Proverbs Chapter 6
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth,
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Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
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Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
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And the man that getteth understanding.
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For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver,
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And the profit thereof than fine gold.
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She is more precious than rubies:
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And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
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Length of days is in her right hand;
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In her left hand are riches and honor.
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Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
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And all her paths are peace.
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She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:
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And happy is every one that retaineth her.
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Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth;
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By understanding he established the heavens.
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By his knowledge the depths were broken up,
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And the skies drop down the dew.
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My son, let them not depart from thine eyes;
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Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
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So shall they be life unto thy soul,
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And grace to thy neck.
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Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely,
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And thy foot shall not stumble.
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When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:
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Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
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Be not afraid of sudden fear,
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Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
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For Jehovah will be thy confidence,
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And will keep thy foot from being taken.
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Withhold not good from them to whom it is due,
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When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
33
Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again,
34
And to-morrow I will give;
35
When thou hast it by thee.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
My son, if thou hast become surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand for a stranger,
2
thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, since thou hast come into the hand of thy friend: go, humble thyself, and be urgent with thy friend.
4
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids:
5
deliver thyself as a gazelle from the hand [of the hunter], and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise:
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which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
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provideth her bread in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.
9
How long, sluggard, wilt thou lie down? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!
11
So shall thy poverty come as a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.
12
A man of Belial, a wicked person, is he that goeth about with a perverse mouth;
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he winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
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deceits are in his heart; he deviseth mischief at all times, he soweth discords.
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Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly: in a moment shall he be broken, and without remedy.
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These six [things] doth Jehovah hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
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haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;
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a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations; feet that are swift in running to mischief;
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a false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discords among brethren.
20
My son, observe thy father's commandment, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
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bind them continually upon thy heart, tie them about thy neck:
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when thou walkest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and [when] thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23
For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
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to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
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Lust not after her beauty in thy heart, neither let her take thee with her eyelids;
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for by means of a whorish woman [a man is brought] to a loaf of bread, and another's wife doth hunt for the precious soul.
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Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his garments not be burned?
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Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
29
So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife: whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
30
They do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry:
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and if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
32
Whoso committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
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A wound and contempt shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34
For jealousy is the rage of a man, and he will not spare in the day of vengeance;
35
he will not regard any ransom, neither will he rest content though thou multipliest [thy] gifts.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
[My] son, if thou become surety for thy friend, thou shalt deliver thine hand to an enemy.
2
For a man's own lips become a strong snare to him, and he is caught with the lips of his own mouth.
3
[My] son, do what I command thee, and deliver thyself; for on thy friend's account thou art come into the power of evil [men]: faint not, but stir up even thy friend for whom thou art become surety.
4
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber with thine eyelids;
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that thou mayest deliver thyself as a doe out of the toils, and as a bird out of a snare.
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Go to the ant, O sluggard; and see, and emulate his ways, and become wiser than he.
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For whereas he has no husbandry, nor any one to compel him, and is under no master,
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he prepares food for himself in the summer, and lays by abundant store in harvest.
9
How long wilt thou lie, O sluggard? and when wilt thou awake out of sleep?
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Thou sleepest a little, and thou restest a little, and thou slumberest a short [time], and thou foldest thine arms over thy breast a little.
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Then poverty comes upon thee as an evil traveller, and want as a swift courier:
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A foolish man and a transgressor goes in ways that are not good.
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And the same winks with the eye, and makes a sign with his foot, and teaches with the beckonings of his fingers.
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[His] perverse heart devises evils: at all times such a one causes troubles to a city.
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Therefore his destruction shall come suddenly; overthrow and irretrievable ruin.
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For he rejoices in all things which God hates, and he is ruined by reason of impurity of soul.
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The eye of the haughty, a tongue unjust, hands shedding the blood of the just;
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and a heart devising evil thoughts, and feet hastening to do evil,—[are hateful to God].
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An unjust witness kindles falsehoods, and brings on quarrels between brethren.
20
[My] son, keep the laws of thy father, and reject not the ordinances of thy mother:
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but bind them upon thy soul continually, and hang them as a chain about thy neck.
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Whensoever thou walkest, lead this along and let it be with thee; and when thou sleepest let it keep thee; that it may talk with thee when thou wakest.
23
For the commandment of the law is a lamp and a light; a way of life; reproof also and correction:
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to keep thee continually from a married woman, and from the calumny of a strange tongue.
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Let not the desire of beauty overcome thee, neither be thou caught by thine eyes, neither be captivated with her eyelids.
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For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf; and a woman hunts for the precious souls of men.
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Shall any one bind fire in his bosom, and not burn his garments?
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or will any one walk on coals of fire, and not burn his feet?
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So is he that goes in to a married woman; he shall not be held guiltless, neither any one that touches her.
30
It is not to be wondered at if one should be taken stealing, for he steals that when hungry he may satisfy his soul:
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but if he should be taken, he shall repay sevenfold, and shall deliver himself by giving all his goods.
32
But the adulterer through want of sense procures destruction to his soul.
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He endures both pain and disgrace, and his reproach shall never be wiped off.
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For the soul of her husband is full of jealousy: he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35
He will not forego [his] enmity for any ransom: neither will he be reconciled for many gifts.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Fili mi, si spoponderis pro amico tuo, defixisti apud extraneum manum tuam,
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illaqueatus es verbis oris tui, et captus propriis sermonibus.
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Fac ergo quod dico fili mi, et temetipsum libera: quia incidisti in manum proximi tui. Discurre, festina, suscita amicum tuum:
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ne dederis somnum oculis tuis, nec dormitent palpebræ tuæ.
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Eruere quasi damula de manu, et quasi avis de manu aucupis.
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Vade ad formicam o piger, et considera vias eius, et disce sapientiam:
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quæ cum non habeat ducem, nec præceptorem, nec principem,
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parat in æstate cibum sibi, et congregat in messe quod comedat.
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Usquequo piger dormies? quando consurges e somno tuo?
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Paululum dormies, paululum dormitabis, paululum conseres manus ut dormias:
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et veniet tibi quasi viator, egestas, et pauperies quasi vir armatus. Si vero impiger fueris, veniet ut fons messis tua, et egestas longe fugiet a te.
12
Homo apostata, vir inutilis, graditur ore perverso,
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annuit oculis, terit pede, digito loquitur,
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pravo corde machinatur malum, et omni tempore iurgia seminat.
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huic extemplo veniet perditio sua, et subito conteretur, nec habebit ultra medicinam.
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Sex sunt, quæ odit Dominus, et septimum detestatur anima eius:
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Oculos sublimes, linguam mendacem, manus effundentes innoxium sanguinem,
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cor machinans cogitationes pessimas, pedes veloces ad currendum in malum,
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proferentem mendacia testem fallacem, et eum, qui seminat inter fratres discordias.
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Conserva fili mi præcepta patris tui, et ne dimittas legem matris tuæ.
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Liga ea in corde tuo iugiter, et circumda gutturi tuo.
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Cum ambulaveris, gradiantur tecum: cum dormieris, custodiant te, et evigilans loquere cum eis.
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quia mandatum lucerna est, et lex lux, et via vitæ increpatio disciplinæ:
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ut custodiant te a muliere mala, et a blanda lingua extraneæ.
25
Non concupiscat pulchritudinem eius cor tuum, nec capiaris nutibus illius:
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pretium enim scorti vix est unius panis: mulier autem viri pretiosam animam capit.
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Numquid potest homo abscondere ignem in sinu suo, ut vestimenta illius non ardeant?
28
aut ambulare super prunas, ut non comburantur plantæ eius?
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sic qui ingreditur ad mulierem proximi sui, non erit mundus cum tetigerit eam.
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Non grandis est culpa, cum quis furatus fuerit: furatur enim ut esurientem impleat animam:
31
deprehensus quoque reddet septuplum, et omnem substantiam domus suæ tradet.
32
Qui autem adulter est, propter cordis inopiam perdet animam suam:
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turpitudinem et ignominiam congregat sibi, et opprobrium illius non delebitur.
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quia zelus et furor viri non parcet in die vindictæ,
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nec acquiescet cuiusquam precibus, nec suscipiet pro redemptione dona plurima.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,
2
you are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared with the words of your mouth.
3
Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.
4
Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
5
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6
Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;
7
which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
8
provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
9
How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?
10
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—
11
so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.
12
A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth,
13
who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers,
14
in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
15
Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
16
There are six things which the LORD hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
17
arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19
a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
20
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
21
Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.
22
When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.
23
For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24
to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.
25
Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
26
For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
27
Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned?
28
Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
29
So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
30
Men don’t despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry,
31
but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
32
He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
33
He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.
34
For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance.
35
He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
My son! if thou hast been surety for thy friend, Hast stricken for a stranger thy hand,
2
Hast been snared with sayings of thy mouth, Hast been captured with sayings of thy mouth,
3
Do this now, my son, and be delivered, For thou hast come into the hand of thy friend. Go, trample on thyself, and strengthen thy friend,
4
Give not sleep to thine eyes, And slumber to thine eyelids,
5
Be delivered as a roe from the hand, And as a bird from the hand of a fowler.
6
Go unto the ant, O slothful one, See her ways and be wise;
7
Which hath not captain, overseer, and ruler,
8
She doth prepare in summer her bread, She hath gathered in harvest her food.
9
Till when, O slothful one, dost thou lie? When dost thou arise from thy sleep?
10
A little sleep, a little slumber, A little clasping of the hands to rest,
11
And thy poverty hath come as a traveller, And thy want as an armed man.
12
A man of worthlessness, a man of iniquity, Walking <FI>with<Fi> perverseness of mouth,
13
Winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, Directing with his fingers,
14
Frowardness <FI>is<Fi> in his heart, devising evil at all times, Contentions he sendeth forth.
15
Therefore suddenly cometh his calamity, Instantly he is broken--and no healing.
16
These six hath Jehovah hated, Yea, seven <FI>are<Fi> abominations to His soul.
17
Eyes high--tongues false--And hands shedding innocent blood--
18
A heart devising thoughts of vanity--Feet hasting to run to evil--
19
A false witness <FI>who<Fi> doth breathe out lies--And one sending forth contentions between brethren.
20
Keep, my son, the command of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother.
21
Bind them on thy heart continually, Tie them on thy neck.
22
In thy going up and down, it leadeth thee, In thy lying down, it watcheth over thee, And thou hast awaked--it talketh <FI>with<Fi> thee.
23
For a lamp <FI>is<Fi> the command, And the law a light, And a way of life <FI>are<Fi> reproofs of instruction,
24
To preserve thee from an evil woman, From the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25
Desire not her beauty in thy heart, And let her not take thee with her eyelids.
26
For a harlot consumeth unto a cake of bread, And an adulteress the precious soul hunteth.
27
Doth a man take fire into his bosom, And are his garments not burnt?
28
Doth a man walk on the hot coals, And are his feet not scorched?
29
So <FI>is<Fi> he who hath gone in unto the wife of his neighbour, None who doth touch her is innocent.
30
They do not despise the thief, When he stealeth to fill his soul when he is hungry,
31
And being found he repayeth sevenfold, All the substance of his house he giveth.
32
He who committeth adultery <FI>with<Fi> a woman lacketh heart, He is destroying his soul who doth it.
33
A stroke and shame he doth find, And his reproach is not wiped away,
34
For jealousy <FI>is<Fi> the fury of a man, And he doth not spare in a day of vengeance.
35
He accepteth not the appearance of any atonement, Yea, he doth not consent, Though thou dost multiply bribes!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).