WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:09.539 in a year. Today's reading is from Proverbs chapters 00:00:09.539 --> 00:00:14.119 5 through 9. Chapter 5 My son, pay attention 00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:16.760 to my wisdom. Lend your ear to my understanding, 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:20.059 that you may preserve discretion, and your lips 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:22.600 may keep knowledge. For the lips of an immoral 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:25.559 woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than 00:00:25.559 --> 00:00:28.339 oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood. 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:31.579 sharp as a two -edged sword. Her feet go down 00:00:31.579 --> 00:00:35.179 to death, her steps lay hold of hell. Lest you 00:00:35.179 --> 00:00:37.799 ponder her path of life, her ways are unstable, 00:00:38.140 --> 00:00:41.159 you do not know them. Therefore hear me now, 00:00:41.219 --> 00:00:43.420 my children, and do not depart from the words 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:46.460 of my mouth. Remove your way far from her, and 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:49.100 do not go near the door of her house, lest you 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:51.640 give your honor to others, and your years to 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:54.159 the cruel one. Lest aliens be filled with your 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:56.560 wealth, and your labors go to the house of a 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:59.700 foreigner, and you mourn at last when your flesh 00:00:59.700 --> 00:01:03.039 and your body are consumed, and say, How I have 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:05.760 hated instruction, and my heart despised correction. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:08.780 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor 00:01:08.780 --> 00:01:11.540 inclined my ear to those who instructed me. I 00:01:11.540 --> 00:01:14.280 was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:17.120 of the assembly and congregation. Drink water 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:19.579 from your own cistern, and running water from 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:22.180 your own well. should your fountains be dispersed 00:01:22.180 --> 00:01:25.780 abroad streams of water in the streets let them 00:01:25.780 --> 00:01:28.700 be only your own and not for strangers with you 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:31.739 let your fountain be blessed and rejoice with 00:01:31.739 --> 00:01:34.579 the wife of your youth as a loving dear and a 00:01:34.579 --> 00:01:37.280 graceful doe Let her breast satisfy you at all 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:39.840 times, and always be enraptured with her love. 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:42.480 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:44.560 an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:47.480 of a seductress? For the ways of man are before 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:49.980 the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his 00:01:49.980 --> 00:01:52.640 path. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:55.500 and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He 00:01:55.500 --> 00:01:58.120 shall die for lack of instruction, and in the 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:03.540 greatness of his folly he shall go astray. My 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:06.340 son, if you become surety for your friend, if 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:08.740 you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:11.259 you are snared by the words of your mouth, you 00:02:11.259 --> 00:02:14.180 are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:16.479 my son, and deliver yourself, for you have come 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:19.159 into the hand of your friend. Go and humble yourself, 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:21.800 plead with your friend, give no sleep to your 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:24.719 eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:27.379 like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and 00:02:27.379 --> 00:02:30.300 like a bird from the hand of the fowler. go to 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:32.840 the ant you sluggard consider her ways and be 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:36.120 wise which having no captain overseer or ruler 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:38.759 provides her supplies in the summer and gathers 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:41.539 her food in the harvest how long will you slumber 00:02:41.539 --> 00:02:43.879 o sluggard when will you rise from your sleep 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:47.020 a little sleep a little slumber a little folding 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:49.800 of the hands to sleep so shall your poverty come 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:52.819 on you like a prowler and your need like an armed 00:02:52.819 --> 00:02:56.580 man a worthless person a wicked man walks with 00:02:56.580 --> 00:03:00.120 a perverse mouth He winks with his eyes. He shuffles 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:03.240 his feet. He points with his fingers. Perversity 00:03:03.240 --> 00:03:05.960 is in his heart. He devises evil continually. 00:03:06.259 --> 00:03:09.520 He sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.539 come suddenly. Suddenly he shall be broken without 00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:16.419 remedy. These six things the Lord hates. Yes, 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:19.379 seven are an abomination to him. A proud look. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:22.599 A lying tongue. Hands that shed innocent blood. 00:03:22.860 --> 00:03:26.289 A heart that devises wicked plans. Feet that 00:03:26.289 --> 00:03:29.090 are swift in running to evil. A false witness 00:03:29.090 --> 00:03:32.669 who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among 00:03:32.669 --> 00:03:35.490 brethren. My son, keep your father's command, 00:03:35.729 --> 00:03:38.090 and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind 00:03:38.090 --> 00:03:40.509 them continually upon your heart. Tie them around 00:03:40.509 --> 00:03:43.169 your neck. When you roam, they will lead you. 00:03:43.289 --> 00:03:45.629 When you sleep, they will keep you. And when 00:03:45.629 --> 00:03:47.870 you awake, they will speak with you. For the 00:03:47.870 --> 00:03:51.449 commandment is a lamp, and the law a light. Reproofs 00:03:51.449 --> 00:03:53.729 of instructions are the way of life. To keep 00:03:53.729 --> 00:03:56.039 you from the evil woman. From the flattering 00:03:56.039 --> 00:03:58.699 tongue of a seductress, do not lust after her 00:03:58.699 --> 00:04:01.280 beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:04.139 with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a 00:04:04.139 --> 00:04:07.819 man is reduced to a crust of bread, and an adulteress 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:10.560 will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:13.159 fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.680 Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:19.199 seared? So is he who goes into his neighbor's 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.680 wife. Whoever touches her shall not be innocent. 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:24.800 People do not despise a thief if he steals to 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:27.660 satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:31.139 he is found, he must restore sevenfold. He may 00:04:31.139 --> 00:04:33.339 have to give up all the substance of his house. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:36.439 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding. 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:40.019 He who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds 00:04:40.019 --> 00:04:42.759 and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:45.579 not be wiped away. For jealousy is a husband's 00:04:45.579 --> 00:04:48.199 fury. Therefore he will not spare in a day of 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.040 vengeance. He will accept no recompense. nor 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:54.019 will he be appeased, though you give many gifts. 00:04:56.139 --> 00:04:59.959 My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:02.920 within you. Keep my commands and live, and my 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:05.680 law is the apple of your eye. Bind them on your 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:07.879 fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:11.420 Say to wisdom, You are my sister, and call understanding 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:14.379 your nearest kin, that they may keep you from 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:17.240 the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:19.730 with her words. For at the window of my house 00:05:19.730 --> 00:05:22.370 I looked through my lattice, and saw among the 00:05:22.370 --> 00:05:24.790 simple, I perceived among the youth, a young 00:05:24.790 --> 00:05:27.490 man devoid of understanding, passing along the 00:05:27.490 --> 00:05:30.329 street near her corner. And he took the path 00:05:30.329 --> 00:05:32.790 to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, 00:05:32.970 --> 00:05:35.930 in the black and dark night. And there a woman 00:05:35.930 --> 00:05:38.889 met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty 00:05:38.889 --> 00:05:41.529 heart. She was loud and rebellious, her feet 00:05:41.529 --> 00:05:44.410 would not stay at home. At times she was outside, 00:05:44.769 --> 00:05:47.730 at times in the open square, lurking at every 00:05:47.730 --> 00:05:50.509 corner. So she caught him and kissed him. With 00:05:50.509 --> 00:05:53.370 an impudent face, she said to him, I have peace 00:05:53.370 --> 00:05:56.170 offerings with me. Today I have paid my vows. 00:05:56.209 --> 00:05:58.970 So I come out to meet you, diligently to seek 00:05:58.970 --> 00:06:01.410 your face, and I have found you. I have spread 00:06:01.410 --> 00:06:04.329 my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian 00:06:04.329 --> 00:06:07.970 linen. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, 00:06:07.970 --> 00:06:10.629 and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love 00:06:10.629 --> 00:06:12.850 until morning. Let us delight ourselves with 00:06:12.850 --> 00:06:15.670 love. For my husband is not at home. He has gone 00:06:15.670 --> 00:06:18.399 on a long journey. He has taken a bag of money 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:21.259 with him, and will come home on appointed day. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:24.339 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield. 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:27.579 With her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately 00:06:27.579 --> 00:06:30.800 he went after her as an ox goes to the slaughter, 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:33.639 or as a fool to the correction of the stalks. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:36.920 Till an arrow struck his liver, as a bird hastens 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:39.839 to the snare. He did not know it would cost his 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:42.300 life. Now therefore listen to me, my children. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:44.920 Pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:47.420 let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:50.420 stray into her path. For she has cast down many 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:53.319 wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:56.519 men. Her house is the way to hell, descending 00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:01.939 to the chambers of death. Chapter 8 Does not 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:04.639 wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:07.220 voice? She takes her stand on the top of the 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:10.100 high hill, beside the way where the paths meet. 00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:13.079 She cries out by the gates at the entry of the 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:15.930 city. at the entrance of the doors. To you, O 00:07:15.930 --> 00:07:18.670 men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. 00:07:18.850 --> 00:07:21.889 O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you 00:07:21.889 --> 00:07:24.990 fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, 00:07:25.129 --> 00:07:27.689 for I will speak of excellent things, and from 00:07:27.689 --> 00:07:30.129 the opening of my lips will come right things. 00:07:30.430 --> 00:07:33.290 For my mouth will speak truth. Wickedness is 00:07:33.290 --> 00:07:35.889 an abomination to my lips. All the words of my 00:07:35.889 --> 00:07:38.410 mouth are with righteousness. Nothing crooked 00:07:38.410 --> 00:07:41.319 or perverse is in them. They are all plain to 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:43.860 him who understands, and right to those who find 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:46.720 knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver, 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:49.779 and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom 00:07:49.779 --> 00:07:52.500 is better than rubies, and all the things one 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:55.500 may desire cannot be compared with her. I, wisdom, 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:58.399 dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:01.139 discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:04.680 Pride and arrogance an evil way, and a perverse 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:08.100 mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom. 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:11.930 I am understanding. I have strength. By me kings 00:08:11.930 --> 00:08:15.750 reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes 00:08:15.750 --> 00:08:18.290 rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. 00:08:18.449 --> 00:08:20.790 I love those who love me, and those who seek 00:08:20.790 --> 00:08:23.689 me diligently will find me. Riches and honor 00:08:23.689 --> 00:08:26.310 are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. 00:08:26.709 --> 00:08:29.230 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine 00:08:29.230 --> 00:08:32.789 gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse 00:08:32.789 --> 00:08:35.169 the way of righteousness in the midst of the 00:08:35.169 --> 00:08:38.629 path of justice. that I may cause those who love 00:08:38.629 --> 00:08:41.850 me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries. 00:08:42.009 --> 00:08:44.389 The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his 00:08:44.389 --> 00:08:47.490 way, before his works of old. I have been established 00:08:47.490 --> 00:08:49.850 from everlasting, from the beginning, before 00:08:49.850 --> 00:08:52.769 there was even an earth. When there were no depth, 00:08:52.970 --> 00:08:55.690 I was brought forth. When there were no fountains 00:08:55.690 --> 00:08:58.129 abounding with water. Before the mountains were 00:08:58.129 --> 00:09:00.730 settled, before the hills, I was brought forth. 00:09:01.110 --> 00:09:03.909 While as yet he had not made the earth or the 00:09:03.909 --> 00:09:06.870 fields, or the primal dust of the world. When 00:09:06.870 --> 00:09:09.309 he prepared the heavens, I was there. When he 00:09:09.309 --> 00:09:11.669 drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he 00:09:11.669 --> 00:09:14.029 established the clouds above. When he strengthened 00:09:14.029 --> 00:09:16.389 the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to 00:09:16.389 --> 00:09:19.250 the sea its limit, so that the waters would not 00:09:19.250 --> 00:09:22.070 transgress his command. When he marked out the 00:09:22.070 --> 00:09:25.309 foundations of the earth. Then I was beside him 00:09:25.309 --> 00:09:28.350 as a master craftsman, and I was daily his delight, 00:09:28.590 --> 00:09:31.889 rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in his 00:09:31.889 --> 00:09:34.529 inhabited world. And my delight was with the 00:09:34.529 --> 00:09:37.509 sons of men. Now therefore listen to me, my children, 00:09:37.690 --> 00:09:40.429 for blessed are those who keep my ways, hear 00:09:40.429 --> 00:09:43.210 instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. 00:09:43.549 --> 00:09:46.470 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching 00:09:46.470 --> 00:09:49.509 daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my 00:09:49.509 --> 00:09:53.330 doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains 00:09:53.330 --> 00:09:55.789 favor from the Lord. But he who sins against 00:09:55.789 --> 00:09:59.129 me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me 00:09:59.129 --> 00:10:05.090 love death. Chapter 9 Wisdom has built her house. 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:08.440 She has hewn out her seven pillars. She has slaughtered 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:11.100 her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:13.960 furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens. 00:10:14.059 --> 00:10:16.480 She cries out from the highest places of the 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.500 city. Whoever is simple, let him turn in here. 00:10:19.860 --> 00:10:22.399 As for him who lacks understanding, she says 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:25.299 to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the 00:10:25.299 --> 00:10:28.279 wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:32.019 and go in the way of understanding. He who corrects 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:34.940 a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:38.179 rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not 00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:41.220 correct a scoffer lest he hate you. Rebuke a 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:43.740 wise man and he will love you. Give instruction 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:46.720 to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.980 a just man and he will increase in learning. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:51.340 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, 00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:54.080 and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:57.580 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years 00:10:57.580 --> 00:11:00.879 of life will be added to you. If you are wise, 00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:03.639 you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:06.980 you will bear it alone. A foolish woman is clamorous. 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:10.299 She is simple and knows nothing. For she sits 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:13.120 at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:16.019 places of the city, to call to those who pass 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:19.059 by, who go straight on their way. Whoever is 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:22.000 simple, let him turn in here. And as for him 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.840 who lacks understanding, she says to him, Stolen 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:27.840 water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:30.620 pleasant, but he does not know that the dead 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:34.240 are there, that her guests are in the depth of 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:41.720 hell. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:43.960 as I did, and I look forward to seeing you again 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:46.399 tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:47.460 you and have a great day.