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Purpose and Theme
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
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“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
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For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
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who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
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whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.
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Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
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My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
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because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
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She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
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by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
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For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.
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But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
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Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
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A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
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The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.
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who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.
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Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
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There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
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a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
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People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
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But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
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(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
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Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
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All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose
