Beginning
7 My son, keep my words, and hide my commandments with you.
2 Keep my commandments, and you shall live; and my instruction, as the apple of your eyes.
3 Bind them upon your fingers. Write them upon the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister”. And call understanding, “kinswoman”.
5 That they may keep you from the strange woman; from the strange who is smooth in her words.
6 As in the window of my house, I looked through my window.
7 And I saw among the fools, considered among the children, a young man destitute of understanding.
8 Who passed through the street by her corner and went toward her house;
9 in the twilight, in the evening, when the night began to be black and dark.
10 And behold, he was met by a woman with a harlot’s behavior, and subtle in heart.
11 (She is babbling and loud. Her feet cannot stay in her house.
12 Now outside. Now in the streets; lying in wait at every corner)
13 So she caught him and kissed him. And with an impudent face, said to him,
14 “I have peace offerings. Today I have paid my vows.
15 “Therefore I came forth to meet you, that I might seek your face. And I have found you.
16 “I have decked my bed with ornaments, carpets and laces of Egypt.
17 “I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 “Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning. Let us take our pleasure in dalliance.
19 “For my husband is not at home. He is gone on a far-off journey.
20 “He has taken with him a bag of silver and will come home at the day appointed.”
21 Thus with her great craftiness she caused him to yield. And with her flattering lips she enticed him.
22 And he followed her immediately, as an ox that goes to the slaughter; and as a fool to the stocks for correction,
23 till an arrow strikes through his liver. As a bird hastes to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger.
24 Hear me now, therefore, O children, and listen to the words of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not wander in her paths.
26 For she has caused many to fall down wounded; the strong men all slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to the grave which goes down to the chambers of death.
8 Does not wisdom cry, and understanding utter her voice?
2 She stands in the top of the high places; by the way, in the place of the paths.
3 She cries at the gates, before the city, at the entry of the doors,
4 “O men, I call to you; and my voice to the children of man.
5 “O foolish, understand wisdom. And, O fools, be wise in heart.
6 “Give ear. For I will speak of excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall teach things that are right.
7 “For my mouth shall speak the truth. And my lips abhor wickedness.8 All the words of my mouth are righteous. There is no lewdness, nor perversion in them.
9 “They are all plain to those who will understand; and straight to those who would find knowledge.
10 “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than fine gold.
11 “For wisdom is better than precious stones. And all pleasures are not to be compared to her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence. And I find out knowledge and discretion.
13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance and the evil way and a mouth that speaks lewd things.
14 “I have counsel and wisdom. I am understanding. I have strength.
15 “By me kings reign and princes decree justice.
16 “By me princes rule; and the nobles; and all the judges of the Earth.
17 “I love those who love me. And those who seek me early shall find me.
18 “Riches and honor are with me, durable riches and righteousness.
19 “My fruit is better than gold—than fine gold—and my revenues better than fine silver.
20 “I cause to walk in the way of righteousness; in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 “that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance. And I will fill their treasures.
22 “The LORD has possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.
23 “I was set up from everlasting; from the beginning, before the Earth.
24 “I was begotten when there were no depths; when there were no fountains abounding with water;
25 “before the mountains were settled. Before the hills, was I begotten.
26 “He had not yet made the Earth, nor the open places, nor the height of the dust in the world.
27 “I was there when He prepared the heavens; when He set the compass upon the deep;
28 “when He established the clouds above; when He confirmed the fountains of the deep;
29 “when He gave His Decree to the sea that the waters should not pass His Commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the Earth.
30 “Then I was with Him, a nourisher. And I was His daily delight, rejoicing always before Him;
31 “and took my solace in the compass of His Earth, and my delight with the children of man.
32 “Therefore, now listen to me, O children. For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 “Hear instruction and be wise. And do not refuse it. Blessed is the man who hears me; watching daily at my gates; giving attendance at the posts of my doors.
34 “For whoever finds me, finds life, and shall obtain favor from the LORD.
35 “But whoever sins against me, hurts his own soul. All who hate me, love death.”
9 Wisdom has built her house; hewn out her seven pillars.
2 She has killed her victuals, drawn her wine, and prepared her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens; cries upon the highest places of the city, saying,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him come here.” To whomever is destitute of wisdom, she says,
5 “Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have drawn.
6 “Forsake foolishness and you shall live, and walk in the way of understanding.
7 “He that reproves a scoffer, gets himself shame. And he who rebukes the wicked, gets himself a blot.
8 “Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 “Give to the wise, and he will be the wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD. And the knowledge of holy things is understanding.
11 “For your days shall be multiplied by me. And the years of your life shall be augmented.
12 “If you are wise, you shall be wise for yourself. If you are a scoffer, you alone shall suffer.”
13 A foolish woman is troublesome; she is ignorant and knows nothing.
14 But she sits at the door of her house on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call those who pass by the way — that go right on their way — saying,
16 “Who so is simple? Let him come here.” And to him who is destitute of wisdom, she says also,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet. And hidden bread is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depth of Hell. THE PARABLE OF SOLOMON.
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