The Book of PROVERBS - Chapter Eight

1

Does not wisdom call out?

    Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 

At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 

beside the gate leading into the city,
    at the entrance, she cries aloud:

4 

‘To you, O people, I call out;
    I raise my voice to all humanity.

5 

You who are simple, gain prudence;
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

6 

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 

My mouth speaks what is true,
    for my lips detest wickedness.

8 

All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 

To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

10 

Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.

12 

‘I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.

13 

To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
    I hate pride and arrogance,
    evil behaviour and perverse speech.

14 

Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.

15 

By me kings reign
    and rulers issue decrees that are just;

16 

by me princes govern,
    and nobles – all who rule on earth.

17 

I love those who love me,
    and those who seek me find me.

18 

With me are riches and honour,
    enduring wealth and prosperity.

19 

My fruit is better than fine gold;
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.

20 

I walk in the way of righteousness,
    along the paths of justice,

21 

bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.

22 

‘The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,
    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;

25 

before the mountains were settled in place,
    before the hills, I was given birth,

26 

before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.

27 

I was there when he set the heavens in place,
    when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 

when he established the clouds above
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 

when he gave the sea its boundary
    so that the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 

    Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,

31 

rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in the human race.

32 

‘Now then, my children, listen to me;
    blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 

Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.

34 

Blessed are those who listen to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.

35 

For those who find me find life
    and receive favour from the Lord.

36 

But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
    all who hate me love death.’

-=-=-=-=- 

-=-=-=-=-

READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS 

Chapter Eight

Read by David Suchet

-=-=-=-

OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project)

-=-=-=-=-=-

-=-=-=-=-

STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

Part 2 

-=-=-=-=-

-=-=-=-

 

The Book of PROVERBS - Chapter Seven

1 

My son, keep my words
    and store up my commands within you.

2 

Keep my commands and you will live;
    guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

3 

Bind them on your fingers;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 

Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’
    and to insight, ‘You are my relative.’

5 

They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

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.

8 

He was going down the street near her corner,
    walking along in the direction of her house

9 

at twilight, 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 and defiant,
    her feet never stay at home;

12 

now in the street, now in the squares,
    at every corner she lurks.)

13 

She took hold of him and kissed him
    and with a brazen face she said:

14 

‘Today I fulfilled my vows,
    and I have food from my fellowship offering 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 coloured linens from Egypt.

17 

I have perfumed my bed
    with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

18 

Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!

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.

22 

All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose

23 

    till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.

24 

Now then, my sons, listen to me;
    pay attention to what I say.

25 

Do not let your heart turn to her ways
    or stray into her paths.

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.

-=-=-=-=-

READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS Chapter Seven

Read by David Suchet

-=-=-=-

OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project) 

-=-=-=-=-=- 

-=-=-=-=-

STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

Part 2 

-=-=-=-=-

-=-=-=-

The Book of PROVERBS - Chapter Six

 

 

1

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbour,
    if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

2 

you have been trapped by what you said,
    ensnared by the words of your mouth.

3 

So do this, my son, to free yourself,
    since you have fallen into your neighbour’s hands:
go – to the point of exhaustion –
    and give your neighbour no rest!

4 

Allow no sleep to your eyes,
    no 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 its ways and be wise!

7 

It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,

8 

yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.

9 

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
    When will you get up from your sleep?

10 

A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest –

11 

and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

12 

A troublemaker and a villain,
    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

13 

    who winks maliciously with his eye,
    signals with his feet
    and motions with his fingers,

14 

    who plots evil with deceit in his heart –
    he always stirs up conflict.

15 

Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
    he will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy.

16 

There are six things the Lord hates,
    seven that are detestable to him:

17 

        haughty eyes,
        a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,

18 

        a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,

19 

        a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

-=-=-=-=-

READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS Chapter Six

Read by David Suchet

-=-=-=-

OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project) 

-=-=-=-=-=- 

-=-=-=-=-

STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

Part 2 

-=-=-=-=-

-=-=-=-

The Book of PROVERBS - Chapter Five

1

My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words of insight,

2 

that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3 

For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
    and her speech is smoother than oil;

4 

but in the end she is bitter as gall,
    sharp as a double-edged sword.

5 

Her feet go down to death;
    her steps lead straight to the grave.

6 

She gives no thought to the way of life;
    her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.

7 

Now then, my sons, listen to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.

8 

Keep to a path far from her,
    do not go near the door of her house,

9 

lest you lose your honour to others
    and your dignity to one who is cruel,

10 

lest strangers feast on your wealth
    and your toil enrich the house of another.

11 

At the end of your life you will groan,
    when your flesh and body are spent.

12 

You will say, ‘How I hated discipline!
    How my heart spurned correction!

13 

I would not obey my teachers
    or turn my ear to my instructors.

14 

And I was soon in serious trouble
    in the assembly of God’s people.’

15 

Drink water from your own cistern,
    running water from your own well.

16 

Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    your streams of water in the public squares?

17 

Let them be yours alone,
    never to be shared with strangers.

18 

May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 

A loving doe, a graceful deer –
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

20 

Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

21 

For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
    and he examines all your paths.

22 

The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
    the cords of their sins hold them fast.

23 

For lack of discipline they will die,
    led astray by their own great folly.

-=-=-=-=-

READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS Chapter Five

Read by David Suchet

-=-=-=-

OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project) 

-=-=-=-=-=- 

-=-=-=-=-

STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

Part 2 

-=-=-=-=-

-=-=-=-

The Book of PROVERBS - Chapter Four

1

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
    pay attention and gain understanding.

2 

I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.

3 

For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.

4 

Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    ‘Take hold of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.

5 

Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.

6 

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
    love her, and she will watch over you.

7 

The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom.
    Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

8 

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honour you.

9 

She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.’

10 

Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.

11 

I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.

12 

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.

13 

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.

14 

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.

15 

Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.

16 

For they cannot rest until they do evil;
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

17 

They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.

18 

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

19 

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 

My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.

21 

Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;

22 

for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.

23 

Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.

24 

Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 

Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.

26 

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 

Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.

-=-=-=-=-

READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS Chapter Four

Read by David Suchet

-=-=-=-

OVERVIEW 

The Book of PROVERBS 

Overview

(The Bible Project)

 

-=-=-=-=-=-

-=-=-=-=-

STUDIES 

The book of proverbs 

David Pawson

Part 1 

 

Part 2

 

 

-=-=-=-=-

Guard your Heart

-=-=-=-