Proverbs 2:7-22
Lexham English Bible
7 For the upright, he stores[a] sound judgment, a shield for those who walk uprightly,
8 in order to guard paths of justice
and keep[b] the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and uprightness—every good course—
10 for wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasing to your soul.[c]
11 Discretion will watch over you;
understanding will protect you,
12 in order to deliver you from the way of evil,[d]
from a man who speaks devious things—
13 those who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in ways of darkness,
14 those who are happy to do evil,
for they delight in the deviousness of evil,
15 who are crooked in their ways,[e]
and devious in their paths;
16 in order to deliver you from a strange woman,
from a foreign woman who flatters[f] with her sayings,
17 she who forsakes the partner of her youth
and has forgotten the covenant of her God,
18 for her house sinks to death,
and to the dead[g] are her paths.
19 Of all who go to her, none shall return,
nor do they reach paths of life.
20 So that you will walk on the road of those who are good,
and the paths of those who are righteous you shall keep.
21 For those who are upright will dwell in the land,[h]
and those who are blameless[i] will remain in it.
22 And those who are wicked will be cut off from the land,
and those who are treacherous will be uprooted from it.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 2:7 Or “hides, keeps”
- Proverbs 2:8 Or “preserve, guard, watch”
- Proverbs 2:10 Or “inner self”
- Proverbs 2:12 Or “evildoer”
- Proverbs 2:15 Literally “that in their ways are crooked”
- Proverbs 2:16 Or “makes smooth”
- Proverbs 2:18 Or “Rephaim”
- Proverbs 2:21 Or “earth”
- Proverbs 2:21 Or “innocent”
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
Lexham English Bible
Commandment and Instruction as Guardians
20 My child, keep the commandment of your father,
and do not disregard the instruction of your mother.
21 Bind them on your heart continually;
tie them upon your neck.
22 When you walk,[a] she[b] will lead you,
When you lie down,[c] she will watch over you,
and when you awake, she will converse with you.
23 For like a lamp is a commandment, and instruction is light,
and the way of life[d] is the reproof of discipline,
24 in order to preserve you from an evil woman,[e]
from the smoothness of the tongue of an adulteress.[f]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your walking”
- Proverbs 6:22 That is, “commandment” and “instruction”
- Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your lying down”
- Proverbs 6:23 Hebrew “lives”
- Proverbs 6:24 Or “wife”
- Proverbs 6:24 Literally “a foreign woman”
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
Lexham English Bible
Warning Against the Strange Woman
7 My child, guard my sayings;
store my commandments with you.
2 Keep my commands and live,
and my teaching like the apple of your eye.[a]
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom,[b] “you are my sister,”
and you shall call insight,[c] “intimate friend.”[d]
5 In order to guard yourself from an adulteress,[e]
from the foreigner who makes her words smooth.[f]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:2 A single word meaning “pupil of the eye”
- Proverbs 7:4 Hebrew “the wisdom”
- Proverbs 7:4 Hebrew “the insight”
- Proverbs 7:4 Literally “one who is known.” To “know” is often a euphemism for intercourse. Therefore “intimate friend” may also be read “lover.”
- Proverbs 7:5 Literally “a strange woman”
- Proverbs 7:5 Literally “causes to be smooth her words”
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
Lexham English Bible
19 In many words, transgression is not lacking,
but he who restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 10:19
Common English Bible
19 With lots of words comes wrongdoing,
but the wise restrain their lips.
Proverbs 14:3
Lexham English Bible
3 In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride,
but the lips of the wise preserve them.
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
Lexham English Bible
10 A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh;
into him[a] the righteous will run and be safe.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:10 Or “it”
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
Lexham English Bible
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
he guards his life[a] from danger.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:23 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
Proverbs 21:23
Common English Bible
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
guard themselves from trouble.
Proverbs 22:5
Lexham English Bible
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
he who guards himself[a] will keep away from them.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:5 Or “soul,” or “life”
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
Lexham English Bible
24 Do not befriend an owner[a] of anger,[b]
and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;
25 lest you learn his way
and become entangled in a snare to yourself.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:24 Or “master”
- Proverbs 22:24 Literally “nostril”
- Proverbs 22:25 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
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.
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