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Proverbs 6:20-8:36
English Standard Version
Proverbs 6:20-8:36
English Standard Version
Warnings Against Adultery
20 (A)My son, keep your father's commandment,
(B)and forsake not your mother's teaching.
21 (C)Bind them on your heart always;
(D)tie them around your neck.
22 (E)When you walk, they[a] will lead you;
(F)when you lie down, they will (G)watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is (H)a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the (I)reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24 to preserve you from the evil woman,[b]
from the smooth tongue of (J)the adulteress.[c]
25 (K)Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
and do not let her capture you with her (L)eyelashes;
26 for (M)the price of a prostitute is only (N)a loaf of bread,[d]
but a married woman[e] (O)hunts down a precious life.
27 Can a man carry (P)fire next to his (Q)chest
and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one (R)walk on hot coals
and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife;
none who touches her (S)will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
to (T)satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
31 but (U)if he is caught, he will pay (V)sevenfold;
he will give all the goods of his house.
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense;
he who does it destroys himself.
33 He will get wounds and dishonor,
and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For (W)jealousy makes a man furious,
and he will not spare when (X)he takes revenge.
35 He will accept no compensation;
he will refuse though you multiply gifts.
Warning Against the Adulteress
7 (Y)My son, keep my words
and (Z)treasure up my commandments with you;
2 (AA)keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as (AB)the apple of your eye;
3 (AC)bind them on your fingers;
(AD)write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from (AE)the forbidden[f] woman,
from (AF)the adulteress[g] with her smooth words.
6 For at (AG)the window of my house
I have looked out through my lattice,
7 and I have seen among (AH)the simple,
I have perceived among the youths,
a young man (AI)lacking sense,
8 passing along the street (AJ)near her corner,
taking the road to her house
9 in (AK)the twilight, in the evening,
at (AL)the time of night and darkness.
10 And behold, the woman meets him,
(AM)dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.[h]
11 She is (AN)loud and (AO)wayward;
(AP)her feet do not stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the market,
and (AQ)at every corner she (AR)lies in wait.
13 She seizes him and kisses him,
and with (AS)bold face she says to him,
14 “I had to (AT)offer sacrifices,[i]
and today I have (AU)paid my vows;
15 so now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch with (AV)coverings,
colored linens from (AW)Egyptian linen;
17 I have perfumed my bed with (AX)myrrh,
aloes, and (AY)cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For (AZ)my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
20 he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”
21 With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with (BA)her smooth talk she compels him.
22 All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast[j]
23 till an arrow pierces its liver;
as (BB)a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24 And (BC)now, O sons, listen to me,
and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths,
26 for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are (BD)a mighty throng.
27 Her house is (BE)the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.
The Blessings of Wisdom
8 Does not (BF)wisdom call?
Does not (BG)understanding raise her voice?
2 On (BH)the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside (BI)the gates in front of (BJ)the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O (BK)men, I call,
and my cry is to (BL)the children of man.
5 O (BM)simple ones, learn (BN)prudence;
O (BO)fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak (BP)noble things,
and from my lips will come (BQ)what is right,
7 for my (BR)mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing (BS)twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all (BT)straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 (BU)Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 (BV)for wisdom is better than jewels,
and (BW)all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and (BX)discretion.
13 (BY)The fear of the Lord is (BZ)hatred of evil.
(CA)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and (CB)perverted speech I hate.
14 I have (CC)counsel and (CD)sound wisdom;
I have insight; (CE)I have strength.
15 By me (CF)kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.[k]
17 (CG)I love those who love me,
and (CH)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (CI)Riches and honor are with me,
(CJ)enduring wealth and (CK)righteousness.
19 My fruit is (CL)better than (CM)gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than (CN)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
22 (CO)“The Lord (CP)possessed[l] me at the beginning of his work,[m]
the first of his acts (CQ)of old.
23 Ages ago I was (CR)set up,
at the first, (CS)before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no (CT)depths I was (CU)brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains (CV)had been shaped,
(CW)before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he (CX)established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew (CY)a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he (CZ)made firm the skies above,
when he established[n] the fountains of the deep,
29 when he (DA)assigned to the sea its (DB)limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out (DC)the foundations of the earth,
30 then (DD)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[o] (DE)delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 (DF)rejoicing in his (DG)inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
32 “And now, (DH)O sons, listen to me:
(DI)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (DJ)Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 (DK)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For (DL)whoever finds me (DM)finds life
and (DN)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (DO)injures himself;
all who (DP)hate me (DQ)love death.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:22 Hebrew it; three times in this verse
- Proverbs 6:24 Revocalization (compare Septuagint) yields from the wife of a neighbor
- Proverbs 6:24 Hebrew the foreign woman
- Proverbs 6:26 Or (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate) for a prostitute leaves a man with nothing but a loaf of bread
- Proverbs 6:26 Hebrew a man's wife
- Proverbs 7:5 Hebrew strange
- Proverbs 7:5 Hebrew the foreign woman
- Proverbs 7:10 Hebrew guarded in heart
- Proverbs 7:14 Hebrew peace offerings
- Proverbs 7:22 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac); Hebrew as a chain to discipline a fool
- Proverbs 8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth
- Proverbs 8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created
- Proverbs 8:22 Hebrew way
- Proverbs 8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Proverbs 8:30 Or daily filled with
Proverbs 6:20-8:36
New International Version
Proverbs 6:20-8:36
New International Version
Warning Against Adultery
20 My son,(A) keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(B)
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.(C)
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,(D)
and correction and instruction
are the way to life,(E)
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.(F)
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
but another man’s wife preys on your very life.(G)
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps(H) with another man’s wife;(I)
no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,(J)
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery(K) has no sense;(L)
whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never(M) be wiped away.
34 For jealousy(N) arouses a husband’s fury,(O)
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.(P)
Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
7 My son,(Q) keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;(R)
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(S)
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.(T)
6 At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.(U)
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight,(V) as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is unruly(W) and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)(X)
13 She took hold of him(Y) and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:(Z)
14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering(AA) at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed(AB)
with myrrh,(AC) aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!(AD)
19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.(AE)
22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b](AF)
23 till an arrow pierces(AG) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.(AH)
24 Now then, my sons, listen(AI) to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.(AJ)
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.(AK)
Wisdom’s Call
8 Does not wisdom call out?(AL)
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:(AM)
4 “To you, O people, I call out;(AN)
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple,(AO) gain prudence;(AP)
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[c]
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,(AQ)
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,(AR)
11 for wisdom is more precious(AS) than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.(AT)
12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.(AU)
13 To fear the Lord(AV) is to hate evil;(AW)
I hate(AX) pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.(AY)
15 By me kings reign
and rulers(AZ) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(BA)
and nobles—all who rule on earth.[d]
17 I love those who love me,(BB)
and those who seek me find me.(BC)
18 With me are riches and honor,(BD)
enduring wealth and prosperity.(BE)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(BF)
what I yield surpasses choice silver.(BG)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(BH)
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.(BI)
22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[e][f]
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;(BJ)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(BK)
before the hills, I was given birth,(BL)
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.(BM)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(BN)
when he marked out the horizon(BO) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(BP)
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(BQ)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(BR)
so the waters would not overstep his command,(BS)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(BT)
30 Then I was constantly[g] at his side.(BU)
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.(BV)
32 “Now then, my children, listen(BW) to me;
blessed are(BX) those who keep my ways.(BY)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(BZ) to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(CA) find life(CB)
and receive favor from the Lord.(CC)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(CD)
all who hate me love death.”(CE)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool
- Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
- Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
- Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
- Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
- Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
- Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.