Posted on 08/07/2014 8:23:51 AM PDT by OneVike
Proverb 7 (NKJV)
The Wiles of a Harlot
01 My son, keep my words,
00 And treasure my commands within you.
02 Keep my commands and live,
00 And my law as the apple of your eye.
03 Bind them on your fingers;
00 Write them on the tablet of your heart.
04 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,";
00 And call understanding your nearest kin,
05 That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
00 From the seductress who flatters with her words.
The Crafty Harlot
06 For at the window of my house
00 I looked through my lattice,
07 And saw among the simple,
00 I perceived among the youths,
00 A young man devoid of understanding,
08 Passing along the street near her corner;
00 And he took the path to her house
09 In the twilight, in the evening,
00 In the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him,
00 With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 She was loud and rebellious,
00 Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
00 Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
00 With an impudent face she said to him:
14 "I have peace offerings with me;
00 Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
00 Diligently to seek your face,
00 And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
00 Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
00 With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
00 Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home;
00 He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money with him,
00 And will come home on the appointed day.";
21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
00 With her flattering lips she seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
00 Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
00 As a bird hastens to the snare,
00 He did not know it would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
00 Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
00 Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
00 And all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 Her house is the way to hell,
00 Descending to the chambers of death.
The purpose of Writing the book of Proverbs by Solomon is to reveal the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and Godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.
Without wisdom, knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, influenced by emotional feelings. Many highly educated people are in positions of power in the United States, but very few of those educated leaders have the wisdom needed to rule properly.
One can say that they have been educated well beyond their intelligence. A cursory look at the court system will prove my point that knowledge without wisdom will only lead to an immoral society that eventually crumbles from within. Judges are supposed to be above the fray, and immovable to emotions. Instead, the vast majority of judges today are Godless individuals who are vacant of wisdom. So their rulings are totally based upon emotional feelings.
We the people are to blame, because we ignored God's guidance in appointing our leaders. Instead of putting leaders full wisdom in power, we instead chose those who would scratch our itchy ears to lead us.
Along with my daily routine of reading the Bible, I try to read through the book of Proverbs once a Month. It's an easy task when you consider there are 31 Proverbs. So all you need to know is what day of the Month it is. In the Months that have 30 days, or in the case of February, I just double up by reading more than one two proverb so I can begin the next month with Proverb 1 on the first again.
Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11 (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: 14 “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.” 21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. 22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b] 23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. 24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. 26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. 27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
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