Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from Proverbs chapters
5 through 9. Chapter 5 My son, pay attention
to my wisdom. Lend your ear to my understanding,
that you may preserve discretion, and your lips
may keep knowledge. For the lips of an immoral
woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than
oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood.
sharp as a two -edged sword. Her feet go down
to death, her steps lay hold of hell. Lest you
ponder her path of life, her ways are unstable,
you do not know them. Therefore hear me now,
my children, and do not depart from the words
of my mouth. Remove your way far from her, and
do not go near the door of her house, lest you
give your honor to others, and your years to
the cruel one. Lest aliens be filled with your
wealth, and your labors go to the house of a
foreigner, and you mourn at last when your flesh
and your body are consumed, and say, How I have
hated instruction, and my heart despised correction.
I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor
inclined my ear to those who instructed me. I
was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst
of the assembly and congregation. Drink water
from your own cistern, and running water from
your own well. should your fountains be dispersed
abroad streams of water in the streets let them
be only your own and not for strangers with you
let your fountain be blessed and rejoice with
the wife of your youth as a loving dear and a
graceful doe Let her breast satisfy you at all
times, and always be enraptured with her love.
For why should you, my son, be enraptured by
an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms
of a seductress? For the ways of man are before
the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his
path. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He
shall die for lack of instruction, and in the
greatness of his folly he shall go astray. My
son, if you become surety for your friend, if
you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
you are snared by the words of your mouth, you
are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this,
my son, and deliver yourself, for you have come
into the hand of your friend. Go and humble yourself,
plead with your friend, give no sleep to your
eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself
like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and
like a bird from the hand of the fowler. go to
the ant you sluggard consider her ways and be
wise which having no captain overseer or ruler
provides her supplies in the summer and gathers
her food in the harvest how long will you slumber
o sluggard when will you rise from your sleep
a little sleep a little slumber a little folding
of the hands to sleep so shall your poverty come
on you like a prowler and your need like an armed
man a worthless person a wicked man walks with
a perverse mouth He winks with his eyes. He shuffles
his feet. He points with his fingers. Perversity
is in his heart. He devises evil continually.
He sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall
come suddenly. Suddenly he shall be broken without
remedy. These six things the Lord hates. Yes,
seven are an abomination to him. A proud look.
A lying tongue. Hands that shed innocent blood.
A heart that devises wicked plans. Feet that
are swift in running to evil. A false witness
who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among
brethren. My son, keep your father's command,
and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind
them continually upon your heart. Tie them around
your neck. When you roam, they will lead you.
When you sleep, they will keep you. And when
you awake, they will speak with you. For the
commandment is a lamp, and the law a light. Reproofs
of instructions are the way of life. To keep
you from the evil woman. From the flattering
tongue of a seductress, do not lust after her
beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you
with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a
man is reduced to a crust of bread, and an adulteress
will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take
fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be
seared? So is he who goes into his neighbor's
wife. Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.
People do not despise a thief if he steals to
satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when
he is found, he must restore sevenfold. He may
have to give up all the substance of his house.
Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding.
He who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds
and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will
not be wiped away. For jealousy is a husband's
fury. Therefore he will not spare in a day of
vengeance. He will accept no recompense. nor
will he be appeased, though you give many gifts.
My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands
within you. Keep my commands and live, and my
law is the apple of your eye. Bind them on your
fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, You are my sister, and call understanding
your nearest kin, that they may keep you from
the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters
with her words. For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice, and saw among the
simple, I perceived among the youth, a young
man devoid of understanding, passing along the
street near her corner. And he took the path
to her house, in the twilight, in the evening,
in the black and dark night. And there a woman
met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty
heart. She was loud and rebellious, her feet
would not stay at home. At times she was outside,
at times in the open square, lurking at every
corner. So she caught him and kissed him. With
an impudent face, she said to him, I have peace
offerings with me. Today I have paid my vows.
So I come out to meet you, diligently to seek
your face, and I have found you. I have spread
my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian
linen. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes,
and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love
until morning. Let us delight ourselves with
love. For my husband is not at home. He has gone
on a long journey. He has taken a bag of money
with him, and will come home on appointed day.
With her enticing speech she caused him to yield.
With her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately
he went after her as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a fool to the correction of the stalks.
Till an arrow struck his liver, as a bird hastens
to the snare. He did not know it would cost his
life. Now therefore listen to me, my children.
Pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not
let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not
stray into her path. For she has cast down many
wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong
men. Her house is the way to hell, descending
to the chambers of death. Chapter 8 Does not
wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her
voice? She takes her stand on the top of the
high hill, beside the way where the paths meet.
She cries out by the gates at the entry of the
city. at the entrance of the doors. To you, O
men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you
fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen,
for I will speak of excellent things, and from
the opening of my lips will come right things.
For my mouth will speak truth. Wickedness is
an abomination to my lips. All the words of my
mouth are with righteousness. Nothing crooked
or perverse is in them. They are all plain to
him who understands, and right to those who find
knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom
is better than rubies, and all the things one
may desire cannot be compared with her. I, wisdom,
dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and
discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
Pride and arrogance an evil way, and a perverse
mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom.
I am understanding. I have strength. By me kings
reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes
rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.
I love those who love me, and those who seek
me diligently will find me. Riches and honor
are with me, enduring riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine
gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse
the way of righteousness in the midst of the
path of justice. that I may cause those who love
me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.
The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his
way, before his works of old. I have been established
from everlasting, from the beginning, before
there was even an earth. When there were no depth,
I was brought forth. When there were no fountains
abounding with water. Before the mountains were
settled, before the hills, I was brought forth.
While as yet he had not made the earth or the
fields, or the primal dust of the world. When
he prepared the heavens, I was there. When he
drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he
established the clouds above. When he strengthened
the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to
the sea its limit, so that the waters would not
transgress his command. When he marked out the
foundations of the earth. Then I was beside him
as a master craftsman, and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him, rejoicing in his
inhabited world. And my delight was with the
sons of men. Now therefore listen to me, my children,
for blessed are those who keep my ways, hear
instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching
daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my
doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains
favor from the Lord. But he who sins against
me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me
love death. Chapter 9 Wisdom has built her house.
She has hewn out her seven pillars. She has slaughtered
her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also
furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens.
She cries out from the highest places of the
city. Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.
As for him who lacks understanding, she says
to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the
wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live,
and go in the way of understanding. He who corrects
a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who
rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not
correct a scoffer lest he hate you. Rebuke a
wise man and he will love you. Give instruction
to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach
a just man and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied, and years
of life will be added to you. If you are wise,
you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff,
you will bear it alone. A foolish woman is clamorous.
She is simple and knows nothing. For she sits
at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest
places of the city, to call to those who pass
by, who go straight on their way. Whoever is
simple, let him turn in here. And as for him
who lacks understanding, she says to him, Stolen
water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is
pleasant, but he does not know that the dead
are there, that her guests are in the depth of
hell. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much
as I did, and I look forward to seeing you again
tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless
you and have a great day.