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
Common English Bible
7 He reserves ability for those with integrity.
He is a shield for those who live a blameless life.
8 He protects the paths of justice
and guards the way of those who are loyal to him.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
as well as integrity, every good course.
10 Wisdom will enter your mind,
and knowledge will fill you with delight.
11 Discretion will guard you;
understanding will protect you.
12 Wisdom will rescue you from the evil path,
from people who twist their words.
13 They forsake the way of integrity
and go on obscure paths.
14 They enjoy doing evil,
rejoicing in their twisted evil.
15 Their paths are confused;
they get lost on their way.
16 Wisdom will rescue you from the mysterious woman,
from the foreign woman with her slick words.
17 She leaves behind the partner of her youth;
she even forgets her covenant with God.
18 Her house sinks down to death,
and her paths go down to the shadowy dead.
19 All those who go to her will never return;
they will never again reach the ways of the living.
20 So you should stay on the path of good people,
guarding the road of the righteous.
21 Those who have integrity will dwell in the land;
the innocent will remain in it.
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be ripped up.
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
Common English Bible
Danger of adultery
20 My son, keep your father’s command;
don’t abandon your mother’s instruction.
21 Bind them on your heart for all time;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk around, they will lead you;
when you lie down, they will protect you;
when you awake, they will occupy your attention.
23 The commandment is a lamp and instruction a light;
corrective teaching is the path of life.
24 They guard you from the evil woman,
from the flattering tongue of the foreign 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
Common English Bible
Avoid loose women
7 My son, keep my words;
store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and live,
and my instruction like the pupil of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister”;
call understanding “friend,”
5 so she might guard you against the mysterious woman,
from the foreign woman who flatters you.
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
Common English Bible
19 With lots of words comes wrongdoing,
but the wise restrain their lips.
Proverbs 14:3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Footnotes
- 14.3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride
Proverbs 14:3
Common English Bible
3 Pride sprouts in the mouth of a fool,[a]
but the lips of the wise protect them.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:3 Heb uncertain
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
Common English Bible
10 The Lord’s name is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and find refuge.
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
Common English Bible
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
guard themselves from 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
Common English Bible
5 Thorns and nets are in the path of the crooked;
those who guard their lives keep their distance.
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
Common English Bible
24 Don’t befriend people controlled by anger;
don’t associate with hot-tempered people;
25 otherwise, you will learn their ways
and become trapped.
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.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible