Proverbs 2:7-22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,(A)
8 guarding the paths of justice
and preserving the way of his faithful ones.(B)
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path,(C)
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 prudence will watch over you,
and understanding will guard you.
12 It will save you from the way of evil,
from those who speak perversely,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,(D)
14 who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,(E)
15 those whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.(F)
16 You will be saved from the loose woman,[a]
from the adulteress[b] with her smooth words,(G)
17 who forsakes the partner of her youth
and forgets her sacred covenant,
18 for her way[c] leads down to death
and her paths to the shades;(H)
19 those who go to her never come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.
20 Therefore walk in the way of the good,
and keep to the paths of the just.
21 For the upright will abide in the land,
and the innocent will remain in it,(I)
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.(J)
Proverbs 2:7-22
New Living Translation
7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
8 He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.
9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
11 Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.
12 Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those whose words are twisted.
13 These men turn from the right way
to walk down dark paths.
14 They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
15 Their actions are crooked,
and their ways are wrong.
16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,
from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.
17 She has abandoned her husband
and ignores the covenant she made before God.
18 Entering her house leads to death;
it is the road to the grave.[a]
19 The man who visits her is doomed.
He will never reach the paths of life.
20 So follow the steps of the good,
and stay on the paths of the righteous.
21 For only the godly will live in the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it.
22 But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted.
Footnotes
- 2:18 Hebrew to the spirits of the dead.
Proverbs 6:20-24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 My child, keep your father’s commandment,
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(A)
21 Bind them upon your heart always;
tie them around your neck.(B)
22 When you walk, they[a] will lead you;
when you lie down, they[b] will watch over you;
and when you awake, they[c] will talk with you.(C)
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,(D)
24 to preserve you from the wife of another,[d]
from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.[e](E)
Proverbs 6:20-24
New Living Translation
20 My son, obey your father’s commands,
and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
21 Keep their words always in your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
When you sleep, they will protect you.
When you wake up, they will advise you.
23 For their command is a lamp
and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
is the way to life.
24 It will keep you from the immoral woman,
from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman.
Proverbs 7:1-5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The False Attractions of Adultery
7 My child, keep my words
and store up my commandments with you;(A)
2 keep my commandments and live;
keep my teachings as the apple[a] of your eye;(B)
3 bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(C)
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
5 that they may keep you from the loose woman,[b]
from the adulteress[c] with her smooth words.(D)
Proverbs 7:1-5
New Living Translation
Another Warning about Immoral Women
7 Follow my advice, my son;
always treasure my commands.
2 Obey my commands and live!
Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.[a]
3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4 Love wisdom like a sister;
make insight a beloved member of your family.
5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman,
from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.
Footnotes
- 7:2 Hebrew as the pupil of your eye.
Proverbs 10:19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but the prudent are restrained in speech.(A)
Proverbs 10:19
New Living Translation
19 Too much talk leads to sin.
Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
Proverbs 14:3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Footnotes
- 14.3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride
Proverbs 14:3
New Living Translation
3 A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him,
but the words of the wise keep them safe.
Proverbs 18:10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.(A)
Proverbs 18:10
New Living Translation
10 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
the godly run to him and are safe.
Proverbs 21:23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
23 To watch over mouth and tongue
is to keep out of trouble.(A)
Proverbs 21:23
New Living Translation
23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.
Proverbs 22:5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
the cautious will keep far from them.(A)
Proverbs 22:5
New Living Translation
5 Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road;
whoever values life will avoid it.
Proverbs 22:24-25
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
24 Make no friends with those given to anger,
and do not associate with hotheads,
25 lest you learn their ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
Proverbs 22:24-25
New Living Translation
24 Don’t befriend angry people
or associate with hot-tempered people,
25 or you will learn to be like them
and endanger your soul.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
