14 Where there is (A)no guidance, a people falls,
    (B)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

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14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(A)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(B)

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(A)Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, (B)not slanderers (C)or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, (D)pure, (E)working at home, kind, and (F)submissive to their own husbands, (G)that the word of God may not be reviled.

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Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers(A) or addicted to much wine,(B) but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women(C) to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled(D) and pure, to be busy at home,(E) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,(F) so that no one will malign the word of God.(G)

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The Enticement of Sinners

(A)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
for they are (B)a graceful garland for your head
    and (C)pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners (D)entice you,
    do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, (E)let us lie in wait for blood;
    (F)let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us (G)swallow them alive,
    and whole, like (H)those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
    we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, (I)do not walk in the way with them;
    (J)hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for (K)their feet run to evil,
    and they make haste to shed blood.
17 (L)For in vain is a net spread
    in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men (M)lie in wait for their own blood;
    they (N)set an ambush for their own lives.
19 (O)Such are the ways of everyone who is (P)greedy for unjust gain;
    (Q)it takes away the life of its possessors.

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Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(D)

10 My son, if sinful men entice(E) you,
    do not give in(F) to them.(G)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait(H) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow(I) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(J)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot(K)”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot(L) on their paths;(M)
16 for their feet rush into evil,(N)
    they are swift to shed blood.(O)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait(P) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!(Q)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.(R)

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Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

(A)My son, do not forget my teaching,
    (B)but let your heart keep my commandments,
for (C)length of days and years of life
    and (D)peace they will add to you.

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Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(A) do not forget my teaching,(B)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(C)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(D)

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