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Proverbs 6

1 My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger, 2 you are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared with the words of your mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor. 4 Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. 5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise; 7 which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, 8 provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep— 11 so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man. 12 A worthless person, a man of iniq

Proverbs 5

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge. 3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.* 6 She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it. 7 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one; 10 lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house. 11 You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed, 12 and say, "How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof. 13 I haven't obeyed the v

Proverbs 4

1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding; 2 for I give you sound learning. Don't forsake my law. 3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don't forget, and don't deviate from the words of my mouth. 6 Don't forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you. 7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. 8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her. 9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you." 10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many. 11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths. 12 When you go,

Proverbs 3

1 My son, don't forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace. 3 Don't let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase; 10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. 11 My son, don't despise Yahweh's discipline, neither be weary of his correction; 12 for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in w

Proverbs 2

1 My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you, 2 so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.* 6 For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 7 He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11 Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you, 12 to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things, 13 who forsake the paths of up

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: 2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man: 5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake your mother's teaching: 9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent. 11 If they say, "Come with us. Let's lay in wait for blood. Let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 12 Let's swallow them up alive lik

Proverbs 31

1 The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him: 2 "Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows! 3 Don't give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, 'Where is strong drink?' 5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul. 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. 8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy." 10 *Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She seeks