Proverbs 7-12

New International Version

⁶ At the window of my house
    I looked down through the lattice.
⁷ I saw among the simple,
    I noticed among the young men,
    a youth who had no sense.^(E)
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
    walking along in the direction of her house
⁹ at twilight,^(F) as the day was fading,
    as the dark of night set in.

¹⁰ Then out came a woman to meet him,
    dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
¹¹ (She is unruly^(G) and defiant,
    her feet never stay at home;
¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
    at every corner she lurks.)^(H)
13 She took hold of him^(I) and kissed him
    and with a brazen face she said:^(J)

¹⁴ “Today I fulfilled my vows,
    and I have food from my fellowship offering^(K) at home.
¹⁵ So I came out to meet you;
    I looked for you and have found you!
¹⁶ I have covered my bed
    with colored linens from Egypt.
¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed^(L)
    with myrrh,^(M) aloes and cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!^(N)
19 My husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey.
²⁰ He took his purse filled with money
    and will not be home till full moon.”

²¹ With persuasive words she led him astray;
    she seduced him with her smooth talk.^(O)
22 All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer^[a] stepping into a noose^[b](P)
23     till an arrow pierces^(Q) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.^(R)

²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen^(S) to me;
    pay attention to what I say.
²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
    or stray into her paths.^(T)
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
    her slain are a mighty throng.
²⁷ Her house is a highway to the grave,
    leading down to the chambers of death.^(U)

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.^(AE)
13 To fear the Lord^(AF) is to hate evil;^(AG)
    I hate^(AH) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.^(AI)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers^(AJ) issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶ by me princes govern,^(AK)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.^[d]
17 I love those who love me,^(AL)
    and those who seek me find me.^(AM)
18 With me are riches and honor,^(AN)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.^(AO)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;^(AP)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.^(AQ)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,^(AR)
    along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.^(AS)

²² “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,^[e][f]
    before his deeds of old;
²³ I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
²⁴ When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;^(AT)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,^(AU)
    before the hills, I was given birth,^(AV)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.^(AW)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,^(AX)
    when he marked out the horizon^(AY) on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he established the clouds above^(AZ)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,^(BA)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary^(BB)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,^(BC)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.^(BD)
30     Then I was constantly^[g] at his side.^(BE)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
³¹ rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.^(BF)

³² “Now then, my children, listen^(BG) to me;
    blessed are^(BH) those who keep my ways.^(BI)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen^(BJ) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
³⁵ For those who find me^(BK) find life^(BL)
    and receive favor from the Lord.^(BM)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;^(BN)
    all who hate me love death.”^(BO)

⁷ Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.^(CA)
8 Do not rebuke mockers^(CB) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.^(CC)
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.^(CD)

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord^(CE) is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One^(CF) is understanding.^(CG)
11 For through wisdom^[i] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.^(CH)
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

¹³ Folly is an unruly woman;^(CI)
    she is simple and knows nothing.^(CJ)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,^(CK)
15 calling out^(CL) to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their way,
¹⁶     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense^(CM) she says,
¹⁷     “Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!^(CN)”
¹⁸ But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.^(CO)

A wise son brings joy to his father,^(CR)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

² Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,^(CS)
    but righteousness delivers from death.^(CT)

³ The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,^(CU)
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.^(CV)

⁴ Lazy hands make for poverty,^(CW)
    but diligent hands bring wealth.^(CX)

⁵ He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.^(CY)

⁶ Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.^[j](CZ)

⁷ The name of the righteous^(DA) is used in blessings,^[k]
    but the name of the wicked^(DB) will rot.^(DC)

⁸ The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.^(DD)

⁹ Whoever walks in integrity^(DE) walks securely,^(DF)
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.^(DG)

¹⁰ Whoever winks maliciously^(DH) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,^(DI)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.^(DJ)

¹² Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.^(DK)

¹³ Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,^(DL)
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.^(DM)

¹⁴ The wise store up knowledge,^(DN)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.^(DO)

¹⁵ The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,^(DP)
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.^(DQ)

¹⁶ The wages of the righteous is life,^(DR)
    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.^(DS)

¹⁷ Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,^(DT)
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

¹⁸ Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips^(DU)
    and spreads slander is a fool.

¹⁹ Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.^(DV)

²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

²¹ The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.^(DW)

²² The blessing of the Lord^(DX) brings wealth,^(DY)
    without painful toil for it.^(DZ)

²³ A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,^(EA)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

²⁴ What the wicked dread^(EB) will overtake them;^(EC)
    what the righteous desire will be granted.^(ED)

²⁵ When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
    but the righteous stand firm^(EE) forever.^(EF)

²⁶ As vinegar to the teeth and smoke^(EG) to the eyes,
    so are sluggards to those who send them.^(EH)

²⁷ The fear of the Lord adds length to life,^(EI)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.^(EJ)

²⁸ The prospect of the righteous is joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.^(EK)

²⁹ The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
    but it is the ruin of those who do evil.^(EL)

³⁰ The righteous will never be uprooted,
    but the wicked will not remain in the land.^(EM)

³¹ From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,^(EN)
    but a perverse tongue^(EO) will be silenced.

³² The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,^(EP)
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.^(EQ)

11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,^(ER)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.^(ES)

² When pride comes, then comes disgrace,^(ET)
    but with humility comes wisdom.^(EU)

³ The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.^(EV)

⁴ Wealth^(EW) is worthless in the day of wrath,^(EX)
    but righteousness delivers from death.^(EY)

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,^(EZ)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.^(FA)

⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.^(FB)

⁷ Hopes placed in mortals die with them;^(FC)
    all the promise of^[l] their power comes to nothing.^(FD)

⁸ The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.^(FE)

⁹ With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.^(FF)

¹⁰ When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;^(FG)
    when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.^(FH)

¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,^(FI)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.^(FJ)

¹² Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,^(FK)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.^(FL)

¹³ A gossip betrays a confidence,^(FM)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.^(FN)

¹⁴ For lack of guidance a nation falls,^(FO)
    but victory is won through many advisers.^(FP)

¹⁵ Whoever puts up security^(FQ) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.^(FR)

¹⁶ A kindhearted woman gains honor,^(FS)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

¹⁷ Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

¹⁸ A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
    but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.^(FT)

¹⁹ Truly the righteous attain life,^(FU)
    but whoever pursues evil finds death.^(FV)

²⁰ The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,^(FW)
    but he delights^(FX) in those whose ways are blameless.^(FY)

²¹ Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
    but those who are righteous will go free.^(FZ)

²² Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

²⁴ One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous^(GA) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.^(GB)

²⁶ People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

²⁷ Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.^(GC)

²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will fall,^(GD)
    but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.^(GE)

²⁹ Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise.^(GF)

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,^(GG)
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

³¹ If the righteous receive their due^(GH) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.^(GI)

² Good people obtain favor from the Lord,^(GJ)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.^(GK)

³ No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.^(GL)

⁴ A wife of noble character^(GM) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.^(GN)

⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.^(GO)

⁷ The wicked are overthrown and are no more,^(GP)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.^(GQ)

⁸ A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped^(GR) mind is despised.

⁹ Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

¹⁰ The righteous care for the needs of their animals,^(GS)
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

¹¹ Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.^(GT)

¹² The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

¹³ Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,^(GU)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.^(GV)

¹⁴ From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,^(GW)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.^(GX)

¹⁵ The way of fools seems right to them,^(GY)
    but the wise listen to advice.^(GZ)

¹⁶ Fools^(HA) show their annoyance at once,^(HB)
    but the prudent overlook an insult.^(HC)

¹⁷ An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.^(HD)

¹⁸ The words of the reckless pierce like swords,^(HE)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.^(HF)

¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

²⁰ Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.^(HG)

²¹ No harm overtakes the righteous,^(HH)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

²² The Lord detests lying lips,^(HI)
    but he delights^(HJ) in people who are trustworthy.^(HK)

²³ The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,^(HL)
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.^(HM)

²⁴ Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.^(HN)

²⁵ Anxiety weighs down the heart,^(HO)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

²⁶ The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.^(HP)

²⁷ The lazy do not roast^[m] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

²⁸ In the way of righteousness there is life;^(HQ)
    along that path is immortality.