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Proverbs 7-9
English Standard Version
Proverbs 7-9
English Standard Version
Warning Against the Adulteress
7 (A)My son, keep my words
and (B)treasure up my commandments with you;
2 (C)keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as (D)the apple of your eye;
3 (E)bind them on your fingers;
(F)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 (G)the forbidden[a] woman,
from (H)the adulteress[b] with her smooth words.
6 For at (I)the window of my house
I have looked out through my lattice,
7 and I have seen among (J)the simple,
I have perceived among the youths,
a young man (K)lacking sense,
8 passing along the street (L)near her corner,
taking the road to her house
9 in (M)the twilight, in the evening,
at (N)the time of night and darkness.
10 And behold, the woman meets him,
(O)dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.[c]
11 She is (P)loud and (Q)wayward;
(R)her feet do not stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the market,
and (S)at every corner she (T)lies in wait.
13 She seizes him and kisses him,
and with (U)bold face she says to him,
14 “I had to (V)offer sacrifices,[d]
and today I have (W)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 (X)coverings,
colored linens from (Y)Egyptian linen;
17 I have perfumed my bed with (Z)myrrh,
aloes, and (AA)cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For (AB)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 (AC)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[e]
23 till an arrow pierces its liver;
as (AD)a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24 And (AE)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 (AF)a mighty throng.
27 Her house is (AG)the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.
The Blessings of Wisdom
8 Does not (AH)wisdom call?
Does not (AI)understanding raise her voice?
2 On (AJ)the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside (AK)the gates in front of (AL)the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O (AM)men, I call,
and my cry is to (AN)the children of man.
5 O (AO)simple ones, learn (AP)prudence;
O (AQ)fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak (AR)noble things,
and from my lips will come (AS)what is right,
7 for my (AT)mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing (AU)twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all (AV)straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
10 (AW)Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 (AX)for wisdom is better than jewels,
and (AY)all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and (AZ)discretion.
13 (BA)The fear of the Lord is (BB)hatred of evil.
(BC)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and (BD)perverted speech I hate.
14 I have (BE)counsel and (BF)sound wisdom;
I have insight; (BG)I have strength.
15 By me (BH)kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.[f]
17 (BI)I love those who love me,
and (BJ)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (BK)Riches and honor are with me,
(BL)enduring wealth and (BM)righteousness.
19 My fruit is (BN)better than (BO)gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than (BP)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 (BQ)“The Lord (BR)possessed[g] me at the beginning of his work,[h]
the first of his acts (BS)of old.
23 Ages ago I was (BT)set up,
at the first, (BU)before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no (BV)depths I was (BW)brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains (BX)had been shaped,
(BY)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 (BZ)established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew (CA)a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he (CB)made firm the skies above,
when he established[i] the fountains of the deep,
29 when he (CC)assigned to the sea its (CD)limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out (CE)the foundations of the earth,
30 then (CF)I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his[j] (CG)delight,
rejoicing before him always,
31 (CH)rejoicing in his (CI)inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
32 “And now, (CJ)O sons, listen to me:
(CK)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (CL)Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 (CM)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For (CN)whoever finds me (CO)finds life
and (CP)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (CQ)injures himself;
all who (CR)hate me (CS)love death.”
The Way of Wisdom
9 (CT)Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her (CU)seven (CV)pillars.
2 She has (CW)slaughtered her beasts; she has (CX)mixed her wine;
she has also (CY)set her table.
3 She has (CZ)sent out her young women to (DA)call
from (DB)the highest places in the town,
4 (DC)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
(DD)To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, (DE)eat of my bread
and (DF)drink of (DG)the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave (DH)your simple ways,[k] and (DI)live,
(DJ)and walk in the way of insight.”
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 (DK)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
(DL)reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction[l] to a wise man, and he will be (DM)still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will (DN)increase in learning.
10 (DO)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and (DP)the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me (DQ)your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 (DR)If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
The Way of Folly
13 (DS)The woman Folly is (DT)loud;
she is seductive[m] and (DU)knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on (DV)the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are (DW)going straight on their way,
16 (DX)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 (DY)“Stolen water is sweet,
and (DZ)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know (EA)that the dead[n] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Footnotes
- 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 9:6 Or Leave the company of the simple
- Proverbs 9:9 Hebrew lacks instruction
- Proverbs 9:13 Or full of simpleness
- Proverbs 9:18 Hebrew Rephaim
Proverbs 7-9
New International Version
Proverbs 7-9
New International Version
Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
7 My son,(A) keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;(B)
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(C)
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.(D)
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.(E)
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight,(F) 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(G) and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)(H)
13 She took hold of him(I) and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:(J)
14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering(K) 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(L)
with myrrh,(M) aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!(N)
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.(O)
22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b](P)
23 till an arrow pierces(Q) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.(R)
24 Now then, my sons, listen(S) to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.(T)
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.(U)
Wisdom’s Call
8 Does not wisdom call out?(V)
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:(W)
4 “To you, O people, I call out;(X)
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple,(Y) gain prudence;(Z)
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,(AA)
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,(AB)
11 for wisdom is more precious(AC) than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.(AD)
12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.(AE)
13 To fear the Lord(AF) is to hate evil;(AG)
I hate(AH) pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.(AI)
15 By me kings reign
and rulers(AJ) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(AK)
and nobles—all who rule on earth.[d]
17 I love those who love me,(AL)
and those who seek me find me.(AM)
18 With me are riches and honor,(AN)
enduring wealth and prosperity.(AO)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(AP)
what I yield surpasses choice silver.(AQ)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(AR)
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.(AS)
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;(AT)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(AU)
before the hills, I was given birth,(AV)
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.(AW)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(AX)
when he marked out the horizon(AY) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(AZ)
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(BA)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(BB)
so the waters would not overstep his command,(BC)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(BD)
30 Then I was constantly[g] at his side.(BE)
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.(BF)
32 “Now then, my children, listen(BG) to me;
blessed are(BH) those who keep my ways.(BI)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(BJ) to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(BK) find life(BL)
and receive favor from the Lord.(BM)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(BN)
all who hate me love death.”(BO)
Invitations of Wisdom and Folly
9 Wisdom has built(BP) her house;
she has set up[h] its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;(BQ)
she has also set her table.(BR)
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls(BS)
from the highest point of the city,(BT)
4 “Let all who are simple(BU) come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(BV) she says,
5 “Come,(BW) eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.(BX)
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;(BY)
walk in the way of insight.”(BZ)
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.(CA)
8 Do not rebuke mockers(CB) or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.(CC)
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.(CD)
10 The fear of the Lord(CE) is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One(CF) is understanding.(CG)
11 For through wisdom[i] your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.(CH)
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
13 Folly is an unruly woman;(CI)
she is simple and knows nothing.(CJ)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,(CK)
15 calling out(CL) 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(CM) she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!(CN)”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(CO)
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
- Proverbs 9:1 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew has hewn out
- Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me
English Standard Version (ESV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.