Study Desk

My son! if thou hast been surety for thy friend, Hast stricken for a stranger thy hand,

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,

For a lamp [is] the command, And the law a light, And a way of life [are] reproofs of instruction,

For a harlot consumeth unto a cake of bread, And an adulteress the precious soul hunteth.

For jealousy [is] the fury of a man, And he doth not spare in a day of vengeance.

For, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out,

For the man is not in his house, He hath gone on a long journey.

Till an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it [is] for its life.

For many [are] the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty [are] all her slain ones.

Hearken, for noble things I speak, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.

For truth doth my mouth utter, And an abomination to my lips [is] wickedness.

For better [is] wisdom than rubies, Yea, all delights are not comparable with it.

In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters transgress not His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,

For whoso is finding me, hath found life, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it -- shame, And a reprover of the wicked -- his blemish.

For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.

If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned -- thyself bearest [it].

Blessings [are] for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

The remembrance of the righteous [is] for a blessing, And the name of the wicked doth rot.

In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding.