Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. ² But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.

³ They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.

⁴ But for sinners, what a different story! They blow away like chaff before the wind. ⁵ They are not safe on Judgment Day; they shall not stand among the godly.

⁶ For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to doom.

5 Listen to me, my son! I know what I am saying; listen! ² Watch yourself, lest you be indiscreet and betray some vital information. ³ For the lips of a prostitute^[a] are as sweet as honey, and smooth flattery is her stock-in-trade. ⁴ But afterwards only a bitter conscience is left to you,^[b] sharp as a double-edged sword. ⁵ She leads you down to death and hell. ⁶ For she does not know the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t even realize where it leads.

⁷ Young men, listen to me, and never forget what I’m about to say: ⁸ Run from her! Don’t go near her house, ⁹ lest you fall to her temptation and lose your honor, and give the remainder of your life to the cruel and merciless;^{[c] 10} lest strangers obtain your wealth, and you become a slave of foreigners. ¹¹ Lest afterwards you groan in anguish and in shame when syphilis^[d] consumes your body, ¹² and you say, “Oh, if only I had listened! If only I had not demanded my own way! ¹³ Oh, why wouldn’t I take advice? Why was I so stupid? ¹⁴ For now I must face public disgrace.”

¹⁵ Drink from your own well, my son—be faithful and true to your wife. ¹⁶ Why should you beget children with women of the street? ¹⁷ Why share your children with those outside your home? ¹⁸ Be happy, yes, rejoice in the wife of your youth. ¹⁹ Let her breasts and tender embrace^[e] satisfy you. Let her love alone fill you with delight. ²⁰ Why delight yourself with prostitutes, embracing what isn’t yours? ²¹ For God is closely watching you, and he weighs carefully everything you do.

²² The wicked man is doomed by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. ²³ He shall die because he will not listen to the truth; he has let himself be led away into incredible folly.

³⁴ “What good is salt that has lost its saltiness?^{[a] 35} Flavorless salt is fit for nothing—not even for fertilizer. It is worthless and must be thrown out. Listen well if you would understand my meaning.”