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Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

…in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

…in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,

But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

…from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,

…from those who enjoy doing evil and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,

So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.

For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

…in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

…for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.

I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.

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

…in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.

I am on the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.”

Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?

Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?

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

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.

…it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.

With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.

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

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

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!

For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.

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

Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.

I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”

But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

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

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.

The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.

The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in.

The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.

Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.

The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.

A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.

There is life in the path of righteousness, but another path leads to death.

Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.

He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.

He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.

The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.

The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.

There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.

The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.

Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.

A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.

A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!

All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.

Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.

When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.

A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.

Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.

A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.

Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.

The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.

An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.

The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.