ASA WR WB to believing Muslim friends.
May the eternal peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon Nabi Muhammad and other Anbiya whose passages I often mention. Allahumma Ameen.
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.2 Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned.3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil.4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword.5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.6 For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.7 So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say:8 Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!9 If you do, you will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.10 Strangers will consume your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.11 In the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body.12 You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings!13 Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace.”15 Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife.16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone?17 You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?21 For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.23 He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.7 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave ; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.13 Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”15 My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.20 Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.21 She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:22 “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?23 Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.25 You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.30 They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.33 But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”
1 Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!2 On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads.3 By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud,4 “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people.5 You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right,7 for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.8 My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it.9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.10 Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.13 All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.14 Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine.15 Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.16 Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.17 “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.18 I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!20 I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.21 Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.22 “The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.23 I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.24 I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.25 Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—26 before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.27 I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans.28 I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,30 I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.31 And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!32 “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.33 Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.34 Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD .36 But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”