Psalm 119:97-104

New International Version

מ Mem

⁹⁷Oh, how I love your law!^(A)
    I meditate^(B) on it all day long.
⁹⁸Your commands are always with me
    and make me wiser^(C) than my enemies.
⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for I meditate on your statutes.^(D)
¹⁰⁰I have more understanding than the elders,
    for I obey your precepts.^(E)
¹⁰¹I have kept my feet^(F) from every evil path
    so that I might obey your word.^(G)
¹⁰²I have not departed from your laws,^(H)
    for you yourself have taught^(I) me.
¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey^(J) to my mouth!^(K)
¹⁰⁴I gain understanding^(L) from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path.^(M)

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Proverbs 9

New International Version

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

9 Wisdom has built^(A) her house;
    she has set up^[a] its seven pillars.
²She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;^(B)
    she has also set her table.^(C)
³She has sent out her servants, and she calls^(D)
    from the highest point of the city,^(E)
⁴    “Let all who are simple^(F) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense^(G) she says,
⁵    “Come,^(H) eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.^(I)
⁶Leave your simple ways and you will live;^(J)
    walk in the way of insight.”^(K)

⁷Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.^(L)
⁸Do not rebuke mockers^(M) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.^(N)
⁹Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.^(O)

¹⁰The fear of the Lord^(P) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One^(Q) is understanding.^(R)
¹¹For through wisdom^[b] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.^(S)
¹²If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

¹³Folly is an unruly woman;^(T)
    she is simple and knows nothing.^(U)
¹⁴She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,^(V)
¹⁵calling out^(W) to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
¹⁶    “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense^(X) she says,
¹⁷    “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!^(Y)”
¹⁸But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.^(Z)

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Footnotes

Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out
Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me

1 John 2:1-6

New International Version

2 My dear children,^(A) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate^(B) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ²He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,^(C) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.^(D)

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

³We know^(E) that we have come to know him^(F) if we keep his commands.^(G) ⁴Whoever says, “I know him,”^(H) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.^(I) ⁵But if anyone obeys his word,^(J) love for God^[a] is truly made complete in them.^(K) This is how we know^(L) we are in him: ⁶Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.^(M)