Study Desk

Then do this, my son, and save yourself: Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and be urgent with your neighbor to free yourself.

A worthless person, a wicked man, Is one who walks with a perverse mouth,

Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers;

Who, with perversion in his heart, continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.

My son, comply with the commandment of your father, And do not ignore the teaching of your mother;

Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.

One who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself commits it.

So that they may keep you from an adulteress, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.

So she seizes him and kisses him, And with a brazen face she says to him:

"I have spread my couch with coverings, With colored linens of Egypt.

"I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

"Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning; Let's delight ourselves with caresses.

"He has taken a bag of money with him. At the full moon he will come home."

With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him.

"For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion.

"Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness.

To endow those who love me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.

"When there were no ocean depths, I was born, When there were no springs abounding with water.

Poor is one who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.