Proverbs 23:15-24:5 (Vespers, 2nd reading)
- 15
- My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice – indeed, I myself;
- 16
- yes, my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak right things.
- 17
- Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;
- 18
- for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.
- 19
- Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the way.
- 20
- Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
- 21
- for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
- 22
- Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
- 23
- Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.
- 24
- The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
- 25
- Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice.
- 26
- My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
- 27
- For a harlot is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well.
- 28
- She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men.
- 29
- Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
- 30
- Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine.
- 31
- Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly;
- 32
- at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.
- 33
- Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things.
- 34
- Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:
- 35
- “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; they have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”
- 1
- Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;
- 2
- For their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of troublemaking.
- 3
- Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
- 4
- By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
- 5
- A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;