Beginning
The Woman of Adultery
7 My son, remember what I say.
Treasure my commands.
2 Obey my commands, and you will live.
Protect my teachings as you would your own eyes.
3 Remind yourself of them.
Write them down in your mind as if on a tablet.
4 Be good to wisdom as if she were your sister.
Make understanding your closest friend.
5 Wisdom and understanding will keep you away from adultery.
They will keep you away from the unfaithful wife and her pleasing words.
6 I once was standing at the window of my house.
I looked out through the shutters.
7 I saw some foolish, young men.
I noticed one of them who had no wisdom.
8 He was walking down the street near the corner.
He was on the road leading to her house.
9 It was the twilight of the evening.
The darkness of the night was just beginning.
10 Then the woman approached him.
She was dressed like a prostitute
and was planning to trick him.
11 She was a loud and stubborn woman.
She never stayed at home.
12 She was always out in the streets or in the city squares.
She was always waiting around on the street corners.
13 She grabbed him and kissed him.
Without shame she said to him,
14 “I made my fellowship offering and have the meat at home.
I have kept my special promises.
15 So I have come out to meet you.
I have been looking for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
with colored sheets from Egypt.
17 I have made my bed smell sweet
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s make love until morning.
Let’s enjoy each other’s love!
19 My husband is not home.
He has gone on a long trip.
20 He took a lot of money with him.
And he won’t be home for weeks.”
21 By her clever words she made him give in.
By her pleasing words she led him into doing wrong.
22 All at once he followed her.
He was like an ox being led to the butcher.
He was like a deer caught in a trap.
23 But quickly an arrow shot through his liver.
He was like a bird caught in a trap.
He didn’t know what he did would kill him.
24 Now, my sons, listen to me.
Pay attention to what I say.
25 Don’t let yourself be tricked by the woman who is guilty of adultery.
Don’t join her in her evil actions.
26 She has ruined many good men.
Many have died because of her.
27 Going to her house is like taking the road to death.
That road leads down to where the dead are.
Listen to Wisdom
8 Like a person, wisdom calls out to you.
Understanding raises her voice.
2 On the hilltops along the road
and at the crossroads, she stands calling.
3 She stands beside the city gates.
At the entrances into the city, she calls out:
4 “People, I’m calling out to you.
I am shouting to all people.
5 You who do not know better, get the ability to think.
You who are foolish, get understanding.
6 Listen. I have important things to say.
What I tell you is right.
7 What I say is true.
I hate it when people speak evil.
8 Everything I say is honest.
Nothing I say is crooked or false.
9 People with good sense know that what I say is true.
People with knowledge know that my words are right.
10 Choose my teachings instead of silver.
Choose knowledge rather than the finest gold.
11 Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
Nothing you want is equal to it.
12 “I am wisdom, and I have the ability to think.
I also have knowledge and good sense.
13 If you respect the Lord, you also will hate evil.
It is wise to hate pride and bragging,
evil ways and lies.
14 I have good sense and advice.
I have understanding and power.
15 Kings use me to govern.
And rulers use me to make fair laws.
16 Princes use me to lead.
So do important men and all good judges.
17 I love those who love me.
Those who want me find me.
18 Riches and honor are mine.
So are wealth and lasting success.
19 What I give is better than the finest gold.
What I give is better than pure silver.
20 I do what is right.
I do what is fair.
21 I give wealth to those who love me.
I fill them with treasures.
22 “I, wisdom, was with God when he began his work.
This was before he made anything else long ago.
23 I was appointed in the very beginning,
even before the world began.
24 I began before there were oceans.
There were no springs overflowing with water.
25 I began before the hills were there.
The mountains had not even been put in place.
26 God still had not made the earth or fields.
He had not even made the first dust of the earth.
27 I was there when God put the skies in place,
when he stretched the horizon over the oceans.
28 I was there when he made the clouds above.
I was there when he put the fountains in the oceans.
29 I was there when he ordered the sea
not to go beyond the borders he had set for it.
I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.
30 I was like a child by his side.
I was happy every day
and enjoyed being in his presence.
31 I enjoyed the whole world.
And I was happy with all its people.
32 “Now, my children, listen to me.
Those who follow my ways are happy.
33 Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise.
Do not ignore it.
34 Those who listen to me are happy.
They stand watching at my door every day.
They are at my open doorway, wanting to be with me.
35 Whoever finds me finds life.
And the Lord will be pleased with him.
36 Whoever does not find me hurts himself.
Those who hate me love death.”
Being Wise or Foolish
9 Wisdom has built her house.
She has made its seven columns.
2 She has prepared her food and wine.
She has set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant girls.
She calls out from the highest place in the city.
4 She says to those who are not wise,
“Come in here, you foolish people!
5 Come and eat my food.
And drink the wine I have prepared.
6 Stop your foolish ways, and you will live.
Be a person of understanding.
7 “If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will get insulted.
If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt.
8 Do not correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, or he will hate you.
But correct a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Teach a wise man, and he will become even wiser.
Teach a good man, and he will learn even more.
10 “Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord.
And understanding begins with knowing God, the Holy One.
11 If you live wisely, you will live a long time.
Wisdom will add years to your life.
12 The wise person is rewarded by his wisdom.
But a person who makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it.”
13 Foolishness is like a loud woman.
She does not have wisdom or knowledge.
14 She sits at the door of her house.
It is at the highest place in the city.
15 She calls out to those who are passing by.
They are minding their own business.
16 She says to those who are not wise,
“Come in here, you foolish people!
17 Stolen water is sweeter.
Stolen food tastes better.”
18 But these people don’t know that everyone dies who goes there.
They don’t realize that her guests are deep in the grave.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.