The Book of PROVERBS - Chapter 10

1  The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise son brings joy to his father,
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

2 

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
    but righteousness delivers from death.

3 

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4 

Lazy hands make for poverty,
    but diligent hands bring wealth.

5 

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

6 

Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

7 

The name of the righteous is used in blessings,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 

The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

9 

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

10 

Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 

Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.

13 

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
    but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.

14 

The wise store up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

15 

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16 

The wages of the righteous is life,
    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.

17 

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 

Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
    and spreads slander is a fool.

19 

Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.

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.

22 

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
    without painful toil for it.

23 

A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

24 

What the wicked dread will overtake them;
    what the righteous desire will be granted.

25 

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
    but the righteous stand firm for ever.

26 

As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so are sluggards to those who send them.

27 

The fear of the Lord adds length to life,
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28 

The prospect of the righteous is joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

29 

The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
    but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

30 

The righteous will never be uprooted,
    but the wicked will not remain in the land.

31 

From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
    but a perverse tongue will be silenced.

32 

The lips of the righteous know what finds favour,
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

-=-=-=-=-

READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS Chapter Ten

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 Nine

1

Wisdom has built her house;
    she has set up its seven pillars.

2 

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
    she has also set her table.

3 

She has sent out her servants, and she calls
    from the highest point of the city,

4 

    ‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’
To those who have no sense she says,

5 

    ‘Come, eat my food
    and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 

Leave your simple ways and you will live;
    walk in the way of insight.’

7 

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

8 

Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.

9 

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

10 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 

For through wisdom your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.

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;
    she is simple and knows nothing.

14 

She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat at the highest point of the city,

15 

calling out 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 she says,

17 

    ‘Stolen water is sweet;
    food eaten in secret is delicious!’

18 

But little do they know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

-=-=-=-=-

What is wisdom ? 

Dr Charles Stanley

-=-=-=-=-

READINGS

The Book of PROVERBS 

Chapter Nine

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 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 

-=-=-=-=-

-=-=-=-