed, if ¹⁵⁹  you call out for ¹⁶⁰  discernment ¹⁶¹  –

raise your voice ¹⁶²  for understanding –

2:4 if ¹⁶³  you seek ¹⁶⁴  it like silver, ¹⁶⁵ 

and search for it ¹⁶⁶  like hidden treasure,

2:5 then you will understand ¹⁶⁷  how to fear the Lord, ¹⁶⁸ 

and you will discover ¹⁶⁹  knowledge ¹⁷⁰  about God. ¹⁷¹ 

2:6 For ¹⁷²  the Lord gives ¹⁷³  wisdom,

and from his mouth ¹⁷⁴  comes ¹⁷⁵  knowledge and understanding.

2:7 He stores up ¹⁷⁶  effective counsel ¹⁷⁷  for the upright, ¹⁷⁸ 

and is like ¹⁷⁹  a shield ¹⁸⁰  for those who live ¹⁸¹  with integrity, ¹⁸² 

2:8 to guard ¹⁸³  the paths of the righteous ¹⁸⁴ 

and to protect ¹⁸⁵  the way of his pious ones. ¹⁸⁶ 

2:9 Then you will understand ¹⁸⁷  righteousness and justice

and equity – every ¹⁸⁸  good ¹⁸⁹  way. ¹⁹⁰ 

2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart, ¹⁹¹ 

and moral knowledge ¹⁹²  will be attractive ¹⁹³  to you. ¹⁹⁴ 

2:11 Discretion ¹⁹⁵  will protect you, ¹⁹⁶ 

understanding will guard you,

2:12 to deliver ¹⁹⁷  you from the way of the wicked, ¹⁹⁸ 

from those ¹⁹⁹  speaking perversity, ²⁰⁰ 

2:13 who leave ²⁰¹  the upright ²⁰²  paths

to walk on the dark ²⁰³  ways,

2:14 who delight ²⁰⁴  in doing ²⁰⁵  evil, ²⁰⁶ 

they rejoice in perverse evil; ²⁰⁷ 

2:15 whose paths ²⁰⁸  are morally crooked, ²⁰⁹ 

and who are devious ²¹⁰  in their ways;

2:16 to deliver you ²¹¹  from the adulteress, ²¹² 

from the sexually loose woman ²¹³  who speaks flattering ²¹⁴  words; ²¹⁵ 

2:17 who leaves ²¹⁶  the husband ²¹⁷  from her younger days, ²¹⁸ 

and forgets her marriage covenant ²¹⁹  made before God. ²²⁰ 

2:18 For her house ²²¹  sinks ²²²  down to death,

and her paths lead ²²³  to the place of the departed spirits. ²²⁴ 

2:19 None who go in to her will return, ²²⁵ 

nor will they reach the paths of life. ²²⁶ 

2:20 So ²²⁷  you will walk in the way of good people, ²²⁸ 

and will keep on the paths of the righteous. ²²⁹ 

2:21 For the upright will reside in the land,

and those with integrity ²³⁰  will remain in it,

2:22 but the wicked ²³¹  will be removed ²³²  from the land,

and the treacherous ²³³  will be torn away ²³⁴  from it.

3:1 My child, ²³⁶  do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep ²³⁷  my commandments,

3:2 for they will provide ²³⁸  a long and full life, ²³⁹ 

and they will add well-being ²⁴⁰  to you.

3:3 Do not let truth and mercy ²⁴¹  leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart. ²⁴² 

3:4 Then you will find ²⁴³  favor and good understanding, ²⁴⁴ 

in the sight of God and people. ²⁴⁵ 

3:5 Trust ²⁴⁶  in the Lord with all your heart, ²⁴⁷ 

and do not rely ²⁴⁸  on your own understanding. ²⁴⁹ 

3:6 Acknowledge ²⁵⁰  him in all your ways, ²⁵¹ 

and he will make your paths straight. ²⁵² 

3:7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; ²⁵³ 

fear the Lord and turn away from evil. ²⁵⁴ 

3:8 This will bring ²⁵⁵  healing to your body, ²⁵⁶ 

and refreshment ²⁵⁷  to your inner self. ²⁵⁸ 

3:9 Honor ²⁵⁹  the Lord from your wealth

and from the first fruits of all your crops; ²⁶⁰ 

3:10 then your barns will be filled completely, ²⁶¹ 

and your vats ²⁶²  will overflow ²⁶³  with new wine.

3:11 My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord, ²⁶⁴ 

and do not loathe ²⁶⁵  his rebuke.

3:12 For the Lord disciplines ²⁶⁶  those he loves,

just as a father ²⁶⁷  disciplines ²⁶⁸  the son in whom he delights.

3:13 Blessed ²⁶⁹  is the one ²⁷⁰  who finds ²⁷¹  wisdom,

and the one who obtains ²⁷²  understanding.

3:14 For her ²⁷³  benefit ²⁷⁴  is more profitable ²⁷⁵  than silver,

and her ²⁷⁶  gain ²⁷⁷  is better ²⁷⁸  than gold.

3:15 She is more precious than rubies,

and none of the things ²⁷⁹  you desire ²⁸⁰  can compare ²⁸¹  with her. ²⁸² 

3:16 Long life ²⁸³  is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

3:17 Her ways are very pleasant, ²⁸⁴ 

and all her paths are peaceful.

3:18 She is like ²⁸⁵  a tree of life ²⁸⁶  to those who obtain her, ²⁸⁷ 

and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed. ²⁸⁸ 

3:19 By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; ²⁸⁹ 

he established the heavens by understanding. ²⁹⁰ 

3:20 By his knowledge the primordial sea ²⁹¹  was broken open, ²⁹² 

and the clouds drip down dew. ²⁹³ 

3:21 My child, do not let them ²⁹⁴  escape from your sight;

safeguard sound wisdom and discretion. ²⁹⁵ 

3:22 So ²⁹⁶  they will give ²⁹⁷  life to you, ²⁹⁸ 

and grace to adorn ²⁹⁹  your neck. ³⁰⁰ 

3:23 Then you will walk on your way ³⁰¹  with security,

and you ³⁰²  will not stumble. ³⁰³ 

3:24 When ³⁰⁴  you lie down you will not be filled with fear; ³⁰⁵ 

when ³⁰⁶  you lie down your sleep will be pleasant. ³⁰⁷ 

3:25 You will not be afraid ³⁰⁸  of sudden ³⁰⁹  disaster, ³¹⁰ 

or when destruction overtakes ³¹¹  the wicked; ³¹² 

3:26 for the Lord will be ³¹³  the source of your confidence, ³¹⁴ 

and he will guard your foot ³¹⁵  from being caught in a trap. ³¹⁶ 

3:27 Do not withhold good from those who need it, ³¹⁷ 

when ³¹⁸  you ³¹⁹  have the ability ³²⁰  to help. ³²¹ 

3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow

and I will give it,” when ³²²  you have it with you at the time. ³²³ 

3:29 Do not plot ³²⁴  evil against your neighbor

when ³²⁵  he dwells by you unsuspectingly.

3:30 Do not accuse ³²⁶  anyone ³²⁷  without legitimate cause, ³²⁸ 

if he has not treated you wrongly.

3:31 Do not envy a violent man, ³²⁹ 

and do not choose to imitate ³³⁰  any of his ways;

3:32 for one who goes astray ³³¹  is an abomination ³³²  to the Lord,

but he reveals ³³³  his intimate counsel ³³⁴  to the upright.

3:33 The Lord’s curse ³³⁵  is on the household ³³⁶  of the wicked, ³³⁷ 

but he blesses ³³⁸  the home ³³⁹  of the righteous. ³⁴⁰ 

3:34 Although ³⁴¹  he is scornful to arrogant scoffers, ³⁴² 

yet ³⁴³  he shows favor to the humble. ³⁴⁴ 

3:35 The wise inherit honor,

but he holds fools up ³⁴⁵  to public contempt. ³⁴⁶ 

4:1 Listen, children, ³⁴⁸  to a father’s instruction, ³⁴⁹ 

and pay attention so that ³⁵⁰  you may gain ³⁵¹  discernment.

4:2 Because I give ³⁵²  you good instruction, ³⁵³ 

do not forsake my teaching.

4:3 When I was a son to my father, ³⁵⁴ 

a tender only child ³⁵⁵  before my mother,

4:4 he taught me, and he said to me:

“Let your heart lay hold of my words;

keep my commands so that ³⁵⁶  you will live.

4:5 Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding;

do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. ³⁵⁷ 

4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, ³⁵⁸  and she will protect you;

love her, and she will guard you.

4:7 Wisdom is supreme ³⁵⁹  – so ³⁶⁰  acquire wisdom,

and whatever you acquire, ³⁶¹  acquire understanding! ³⁶² 

4:8 Esteem her highly ³⁶³  and she will exalt you;

she will honor you if you embrace her.

4:9 She will place a fair ³⁶⁴  garland on your head;

she will bestow ³⁶⁵  a beautiful crown ³⁶⁶  on you.”

4:10 Listen, my child, ³⁶⁷  and accept my words,

so that ³⁶⁸  the years of your life will be many. ³⁶⁹ 

4:11 I will guide you ³⁷⁰  in the way of wisdom

and I will lead you in upright paths. ³⁷¹ 

4:12 When you walk, your steps ³⁷²  will not be hampered, ³⁷³ 

and when you run, ³⁷⁴  you will not stumble.

4:13 Hold on to instruction, ³⁷⁵  do not let it go;

protect it, ³⁷⁶  because it is your life.

4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked

or walk ³⁷⁷  in the way of those who are evil.

4:15 Avoid it, do not go on it;

turn away from it, and go on. ³⁷⁸ 

4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; ³⁷⁹ 

they are robbed of sleep ³⁸⁰  until they make someone stumble. ³⁸¹ 

4:17 For they eat bread ³⁸²  gained from wickedness ³⁸³ 

and drink wine obtained from violence. ³⁸⁴ 

4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, ³⁸⁵ 

growing brighter and brighter ³⁸⁶  until full day. ³⁸⁷ 

4:19 The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; ³⁸⁸ 

they do not know what causes them to stumble. ³⁸⁹ 

4:20 My child, pay attention to my words;

listen attentively ³⁹⁰  to my sayings.

4:21 Do not let them depart ³⁹¹  from your sight,

guard ³⁹²  them within your heart; ³⁹³ 

4:22 for they are life to those who find them

and healing to one’s entire body. ³⁹⁴ 

4:23 Guard your heart with all vigilance, ³⁹⁵ 

for from it are the sources ³⁹⁶  of life.

4:24 Remove perverse speech ³⁹⁷  from your mouth; ³⁹⁸ 

keep devious talk far from your lips. ³⁹⁹ 

4:25 Let your eyes look directly ⁴⁰⁰  in front of you

and let your gaze ⁴⁰¹  look straight before you.

4:26 Make the path for your feet ⁴⁰²  level, ⁴⁰³ 

so that ⁴⁰⁴  all your ways may be established. ⁴⁰⁵ 

4:27 Do not turn ⁴⁰⁶  to the right or to the left;

turn yourself ⁴⁰⁷  away from evil. ⁴⁰⁸ 

5:1 My child, ⁴¹⁰  be attentive to my wisdom,

pay close attention ⁴¹¹  to my understanding,

5:2 in order to safeguard ⁴¹²  discretion, ⁴¹³ 

and that your lips may guard knowledge.

5:3 For the lips ⁴¹⁴  of the adulterous woman drip honey,

and her seductive words ⁴¹⁵  are smoother than olive oil,

5:4 but in the end ⁴¹⁶  she is bitter ⁴¹⁷  as wormwood, ⁴¹⁸ 

sharp as a two-edged ⁴¹⁹  sword.

5:5 Her feet go down to death;

her steps lead straight to the grave. ⁴²⁰ 

5:6 Lest ⁴²¹  she should make level the path leading to life, ⁴²² 

her paths are unstable ⁴²³  but she does not know it. ⁴²⁴ 

5:7 So now, children, ⁴²⁵  listen to me;

do not turn aside from the words I speak. ⁴²⁶ 

5:8 Keep yourself ⁴²⁷  far ⁴²⁸  from her,

and do not go near the door of her house,

5:9 lest you give your vigor ⁴²⁹  to others

and your years to a cruel person,

5:10 lest strangers devour ⁴³⁰  your strength, ⁴³¹ 

and your labor ⁴³²  benefit ⁴³³  another man’s house.

5:11 And at the end of your life ⁴³⁴  you will groan ⁴³⁵ 

when your flesh and your body are wasted away. ⁴³⁶ 

5:12 And you will say, “How I hated discipline!

My heart spurned reproof!

5:13 For ⁴³⁷  I did not obey my teachers ⁴³⁸ 

and I did not heed ⁴³⁹  my instructors. ⁴⁴⁰ 

5:14 I almost ⁴⁴¹  came to complete ruin ⁴⁴² 

in the midst of the whole congregation!” ⁴⁴³ 

5:15 Drink water from your own cistern

and running water from your own well. ⁴⁴⁴ 

5:16 Should your springs be dispersed ⁴⁴⁵  outside,

your streams of water in the wide plazas?

5:17 Let them be for yourself ⁴⁴⁶  alone,

and not for strangers with you. ⁴⁴⁷ 

5:18 May your fountain be blessed, ⁴⁴⁸ 

and may you rejoice ⁴⁴⁹  in your young wife ⁴⁵⁰  –

5:19 a loving doe, ⁴⁵¹  a graceful deer;

may her breasts satisfy you at all times,

may you be captivated ⁴⁵²  by her love always.

5:20 But why should you be captivated, ⁴⁵³  my son, by an adulteress,

and embrace the bosom of a different woman? ⁴⁵⁴ 

5:21 For the ways of a person ⁴⁵⁵  are in front of the Lord’s eyes,

and the Lord ⁴⁵⁶  weighs ⁴⁵⁷  all that person’s ⁴⁵⁸  paths.

5:22 The wicked ⁴⁵⁹  will be captured by his ⁴⁶⁰  own iniquities, ⁴⁶¹ 

and he will be held ⁴⁶²  by the cords of his own sin. ⁴⁶³ 

5:23 He will die because ⁴⁶⁴  there was no discipline;

because of the greatness of his folly ⁴⁶⁵  he will reel. ⁴⁶⁶ 

6:1 My child, ⁴⁶⁸  if you have made a pledge ⁴⁶⁹  for your neighbor,

and ⁴⁷⁰  have become a guarantor ⁴⁷¹  for a stranger, ⁴⁷² 

6:2 if ⁴⁷³  you have been ensnared ⁴⁷⁴  by the words you have uttered, ⁴⁷⁵ 

and have been caught by the words you have spoken,

6:3 then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, ⁴⁷⁶ 

because you have fallen into your neighbor’s power: ⁴⁷⁷ 

go, humble yourself, ⁴⁷⁸ 

and appeal firmly ⁴⁷⁹  to your neighbor.

6:4 Permit no sleep to your eyes ⁴⁸⁰ 

or slumber to your eyelids.

6:5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare, ⁴⁸¹ 

and like a bird from the trap ⁴⁸²  of the fowler.

6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; ⁴⁸³ 

observe its ways and be wise!

6:7 It has no commander,

overseer, or ⁴⁸⁴  ruler,

6:8 yet it prepares its food in the summer;

it gathers at the harvest what it will eat. ⁴⁸⁵ 

6:9 How long, you sluggard, will you lie there?

When will you rise from your sleep? ⁴⁸⁶ 

6:10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to relax, ⁴⁸⁷ 

6:11 and your poverty will come like a robber, ⁴⁸⁸ 

and your need like an armed man. ⁴⁸⁹ 

6:12 A worthless and wicked person ⁴⁹⁰ 

walks around saying perverse ⁴⁹¹  things; ⁴⁹² 

6:13 he winks with his eyes,

signals with his feet,

and points with his fingers; ⁴⁹³ 

6:14 he plots evil with perverse thoughts ⁴⁹⁴  in his heart,

he spreads contention ⁴⁹⁵  at all times.

6:15 Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly;

in an instant ⁴⁹⁶  he will be broken, and there will be no remedy.

6:16 There are six things that the Lord hates,

even ⁴⁹⁷  seven ⁴⁹⁸  things that are an abomination to him: ⁴⁹⁹ 

6:17 haughty eyes, ⁵⁰⁰  a lying tongue, ⁵⁰¹ 

and hands that shed innocent blood, ⁵⁰² 

6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans, ⁵⁰³ 

feet that are swift to run ⁵⁰⁴  to evil,

6:19 a false witness who pours out lies, ⁵⁰⁵ 

and a person who spreads discord ⁵⁰⁶  among family members. ⁵⁰⁷ 

6:20 My child, guard the commands of your father

and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

6:21 Bind them ⁵⁰⁸  on your heart continually;

fasten them around your neck.

6:22 When you walk about, ⁵⁰⁹  they ⁵¹⁰  will guide you;

when you lie down, they will watch over you;

when you wake up, ⁵¹¹  they will talk ⁵¹²  to you.

6:23 For the commandments ⁵¹³  are like ⁵¹⁴  a lamp, ⁵¹⁵ 

instruction is like a light,

and rebukes of discipline are like ⁵¹⁶  the road leading to life, ⁵¹⁷ 

6:24 by keeping ⁵¹⁸  you from the evil woman, ⁵¹⁹ 

from the smooth tongue of ⁵²⁰  the loose woman. ⁵²¹ 

6:25 Do not lust ⁵²²  in your heart for her beauty,

and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes; ⁵²³ 

6:26 for on account ⁵²⁴  of a prostitute one is brought down to a loaf of bread,

but the wife of another man ⁵²⁵  preys on your precious life. ⁵²⁶ 

6:27 Can a man hold ⁵²⁷  fire ⁵²⁸  against his chest ⁵²⁹ 

without ⁵³⁰  burning his clothes?

6:28 Can ⁵³¹  a man walk on hot coals

without scorching his feet?

6:29 So it is with ⁵³²  the one who has sex with ⁵³³  his neighbor’s wife;

no one ⁵³⁴  who touches ⁵³⁵  her will escape ⁵³⁶  punishment. ⁵³⁷ 

6:30 People ⁵³⁸  do not despise a thief when he steals

to fulfill his need ⁵³⁹  when he is hungry.

6:31 Yet ⁵⁴⁰  if he is caught ⁵⁴¹  he must repay ⁵⁴²  seven times over,

he might even have to give ⁵⁴³  all the wealth of his house.

6:32 A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks wisdom, ⁵⁴⁴ 

whoever does it destroys his own life. ⁵⁴⁵ 

6:33 He will be beaten and despised, ⁵⁴⁶ 

and his reproach will not be wiped away; ⁵⁴⁷ 

6:34 for jealousy kindles ⁵⁴⁸  a husband’s ⁵⁴⁹  rage,

and he will not show mercy ⁵⁵⁰  when he takes revenge.

6:35 He will not consider ⁵⁵¹  any compensation; ⁵⁵² 

he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation. ⁵⁵³ 

7:1 My child, ⁵⁵⁵  keep my words

and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. ⁵⁵⁶ 

7:2 Keep my commands ⁵⁵⁷  so that you may live, ⁵⁵⁸ 

and obey ⁵⁵⁹  my instruction as your most prized possession. ⁵⁶⁰ 

7:3 Bind them on your forearm; ⁵⁶¹ 

write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁵⁶² 

7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” ⁵⁶³ 

and call understanding a close relative,

7:5 so that they may keep you ⁵⁶⁴  from the adulterous ⁵⁶⁵  woman,

from the loose woman ⁵⁶⁶  who flatters you ⁵⁶⁷  with her words. ⁵⁶⁸ 

7:6 For at the window of my house

through my window lattice I looked out

7:7 and I saw among the naive –

I discerned among the youths ⁵⁶⁹  –

a young man ⁵⁷⁰  who lacked wisdom. ⁵⁷¹ 

7:8 He was passing by the street near her corner,

making his way ⁵⁷²  along the road to her house ⁵⁷³ 

7:9 in the twilight, the evening, ⁵⁷⁴ 

in the dark of the night. ⁵⁷⁵ 

7:10 Suddenly ⁵⁷⁶  a woman came out to meet him!

She was dressed like a prostitute ⁵⁷⁷  and with secret intent. ⁵⁷⁸ 

7:11 (She is loud and rebellious,

she ⁵⁷⁹  does not remain ⁵⁸⁰  at home –

7:12 at one time outside, at another ⁵⁸¹  in the wide plazas,

and by every corner she lies in wait.)

7:13 So she grabbed him and kissed him,

and with a bold expression ⁵⁸²  she said to him,

7:14 “I have ⁵⁸³  fresh meat at home; ⁵⁸⁴ 

today I have fulfilled my vows!

7:15 That is why I came out to meet you,

to look for you, ⁵⁸⁵  and I found you!

7:16 I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, ⁵⁸⁶ 

with richly colored fabric ⁵⁸⁷  from Egypt.

7:17 I have perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

7:18 Come, let’s drink deeply ⁵⁸⁸  of lovemaking ⁵⁸⁹  until morning,

let’s delight ourselves ⁵⁹⁰  with sexual intercourse. ⁵⁹¹ 

7:19 For my husband ⁵⁹²  is not at home; ⁵⁹³ 

he has gone on a journey of some distance.

7:20 He has taken a bag of money with him; ⁵⁹⁴ 

he will not return until ⁵⁹⁵  the end of the month.” ⁵⁹⁶ 

7:21 She persuaded him ⁵⁹⁷  with persuasive words; ⁵⁹⁸ 

with her smooth talk ⁵⁹⁹  she compelled him. ⁶⁰⁰ 

7:22 Suddenly he went ⁶⁰¹  after her

like an ox that goes to the slaughter,

like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare ⁶⁰² 

7:23 till an arrow pierces his liver ⁶⁰³  –

like a bird hurrying into a trap,

and he does not know that it will cost him his life. ⁶⁰⁴ 

7:24 So now, sons, ⁶⁰⁵  listen to me,

and pay attention to the words I speak. ⁶⁰⁶ 

7:25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways –

do not wander into her pathways;

7:26 for she has brought down ⁶⁰⁷  many fatally wounded,

and all those she has slain are many. ⁶⁰⁸ 

7:27 Her house is the way to the grave, ⁶⁰⁹ 

going down ⁶¹⁰  to the chambers ⁶¹¹  of death.

8:1 Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

8:2 At the top ⁶¹³  of the elevated places along the way,

at the intersection ⁶¹⁴  of the paths she takes her stand;

8:3 beside the gates opening into ⁶¹⁵  the city,

at the entrance of the doorways she cries out: ⁶¹⁶ 

8:4 “To you, O people, ⁶¹⁷  I call out,

and my voice calls ⁶¹⁸  to all mankind. ⁶¹⁹ 

8:5 You who are naive, discern ⁶²⁰  wisdom!

And you fools, understand discernment! ⁶²¹ 

8:6 Listen, for I will speak excellent things, ⁶²² 

and my lips will utter ⁶²³  what is right.

8:7 For my mouth ⁶²⁴  speaks truth, ⁶²⁵ 

and my lips ⁶²⁶  hate wickedness. ⁶²⁷ 

8:8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; ⁶²⁸ 

there is nothing in them twisted ⁶²⁹  or crooked.

8:9 All of them are clear ⁶³⁰  to the discerning

and upright to those who find knowledge.

8:10 Receive my instruction ⁶³¹  rather than ⁶³²  silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold.

8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies,

and desirable things cannot be compared ⁶³³  to her.

8:12 “I, wisdom, live with prudence, ⁶³⁴ 

and I find ⁶³⁵  knowledge and discretion.

8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate ⁶³⁶  evil;

I hate arrogant pride ⁶³⁷  and the evil way

and perverse utterances. ⁶³⁸ 

8:14 Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; ⁶³⁹ 

I possess understanding and might.

8:15 Kings reign by means of me,

and potentates ⁶⁴⁰  decree ⁶⁴¹  righteousness;

8:16 by me princes rule,

as well as nobles and ⁶⁴²  all righteous judges. ⁶⁴³ 

8:17 I love ⁶⁴⁴  those who love me,

and those who seek me find me.

8:18 Riches and honor are with me,

long-lasting wealth and righteousness.

8:19 My fruit is better than the purest gold, ⁶⁴⁵ 

and what I produce ⁶⁴⁶  is better than choice silver.

8:20 I walk in the path of righteousness,

in the pathway of justice,

8:21 that I may cause ⁶⁴⁷  those who love me to inherit wealth,

and that I may fill ⁶⁴⁸  their treasuries. ⁶⁴⁹ 

8:22 The Lord created ⁶⁵⁰  me as the beginning ⁶⁵¹  of his works, ⁶⁵² 

before his deeds of long ago.

8:23 From eternity I was appointed, ⁶⁵³ 

from the beginning, from before the world existed. ⁶⁵⁴ 

8:24 When there were no deep oceans ⁶⁵⁵  I was born, ⁶⁵⁶ 

when there were no springs overflowing ⁶⁵⁷  with water;

8:25 before the mountains were set in place –

before the hills – I was born,

8:26 before he made the earth and its fields, ⁶⁵⁸ 

or the beginning ⁶⁵⁹  of the dust of the world.

8:27 When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he marked out the horizon ⁶⁶⁰  over the face of the deep,

8:28 when he established the clouds above,

when the fountains of the deep grew strong, ⁶⁶¹ 

8:29 when he gave the sea his decree

that the waters should not pass over his command, ⁶⁶² 

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

8:30 then I was ⁶⁶³  beside him as a master craftsman, ⁶⁶⁴ 

and I was his delight ⁶⁶⁵  day by day,

rejoicing before him at all times,

8:31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, ⁶⁶⁶ 

and delighting ⁶⁶⁷  in its people. ⁶⁶⁸ 

8:32 “So now, children, ⁶⁶⁹  listen to me;

blessed are those who keep my ways.

8:33 Listen to my instruction ⁶⁷⁰  so that you may be wise, ⁶⁷¹ 

and do not neglect it.

8:34 Blessed is the one ⁶⁷²  who listens to me,

watching ⁶⁷³  at my doors day by day,

waiting ⁶⁷⁴  beside my doorway. ⁶⁷⁵ 

8:35 For the one who finds me finds ⁶⁷⁶  life

and receives ⁶⁷⁷  favor from the Lord.

8:36 But the one who does not find me ⁶⁷⁸  brings harm ⁶⁷⁹  to himself; ⁶⁸⁰ 

all who hate me ⁶⁸¹  love death.”

9:1 Wisdom has built her house;

she has carved out its seven pillars. ⁶⁸³ 

9:2 She has prepared her meat, ⁶⁸⁴  she has mixed her wine;

she also has arranged her table. ⁶⁸⁵ 

9:3 She has sent out her female servants;

she calls out on the highest places ⁶⁸⁶  of the city.

9:4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”

she says ⁶⁸⁷  to those ⁶⁸⁸  who lack understanding. ⁶⁸⁹ 

9:5 “Come, eat ⁶⁹⁰  some of my food,

and drink some of the wine I have mixed. ⁶⁹¹ 

9:6 Abandon your foolish ways ⁶⁹²  so that you may live, ⁶⁹³ 

and proceed ⁶⁹⁴  in the way of understanding.”

9:7 Whoever corrects ⁶⁹⁵  a mocker is asking for ⁶⁹⁶  insult; ⁶⁹⁷ 

whoever reproves a wicked person receives ⁶⁹⁸  abuse.

9:8 Do not reprove ⁶⁹⁹  a mocker or ⁷⁰⁰  he will hate you;

reprove a wise person and he will love you.

9:9 Give instruction ⁷⁰¹  to a wise person, ⁷⁰²  and he will become wiser still;

teach ⁷⁰³  a righteous person and he will add to his ⁷⁰⁴  learning.

9:10 The beginning ⁷⁰⁵  of wisdom is to fear the Lord, ⁷⁰⁶ 

and acknowledging ⁷⁰⁷  the Holy One ⁷⁰⁸  is understanding.

9:11 For because ⁷⁰⁹  of me your days will be many,

and years will be added ⁷¹⁰  to your life.

9:12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, ⁷¹¹ 

but if you are a mocker, ⁷¹²  you alone must ⁷¹³  bear it. ⁷¹⁴ 

9:13 The woman called Folly ⁷¹⁵  is brash, ⁷¹⁶ 

she is naive ⁷¹⁷  and does not know ⁷¹⁸  anything. ⁷¹⁹ 

9:14 So she sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

9:15 calling out ⁷²⁰  to those who are passing by her ⁷²¹  in the way, ⁷²² 

who go straight ⁷²³  on their way.

9:16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,”

she says to those who lack understanding. ⁷²⁴ 

9:17 “Stolen waters ⁷²⁵  are sweet,

and food obtained in secret ⁷²⁶  is pleasant!”

9:18 But they do not realize ⁷²⁷  that the dead ⁷²⁸  are there,

that her guests are in the depths of the grave. ⁷²⁹