Day 7 of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotion

Day 7  There is a dark foe who wants to lead you astray and keep you from wisdom and life. The Enemy is crafty. Don't be naive. He knows just what will entice you--whether it is sex, drugs, or just someone who seems to listen and care. Wisdom teaches us to be innocent but also careful. Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs 7:1-5 Child, hold on to what I say; always keep it with you.  Do it and you will live. The most important thing is to live this way. Let my advice be your constant reminder. Tattoo it on your heart saying, “Wisdom, you’re my sister and insight my closest friend,” so they will steer you clear of whores who would cheat and seduce you with their charms. Guard your heart and your life.  Don't be naive. Be careful out there. Prayer "Holy Spirit, guard us and keep our eyes open that we may not be naive or caught off guard when the Enemy comes to distract or lead us astray. Amen." Read Proverbs Chapter 7
New American Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 7 The Wiles of the Harlot 1 My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you. 2 Keep my commandments and live, And my [a]teaching as the [b]apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your intimate friend; 5 That they may keep you from an [c]adulteress, From the foreigner who [d]flatters with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice, 7 And I saw among the [e]naive, And discerned among the [f]youths A young man lacking [g]sense, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he [h]takes the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the [i]evening, In the [j]middle of the night and in the darkness. 10 And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart. 11 She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home; 12 She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner. 13 So she seizes him and kisses him [k]And with a brazen face she says to him: 14 “[l]I was due to offer peace offerings; Today I have paid my vows. 15 “Therefore I have come out to meet you, To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you. 16 “I have spread my couch with coverings, With colored linens of Egypt. 17 “I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses. 19 “For [m]my husband is not at home, He has gone on a long journey; 20 He has taken a bag of money [n]with him, At the full moon he will come home.” 21 With her many persuasions she entices him; With her [o]flattering lips she seduces him. 22 Suddenly he follows her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as [p]one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, 23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, So he does not know that it will cost him his life. 24 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And pay attention to the words of my mouth. 25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths. 26 For many are the [q]victims she has cast down, And numerous are all her slain. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death. Footnotes: 1.            Proverbs 7:2 Or law 2.            Proverbs 7:2 Lit pupil 3.            Proverbs 7:5 Lit strange woman 4.            Proverbs 7:5 Lit is smooth 5.            Proverbs 7:7 Lit simple ones 6.            Proverbs 7:7 Lit sons 7.            Proverbs 7:7 Lit heart 8.            Proverbs 7:8 Lit steps 9.            Proverbs 7:9 Lit evening of the day 10.          Proverbs 7:9 Lit pupil (of the eye) 11.          Proverbs 7:13 Lit She makes bold her face and says 12.          Proverbs 7:14 Lit Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me 13.          Proverbs 7:19 Lit the man 14.          Proverbs 7:20 Lit in his hand 15.          Proverbs 7:21 Lit smooth 16.          Proverbs 7:22 Or as a stag goes into a trap; so some ancient versions 17.          Proverbs 7:26 Lit mortally wounded	Proverbs 7 The Dangerous Lies of Adultery 1-5 Child, hold on to what I say; always keep it with you.  Do it and you will live. The most important thing is to live this way. Let my advice be your constant reminder. Tattoo it on your heart saying, “Wisdom, you’re my sister and insight my closest friend,” so they will steer you clear of whores who would cheat and seduce you with their charms. 6-12 One day, I was looking out my window through the lattice and I saw this foolish guy with no sense.  He found her on the street corner where you can always find her. She took him up to her house. He went there as the sun was setting and found her after dark, dressed like a whore ready to drum up some more business. She pounces on her customers, a bold and pushy salesman, leaving her house to sell her body to whoever’s buying. 13-20 So she caught another one, grabbing and kissing him, saying with charming deceit, “I just came from church where I made an offering and said a vow, but I couldn't wait to come find you! I've decorated my place so pretty with exotic sheets and perfume. Sweet candles are burning and I have lotions and scented oils. Come to bed with me and we’ll make love all night. My husband’s gone and won't be back for a long time. He took money and won't be back until the next full moon.” 21-23 So in this way she catches him with her charming, sweet lips--hook, line, and sinker.  He hurried off with her like sheep led to slaughter, caught in the trap till his belly was slit open. He was like a mouse lured to a trap, not knowing he was about to meet his end. 24-27 Oh how I wish all my children would listen and pay attention to what I say! Don't let her deceive you! Don't go with her! She has wounded so many and slain even more. Her house is a gateway to hell, leading down to a dungeon of death.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs (PCP) Copyright © 2018 by Chris Mullis

Day 6 of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotion

Day 6  Wise living doesn't just happen on its own.  Wisdom takes focus, attention, persistence, and motivation.  You have to chase it!  You need to pray about your decisions and meditate on the possibilities and then work hard to do whatever God guides you to do.  You can't be lazy or careless.  And when you make a mistake, you need a sense of urgency to correct it.  Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs 6:1-11 Dear child, if you’ve cosigned a loan for your neighbor, or pledged to pay the debt of someone else if they don’t come through, you’re in a dangerous and vulnerable position.  Get out of it!  They have your welfare in their hands (and they don't have as much at stake as you).  Rush to them and plead to get your name off the contract!  Don’t rest until you are safe again!  This is urgent, like a gazelle being chased by a cheetah, like a bird flapping furiously to escape a hunter’s hand. Learn a lesson from the ant, lazybones!  You will be wise if you act like him.  Even though he doesn’t have a leader telling him what to do, the ant works hard all summer and collects food for the winter.  But you just sit there.  How long do you need to sleep, lazybones?  Sleeping in, snoozing a little longer, snuggling up to your pillow, and then poverty steals it all; it’s like you’ve been raided by an armed warrior and have nothing left to your name. Be responsible for yourself.  Get out of debt and stay out.  Work hard and be diligent.  Resist the urge to slack off.  Real peace comes to those who work for it. Pray "Father, fill us with a sense of urgency to fix our mistakes and to work hard to focus on wise living.  Help us to work ahead and not just do the minimum or put things off trying to make it just in the nick of time.  Help us to be wise.  Amen." Read Proverbs Chapter 6
New American Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 6 Parental Counsel 1 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have [a]given a pledge for a stranger, 2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth, 3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the [b]hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. 4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids; 5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, 8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest. 9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to [c]rest”— 11 Your poverty will come in like a [d]vagabond And your need like [e]an armed man. 12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, 13 Who winks with his eyes, who [f]signals with his feet, Who [g]points with his fingers; 14 Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who [h]spreads strife. 15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing. 16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination [i]to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who [j]spreads strife among brothers. 20 My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the [k]teaching of your mother; 21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk about, [l]they will guide you; When you sleep, [m]they will watch over you; And when you awake, [n]they will talk to you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the [o]teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life 24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the [p]adulteress. 25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids. 26 For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And [q]an adulteress hunts for the precious life. 27 Can a man [r]take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched? 29 So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her will not [s]go unpunished. 30 [t]Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy [u]himself when he is hungry; 31 But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the [v]substance of his house. 32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking [w]sense; He who would destroy [x]himself does it. 33 Wounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach will not be blotted out. 34 For jealousy [y]enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not [z]accept any ransom, Nor will he be [aa]satisfied though you give many [ab]gifts. Footnotes: 1.            Proverbs 6:1 Lit clapped your palms 2.            Proverbs 6:3 Lit palm 3.            Proverbs 6:10 Lit lie down 4.            Proverbs 6:11 Lit one who walks 5.            Proverbs 6:11 Lit a man with a shield 6.            Proverbs 6:13 Lit scrapes 7.            Proverbs 6:13 Lit instructs with 8.            Proverbs 6:14 Lit sends out 9.            Proverbs 6:16 Lit of His soul 10.          Proverbs 6:19 Lit sends out 11.          Proverbs 6:20 Or law 12.          Proverbs 6:22 Lit she 13.          Proverbs 6:22 Lit she 14.          Proverbs 6:22 Lit she 15.          Proverbs 6:23 Or law 16.          Proverbs 6:24 Lit foreign woman 17.          Proverbs 6:26 Lit a man’s wife 18.          Proverbs 6:27 Lit snatch up 19.          Proverbs 6:29 Lit be innocent 20.          Proverbs 6:30 Lit They do not; or Do not men...? 21.          Proverbs 6:30 Lit his soul 22.          Proverbs 6:31 Or wealth 23.          Proverbs 6:32 Lit heart 24.          Proverbs 6:32 Lit his soul 25.          Proverbs 6:34 Lit is the rage of 26.          Proverbs 6:35 Lit lift up the face of any 27.          Proverbs 6:35 Lit willing 28.          Proverbs 6:35 Or bribes	Proverbs 6 Practical Warnings 1-5 Dear child, if you’ve cosigned a loan for your neighbor, or pledged to pay the debt of someone else if they don’t come through, you’re in a dangerous and vulnerable position.  Get out of it!  They have your welfare in their hands (and they don't have as much at stake as you).  Rush to them and plead to get your name off the contract!  Don’t rest until you are safe again!  This is urgent, like a gazelle being chased by a cheetah, like a bird flapping furiously to escape a hunter’s hand. 6-11 Learn a lesson from the ant, lazybones!  You will be wise if you act like him.  Even though he doesn’t have a leader telling him what to do, the ant works hard all summer and collects food for the winter.  But you just sit there.  How long do you need to sleep, lazybones?  Sleeping in, snoozing a little longer, snuggling up to your pillow, and then poverty steals it all; it’s like you’ve been raided by an armed warrior and have nothing left to your name. 12-15 A worthless, ungodly person goes around distorting the truth, winking and crossing his fingers behind his back; he won’t just say the plain truth.  His perverted mind is always making evil plans and stirring up trouble.  That’s why disaster strikes him out of nowhere and breaks him beyond repair. 16-19 There are six things the Lord Jehovah hates, seven are truly disgusting to Him: arrogance, dishonesty, killing the innocent, plotting evil, doing wrong, lying under oath, and sowing discord in a family. 20-29 Do what your father says, child, and don’t ignore what your mother taught you.  Treasure their words in your heart and always keep them close.  They will show you where to go and keep you safe at night.  They’ll tell you what to do the next day when you wake up.  A commandment is a lamp and their reasoning is the light. Correction and discipline lead to life and protect you from seductive words from tempting women.  Don’t burn for their hot bods or be seduced by their fluttering eyes; for a prostitute will will take all your money and falling for another man’s wife will get you killed.  Can you start a fire in your lap and not get burned?  Can you walk barefoot on hot coals and not blister your feet?  That’s what it’s like to sleep with another man’s wife.  You won’t escape the consequences if you touch her.  30-35 No one blames a thief for stealing food if they’re starving, but they still pay the price if they get caught--even if it cost them everything.  However, it’s just dumb to commit adultery, because you’re ruining your life.  You’ll be disgraced and diseased and your shame will never be forgotten.  A jealous husband will be furious and have no mercy when he seeks revenge.  No amount of money or anything else will satisfy him.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs (PCP) Copyright © 2018 by Chris Mullis