The Skeptics Annotated Bible (484 page)

24 To
keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

(6.24)
“Keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.”

25
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

(6.25)
“Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.”

26
For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

(6.26)
“For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.”

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

7
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

(7.5-27) A woman that seduces a man is evil—the man is just an innocent victim.

5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

(7.5)
“Keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.”

6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

10 And, behold, there met him
a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

(7.10)
“A woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.”

11 (
She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

(7.11)
“She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house.”

12
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.
)

(7.12)
“Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.”

13
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

16
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry
, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

(7.13-17)
“So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him … I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry … I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.”

18
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

(7.18) “Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.”

19
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey
:

(7.19)
“For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey.”

20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

21
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

(7.21) “With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.”

22
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

(7.22)
“He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks.”

23
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

(7.23)
“Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.”

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

(7.25) “Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.”

26
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

(7.26)
“For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.”

27
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

(7.27)
“Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”

8
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For
wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

(8.11)
“Wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”
Wisdom is better than wealth. Nothing else compares with it.

12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

17 I love them that love me; and
those that seek me early shall find me.

(8.17) “Those that seek me early shall find me.”
300 Can God be found?

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

9
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser
: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.