The Skeptics Annotated Bible (481 page)

16 To
deliver thee from the strange woman
, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

(2.16)
“Deliver thee from the strange woman.”

17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

18
For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

(2.18) “For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.”

19
None that go unto her return again
, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

(2.19)
“None that go unto her return again.”

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and
keep the paths of the righteous.

(2.20) “Keep the paths of the righteous.”
35 Has there ever been a righteous person?

21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

3
My son,
forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2
For
length of days, and
long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

(3.1-2) “Forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For … long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” If you keep the commandments, you’ll have a long and peaceful life.

3
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

(3.3)
“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.”

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding.

(3.5)
“Lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Don’t try to understand things; just accept whatever the Bible and your religious leaders tell you.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:
fear the LOR
D, and depart from evil.

(3.7)
“Fear the Lord.”
132 Should we fear God?

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

(3.9-10) “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” If you give money to God, he will make you rich and you’ll have lots of wine.
71 Is it OK to drink alcohol?

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

(3.13) “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” A special anthem was composed from these words for Darwin’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.
309 Does wisdom make people happy?

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.