The meaning of Solomon's parable for modern man. Read Solomon's Proverbs online

In this article we will discuss with you the Proverbs of Solomon - why is it important?

King Solomon was a prophetic image of our Lord Christ (Son of David) - and many passages of Scripture indicate this (2 Samuel 7:8,12-14. Isaiah 53:10,4,5. Psalm 71:2-13, 17. Heb.1:5). Our Teacher Christ in His time said to the Pharisees: “The Queen of the South will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, here is greater than Solomon" (Matt. 12:42.). Further, the Scripture says: “And the disciples came and said to Him; Why do you speak to them in parables? He answered them; because it is given to you to know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them; Blessed are your eyes for seeing, and your ears for hearing" (Matt. 13:10,11,16). "" ... to others in parables, so that seeing they do not see and hearing they do not understand"" (Luke.8:10.). And like the Son of God, Christ, in which all wisdom is hidden(Colossians 2:3) - TJust as Solomon, who has wisdom from the Most High, used parables in his teachings... But, the Proverbs of Solomon are parables, they cannot be taken literally. And Solomon himself warned about this at the beginning of his book: “A wise man will listen and increase knowledge, and a wise man will find wise advice; to understand the parable and intricate speech, the words of wise men and their riddles" (Prov. 1:5,6).

What did Solomon and Christ and their parables have in common? (Matt. 12:42.).

Reading a book compiled by the wisest man of pre-Christian times, and taking it literally, we may not notice that it contains any special treasures of knowledge. On a superficial reading, it may seem that many talented people are capable of writing something like this, and some parts of this book may look, in general, even banal. But, when we understand the essence of the parables (as well as the essence of the parables of our Teacher and the Lord Christ), we begin to understand that Solomon, in fact, was given brilliant and prophetic wisdom.

So, we invite you to this wonderful world, and bring to your attention some of the remarkable passages of the book: The Proverbs of Solomon.

Proverbs 1:10-19

My son! if sinners persuade you, do not agree; 11 if they say: “Come with us, we will set an ambush for murder, we will lie in wait for the blameless without guilt, 12 we will swallow them up alive, like the grave, and whole, as if going down into the grave; 13 we will gather up every precious thing property, we will fill our houses with spoils; 14 you will cast your lot with us, we will all have one storehouse,” 15 my son! do not go on a journey with them, keep your foot from their path, 16 for their feet run to evil and hasten to shed blood. 17 In the eyes of all the birds a net is laid in vain, 18 but they lay an ambush for their blood and lie in wait for their souls. 19 These are the ways of anyone who covets someone else's goods: it takes the life of the one who takes possession of it.

- this parable says About the heads of Israel:

Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel near the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard; I will have a vegetable garden from it, for it is close to my house; and in its place I will give you a better vineyard than this, or, if you wish, I will give you the amount of silver it is worth. But Naboth said to Ahab: The Lord forbid me, that I may give you the inheritance of my fathers! ... And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel commanded them, just as it was written in the letters that she sent to them. They declared a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people; and two wicked men came forward and sat opposite him, and these wicked men testified against him before the people, and said, Naboth blasphemed God and the king. And they took him out of the city and stoned him, and he died (1 Kings 21:1-3,11-13).

This is a shadow of the future, and the body is in Christ (Col. 2:17).

Listen to another parable: there was a certain owner of a house who planted a vineyard, surrounded it with a fence, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, and, having given it to vinedressers, went away. When the time for fruit approached, he sent his servants to the vinedressers to take their fruit; The winegrowers seized his servants, beat some, killed others, and stoned others. Again he sent other servants, more than before; and they did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying: They will be ashamed of my son. But the vinedressers, seeing their son, said to each other: This is the heir; Let's go, kill him and take possession of his inheritance. And they seized him, took him out of the vineyard and killed him (Matt. 21:33-39.).

Listen, you rich people: weep and howl for your misfortunes that are coming upon you. ... Behold, the wages that you withheld from the workers who reaped your fields cry out, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived luxuriously on earth and enjoyed; nourish your hearts as for the day of slaughter. You condemned and killed the Righteous One; He did not resist you (James 5:1,4-6).

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour the houses of widows and hypocritically pray for a long time: for this you will receive all the more condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you go around sea and land to convert even one; and when this happens, you make him a son of Gehenna, twice as bad as you. ...Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, and say: If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their accomplices in [shedding] the blood of the prophets; Thus, you testify against yourself that you are the sons of those who beat the prophets; complete the measure of your fathers. Serpents, spawn of vipers! How will you escape from condemnation to Gehenna? Therefore, behold, I send you prophets and wise men and scribes; and some you will kill and crucify, and others you will beat in your synagogues and drive from city to city; May all the righteous blood shed on earth come upon you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachi, whom you killed between the temple and the altar (Matt. 23:14,15,29-35).

Proverbs 1:20-33

Wisdom proclaims in the streets, in the squares she raises her voice, 21 in the main places of assembly she preaches, at the entrances to the city gates she speaks her speech: 22 “How long, O ignorant people, will you love ignorance? [How long] will the violent delight in violence? How long will fools hate knowledge ?23 Turn to my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit on you, I will proclaim my words to you. 24 I called, and you did not listen; I stretched out my hand, and there was no one who heard; 25 and you rejected all my counsels and my reproofs. 26 Therefore I will laugh at your destruction; I will rejoice when terror comes upon you; 27 when terror comes upon you like a storm, and trouble comes upon you like a whirlwind; when sorrow and distress come upon you. 28 Then they will call me, and I will not hear; in the morning they will seek me, and will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 did not accept my advice, they despised all my reproofs; 31 for then they will eat the fruit of their ways and be satisfied with their thoughts. 32 For the stubbornness of the ignorant will kill them, and the carelessness of fools will destroy them, 33 but he who listens to me will live safely and calmly, without fear of evil.”

In fact, the parable speaks about Christ and His opponents:

Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in Him, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:6,3).

The Pharisees said to each other: Do you see that you do not have time to do anything? the whole world follows Him (John 12:19). ... and they said: what should we do? This Man does many miracles. If we leave Him like this, then everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take possession of both our place and our people. One of them, a certain Caiaphas, being the high priest that year, said to them: you know nothing, and you will not think that it is better for us that one person should die for the people, than that the whole people should perish. He did not say this on his own, but, being high priest that year, he predicted that Jesus would die for the people, and not only for the people, but in order to gather together the scattered children of God. From that day on they decided to kill Him (John 11:47-53).

Some told Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus said to them: Do you think that these Galileans were more sinners than all the Galileans, that they suffered so much? No, I tell you, but if you do not repent, you will all perish in the same way. Or do you think that those eighteen people on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them were more guilty than all those living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way (Luke 13:1-5). ... and the city and the sanctuary will be destroyed by the people of the leader who comes, and its end will be like a flood, and until the end of the war there will be desolation (Dan. 9:26 (b)).

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain fell, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it did not fall, because it was founded on rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain fell, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and he fell, and his fall was great. And when Jesus finished these words, the people marveled at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 7:24-29).

So, we have examined with you the essence of what King Solomon wrote about under the inspiration of the Almighty. It often happens that residents of even the most exotic and beautiful places on our planet do not notice what surrounds them - the sky, the earth and everything on it. And this is only because they do not strive to see it.
Genesis 1:31 says; - “And God saw everything that He had created, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning: the sixth day." But everything that is best and beautiful that we can see is just a reflection of the glory of the Great Yahweh. This universe without boundaries shows the essence of His greatness (Rom.11:33. Isaiah.40:26. Heb.1:10-12). And if the six days of creation are significant, then how much more significant is the seventh, spiritual day! (Remember, for example, the law on the Sabbath: Exod. 31:12-16. Eccl. 12:8,13. Heb. 4:9,10). It is this theme of the seventh day of creation that is one of the most important ***. Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs 2:3-5,9,10 that by knowing as much as possible the Truth spoken of in Scripture, we will truly be able to see how amazing and beautiful what God is doing for us today - on the seventh day (Mark 4:10-13,23-25).

Footnote: ***It is precisely because the first people were created on the sixth day (together with animals) that they sinned. Thus, losing the paradise earth without entering the “rest of God” (Genesis 1:24-28,31). But how can we understand what is written about in Genesis 1:26?.. After all, it says that they were created in the image of God?.. -Psalm 8:6-9 gives us the answer to this. The first people were created "in the image and likeness" in the sense that they were to rule on earth, just as God did in heaven. But they had yet to enter into God’s rest - on the seventh day (see Genesis 1:31. Genesis 2:1-3. Heb.4:1-11. Eccl.3:18-20. Rom.8:19- 21). The first people, despite their perfect health and body, did not have spiritual qualities, just like those Jews who did not enter the promised land (see Deuteronomy 29:2-4). These qualities are a spiritual gift of the Almighty Yahweh, since it is not the flesh that saves, but the Spirit! .. (Matt. 16:16,17. John 6:63. 1 Corinth. 15:45. 1 Corinth. 2:14).
Sergey Iakovlev.

The parables of King Solomon are written as an appeal from a father teaching his son the wisdom of life, which actions can be considered pleasing to God and which are bad. Instruction to the son, as the heir, the person dearest to the real father, is conquered with his love and care. No one can blame a parent for moral teachings, by observing which his son will achieve human respect and God's blessing.

The Proverbs of Solomon are combined into 31 chapters, which list every conceivable situation in life and give advice on how best to act in each case. But if we consider them as a whole, the meaning of the instructions is similar to God’s 10 commandments, which must be observed by everyone who wants to live in peace and prosperity.

Solomon's advice can be downloaded on the Internet for free so that you can listen and study it at home without interference. Also, numerous sites offer to study the Bible online, helping to clarify unclear passages. Priests who interpret biblical texts help beginners and those simply interested in religion to pass the sacred Book through their hearts and souls, so that there are no omissions or understatements left.

Solomon means peace-loving. During the 40 years of his reign, Solomon did not enter into a single serious war, living up to his name. The country, under the leadership of a wise king, reached prosperity and wealth. There were legends about the wisdom of Solomon: all the people who could not solve their problems on their own turned to the wise king for help, and everyone agreed with the king’s decision

What do the parables of the king of Israel teach?

The parables of Solomon are the result of his life experience, which he passes on not only to his heir, but to all people who want to live in peace and harmony with their conscience. The fear of the Lord, which many readers of Solomon's parables take literally, means respect and veneration for the Divine covenant about how all people on earth should live.

The Book of Solomon's Proverbs is still relevant today. With the development of the Internet, you can read the instructions of the ancient king yourself online or download a video to your computer or disk. Many Christian sites make it possible to listen to the wise commandments of Solomon online.

Historically, no confirmation of Solomon's life in reality has been found. All information about the third king of Israel is taken from the Bible. It is believed that King Solomon built the Jerusalem Temple of unprecedented beauty and splendor.

The Legend of King Solomon

God gave Solomon a ring with which a person gains power over demons. Solomon managed to neutralize all the demons so that they could not interfere with the construction of the Temple, which his father David did not have time to complete. But the main demon, King Asmodeus, did not obey the will of Solomon, who could not understand the origins of the demon’s power.

Through deception and cunning, Solomon managed to lure Asmodeus into a trap and take him prisoner. The king settled the demon in the garden, entangling him with a chain engraved with the name of God. Asmodeus could not escape and carried out all the orders of Solomon, obeying the ring with the divine seal. The demon was forced to give up his witchcraft book and tell the secret of the worm Shamir, which could grind a stone of any size and was used in the construction of the Temple.

But King Solomon was overcome by curiosity about what power the demon had and what was its reason. For revealing the secret, the ruler of Israel threw off the chain from the demon and took his ring off his finger. At that same moment, Asmodeus became of gigantic proportions, connecting God’s world and the underworld with his wings. He tore the ring of God from the hands of Solomon and threw it into the sea, and threw the king himself into a distant country. He himself took on the appearance of Solomon and began to rule in his place in Jerusalem.

Solomon wandered for 3 long years in a foreign country, without renouncing God, accepting the well-deserved punishment for excessive pride, self-confidence, and curiosity. But one day he found his ring in the belly of a fish and was able to return to the palace. Asmodeus disappeared at that very moment, and Solomon began to rule Israel again. But he forever remembered his misadventures and drew conclusions so as not to make mistakes in the future.

Teaching his son and everyone who reads the parables of the wise king, Solomon warns future generations against the machinations of evil demons. Only in the name of God can one conquer one’s passions, ultimately winning victory over the machinations of the Prince of Darkness.
The Book of Solomon's Proverbs teaches those living to listen to their inner voice before acting rashly, regretting later the unrighteous act.

Solomon's moral teaching is divided into several topics, dealing with the education of young people, mature men, women, and rulers. Parables are similar to poems about the moral character of people living on earth, interpreting how a person who believes in God should act in a given case.

After the death of the king, numerous stories about Solomon’s wisdom and his resolution of difficult everyday situations spread among the people. Now it is difficult to distinguish between the imagination of the people and what really happened, but the story of the ring is one of the most famous legends about Solomon.

Nowadays, Solomon’s advice is set to music; the chant can be watched on video clips, listened to via a player, or downloaded to your disk.

Legend of Solomon's Ring

The parable of Solomon and his ring is presented on the Internet in several versions that you can read or listen to online. Those who wish can also download information from the Orthodox website.

The legend tells of a terrible famine in the country ruled by Solomon. Seeing people die cruel deaths, the king began to sell gold and jewelry to buy provisions and save his people. Seeing the senselessness of his actions, the king turned to the priest with a request to help him. The priest presented a ring, which in ancient times was considered a symbol of power, a magical sign of infinity and unity. The priest advised the young king to keep this ring with him at all times and in moments of emotional excitement simply hold it in his hands.

Arriving home, Solomon examined the inscription on the outside of the ring, made in an ancient language, which, however, Solomon understood: “Everything will pass.” At that moment, the young ruler understood the hidden meaning of the phrase and acquired the calmness that is so necessary when solving matters of national importance. Without a doubt, wisdom prevailed, and Solomon made the only decision possible in this situation.

Years passed, the king married and raised children. He always carried the ring with him as a faithful adviser. But one day the premature death of his beloved unsettled him. And the words that everything would pass caused protest and indignation. With rage, the king threw the ring, but managed to see on the inside another inscription that he had not seen before: “this too shall pass.”

It took a long time before King Solomon grew old. On his deathbed, both inscriptions on the ring no longer consoled him. Before death, it’s time to take stock of the life we ​​lived, what we were able to achieve, and what everyone leaves to their descendants. To the astonishment of the king, another phrase was found on the edge of the ring: “nothing passes.”

Every person, having lived life, leaves a mark on it. But whether it is bad or good depends on what a person did during his lifetime and what words his descendants will remember.

The story can be watched on video online on the Internet and downloaded. You can also listen to this and other parables about King Solomon on Christian sites.

According to legend, King Solomon was buried with his ring. Many treasure hunters want to find a royal attribute, attributing magical power and authority to the ring. But where is the burial place of the wise king, no one knows.

The Legend of the Real Mother

Another life situation that Solomon supposedly judged, a story about a child. The story can be easily downloaded on the Internet for free, read or watch it online

Two women came to Solomon with a request to find out whose child was left to live. The women gave birth 3 days apart, but one of them accidentally crushed the baby in her sleep. Without thinking twice, the woman replaced the baby. When the second mother decided to feed the child in the morning, she saw that the baby was dead and did not belong to her. Disputes over whose child died led nowhere. It came to a fight, but none of the women wanted to retreat.

The royal decision horrified one of the women in labor - the king ordered to bring a sword and, having cut the living baby in half, give the halves to both contenders, so that no one would be offended.

The true mother fell at the feet of the ruler and begged to give the child to her neighbor, saving the baby’s life. The second woman was satisfied with the royal decision and agreed to accept half of the child, knowing that her baby was already dead.
Solomon recognized the right of a real mother to a child - a natural mother will do everything for her child to live, even with a strange woman.

You can watch the story online on the Internet via video, or download it to your computer and listen carefully at home. All the stories about Solomon amaze with the fairness of the decision, regardless of the financial situation or official rank of the petitioners.

Perjury is a great sin and sooner or later it becomes obvious. Therefore, it is recommended to tell the truth in any situation so as not to be branded a liar among the people around you.

The legend of choice

One day, a certain man came to King Solomon for advice: what to do if, before every vital choice, a person cannot sleep peacefully, because he is constantly thinking about how to choose the right decision. The fear of making mistakes robs him of peace and sleep. And the more he thinks, the more doubts he has about the upcoming decision.

Solomon asked a visitor what he would do if he saw a child drowning in a river? He would rush to save someone else’s baby or pass by, justifying his action that he still wouldn’t have time to help the baby.

The visitor, without a shadow of a doubt and without hesitation, answered that no matter what, he would immediately rush to save the child from water captivity.

The king asked whether the decision to save the child would have changed if the event had happened yesterday or in the future. Having received a negative answer, Solomon said that a person chooses the only correct decision situationally. Therefore, he does not have to worry about whether he is doing the right thing. As long as his actions are consistent with his conscience and God’s teachings, a person has only one option for actions - the true and correct one. Therefore, there is no choice as such.

However, in affection for another person, you should act according to your heart. And the choice will appear only when a person changes - different habits, different priorities.

The visitor went home reassured and no longer suffered from insomnia.
Many people spend a painfully long time thinking about what to do in a given life situation. Meanwhile, the right decision depends on the moral values ​​professed by each citizen. And a person acts according to his education and upbringing, on a subconscious level, separating good and evil.

They say that God once dreamed of Solomon and asked him about his most cherished desire, promising to fulfill it immediately. The king of Judah asked the Lord to give him intelligence and wisdom to rule the country. The wish was fulfilled, and the fame of the wisest ruler spread across different countries.

Later, Solomon learned to understand the language of animals and birds, to speak with animals living on land and in water. This knowledge was reflected in the stories about King Solomon, which were passed on from mouth to mouth. Today these stories can be downloaded on the Internet for free.

About the Snake and the Peasant

God entrusted the Snake with keeping the treasure, commanding him to sting the heel of everyone who encroaches on the treasure. But it so happened that there was a drought, the snake was dying of thirst. At this time, a man passed by with a jug of milk. The snake asked for a drink and promised to tell him where the treasure was hidden as a reward.

The peasant gave her milk to drink, and she showed her the stone under which the treasure was hidden. But when the man wanted to take away the treasures, the Snake remembered its purpose - to guard the treasures - and wrapped itself around the benefactor’s neck.

The peasant was indignant and offered to go to court with King Solomon so that he could determine which of them was right. The snake agreed, but did not get off his neck. So they came to Solomon.

Solomon forced the Snake to get off the peasant’s neck because the king must punish first, and only then his subjects solve problems among themselves.

The snake climbed off his neck, and the king, meanwhile, did not stop listening carefully to the story of their meeting and further actions. In response to the Snake’s words about the need to bite everyone who covets the treasure entrusted to it, Solomon said that every person, when meeting a snake, should break its head. At this saying, the peasant grabbed a stone and crushed the head of the insidious snake.

This story gave rise to the saying: “Break the head of the best of snakes.” The parable teaches us to respect the agreement and, if we had to break our obligations, we should not be cunning and shift the blame onto another, subjecting the innocent to punishment.
You can download for free these and other parables about the wise decision of the king of Israel, making you believe in the justice of the judge’s verdict.

How Solomon's parables are useful today

These and other stories highlight the moral high ground of King Solomon. Before putting his instructions to future generations on paper, the ruler himself suffered and understood God’s commandments, why in some situations one should act this way and in others differently. And therefore, the parables of Solomon cannot be considered as empty moral teachings. Only great love and concern for future generations of his heirs could push a person to write such a work.

A person is not immune from errors in judgment and behavior, but it is better to listen to the advice of the older generation than to fill one's teeth by testing the veracity of Solomon's teachings.

Numerous sites on the Internet help anyone who wants to develop spiritually to study the Bible. You can listen to the interpretation of learned theologians on individual chapters of Solomon’s parables, you can download material for self-study, listen to or read the text online in your free time.

The Book of Solomon's Proverbs is a vivid example of the wise attitude of a ruler - a father - towards his people in the present and future.

The world-famous instructive Book of Solomon's Proverbs is located in the third part of the Bible and is included in the hagiographs. It is located between the Book of Psalms and the Book of Job. We can say that the collection of Proverbs is the quintessence of judgments about the most important moments for any ruler. Since Solomon himself followed his instructions, he remains one of the most striking historical examples of a good and wise King.

The Main Essence of the Proverbs of Solomon

One evening Solomon descended from the mountains to their foot, and the people who had gathered there addressed him with respect:

O great King! We look at you with admiration! Your amazing mind has no boundaries, so instruct us and enlighten us!

Solomon looked kindly at the crowd and said to them:

You yourself are the light of the world. You are equal to the stars in the sky. It is within you that there is a storehouse of wisdom. Each of you contains the entire Universe. Listen to your own soul, turn to your mind and try to understand your feelings. This is the only way you can hear the Lord.

He then offered the assembled people a series of his thoughts on a variety of things. Among the most important ideas contained in them, he expressed:

• thoughts about true faith in the Lord;
• instructions on relationships between people;
• a description of warnings against the possible danger of exposure to female charms on a man;
• an injunction to avoid various sins;
• discussions about life wisdom;
• advice to rulers on how to govern the country;
• demands to be wary of anger in every possible way, etc.

All parables contain various thoughts of King Solomon, which are the result of his long, wise and righteous life. This great man experienced both great happiness and difficult times on his earthly path.

He says a lot of really important things. Including how the king should govern his country most wisely and correctly.

Parables about each person's earthly journey

Parables about the meaning of life

Life for every person is his path, his ultimate goal and true treasure. It contains all the power of love. People exist in order to reveal their whole soul to the world, to give it all of themselves without reserve.

The life path of anyone is his particle, which he brings into the general circle of existence. Therefore, it is much better than anything that has ever existed on earth. You need to consider your stay here as happiness and value it highly, regardless of any other conditions. A person should live here and now. You only need to look for yourself in the present and there is no other you.

About the troubles that befall

What a person sows once, he will later reap. Grief does not come to anyone by chance if he himself has not first prepared fertile ground for it. Poverty does not come suddenly. Misfortune always becomes the fruit of refusal to know the real truth.

By judging someone, trying to find faults in another, people become weak, and by showing greed, they push joy away from themselves.

You need to wake up and take a close look at yourself, for only he is truly poor who does not know himself at all. Anyone who has not found the way to the Lord is homeless. Poor is the one who misses any favorable chances in life. We should not waste our best years and allow other people to arrogate to themselves the sole right to judge who is who. Money is a misfortune if there is no real goodness in the soul.

How to deal with the troubles that befall you

You cannot subject yourself to any criticism. Man is created in the image and likeness of God. You cannot compare yourself to other people and evaluate yourself according to their own criteria.

You need to be truly grateful to Heaven for every little thing. As soon as true joy settles in a person’s heart, it will melt any thick ice like a hot sun.

You need to love yourself deeply, because the one who does this appreciates everything in himself from the Lord. Never run away from any threat, as only those who show true courage will later gain a precious reward. If everything goes well, kneel down and turn your prayerful gaze to Heaven, then no trouble will touch you. When you make a request to the Lord, never put conditions on him. Warm gratitude to the Almighty for everything given to us is the best prayer, and joy nourishes the soul and body.

Teachings

How can a person find his happiness?

There is no happiness without true love. Happiness is gratitude to the Lord. Happiness is peace in the soul. Happy is he who has found an inexhaustible source of joy in his own heart. Happy is the one who gives love to people and receives it from them.

There is no happiness without constant searching. Happy is the one who woke up from sleep and saw the truth. Happiness is hearing the Lord. Happiness is understanding why a person was sent to earth.

Happy is the one who has found true unity with the people around him. Happy is he who has learned calm contemplation. There is no happiness outside of peace in the soul.

Unhappy is the one who has not learned to see the beauty of nature. Happy is the one who saw the sun and understood what its influence is on a person and his heart.

Happy is the one who understands that one should be like water, flowing, but not stopping. Happy is the one who does not give up his joy.

Happiness is building your own happiness. There is no happiness outside freedom. There is no happiness without forgiveness.

How to achieve true wealth

The earthly existence of any person is the greatest reward from the Lord. The Almighty is the treasure hidden in the heart. Abundance is already contained within each person, and wealth is dissolved in the world around us. The Universe has everything that is required and the one who does not understand such things is poor.

The more a person gives to people, the richer he becomes. Joy is next to everyone. Open the door of your home and immediately all the wealth of the world will enter it. Make every little thing a treasure. Only those who have learned to see abundance within themselves are truly rich.

How should a person exist on earth?

It is necessary to revel in every moment of your existence, because on your deathbed you will no longer be able to make up for anything.

Remember, what is inside you, you will see the same around you. Darkness on the outside comes from darkness in the heart. Joy is equal to sunshine. The ability to see the Lord in every minute of life is like bathing in a ray of sunshine.

The radiance emanating from the human soul is brighter than a thousand suns. Blessed is he who seeks precisely this light.

How to achieve true harmony

You need to make your daily existence very simple. No harm should be done even to the smallest and weakest.

Live without envy. If any doubt has crept into your soul, then it is required that it give strength, and not take it away.

You need to build your earthly path so that every minute is filled with the beauty of the world around you. Create for the sake of beauty, not for human praise.

Everyone you meet along the way should be greeted as someone who has been sent to reveal yourself to a person.

Give up what has passed and it will stop oppressing you. Give people something new and unknown.

Let your soul be saturated with love for your neighbor. Carry love wherever you go. Love is capable of filling and purifying absolutely everything, for where it is, there is the Lord.

How to achieve true excellence

Only those who are happy are able to give joy to those around them. Anyone who does not seek joy in himself is like a slave, because there is no happiness outside complete freedom.

True joy does not exist without complete liberation. Learn to be happy, only then will you know the world and yourself.

Open the door to life and it will open it for you. If you stop resisting it, you will become its master, not its servant.

Having carefully examined the attentive people gathered around him, Solomon added a couple more words with a smile:

And in long silence you will gain a lot of true wisdom. The only important thing is to always remain yourself!

In addition to the main parables of King Solomon, there are also a variety of other biblical tales associated with him. We can cite some of the most interesting of them.

Parables about the need to acquire life knowledge

A Word about Wisdom

Accept my word and remember it forever, O my son! May your ears not miss a single thought from what I say, and may your mind never cease to reflect and comprehend everything that is said.

Strive for wisdom and explore every bend of your mind. Look for the answer to every question that arises in front of you, just as one looks for gold in the mountains. Only then will the treasury of wisdom open to you and you will be able to comprehend our Lord.

When knowledge permeates your entire soul and your mind comprehends it, then wisdom will enter into it. Let your reason protect and warn you from rash actions. Only then will you be able to avoid evil temptations and recognize a liar. Your wisdom will protect you from those who walk crooked paths and do not accept straight ones.

A Word about Knowing the Truth

Truly happy is the one who has acquired true truth, and the one who has not given up real wisdom. The one who managed to achieve it is much richer than the one who found precious stones and received more than the one who has a lot of gold and jewelry in his house. Wisdom cannot be compared to anything and has no value for it. She holds longevity in one hand and wealth in the other.

Truth is the trunk of the tree of life, so happy is the gardener who tends it.

Try, my son, to preserve your prudence. Then she will become your support and will not let you stumble.

It will adorn you richer than any most expensive pearl. You will walk freely along your earthly path and will not stumble anywhere. When you go to sleep, fear will not dare to disturb you. Night visions will be beautiful and calm.

A Word about Man's Acquiring Wisdom

Try, my son, to comprehend the truth, learn everything you can. Always remember the knowledge and then you will not get into trouble. Strive for the light of truth: do not miss it, seek it and acquire it every minute. There is no greater treasure than the radiance of truth.

By following her, you will find everything and she will become your constant companion. Wisdom will make you a winner, and victory will be no more important to you than its acquisition. By acquiring knowledge, you stand stronger on your feet, and you are no longer afraid of any danger.

Parable about women

Solomon's parables are a collection of advice on how to act in various everyday situations. The king talks about his life experiences and warns others from repeating mistakes.

A word about marital fidelity

Pass, my son, past someone else’s wife, no matter how truly beautiful she may seem to you. At first you will enjoy it, but then the most difficult and bitter times will come for you. From now on you will have to walk the path of life like double-edged knives.

Soon you will fall not at her feet, but at the feet of destruction itself. Following in the footsteps of a woman, you will reach the very depths of hell.

Therefore, when you see someone else’s wife, leave her as quickly as possible. Do not approach her, otherwise you will lose everything and even your very life. She will become your executioner and tormentor, run away from her before it’s too late. Your whole life, your strength, your mind will belong not to you, but to another. Whatever you do, you will not do it for yourself - for someone else.

You will start crying and complaining, but it’s too late, and both strength and health will leave you. Therefore, draw from your source and do not go to what does not belong to you.

Solomon in his Proverbs expresses the idea that knowing the Lord reflects the true light of truth. It is most closely connected with human kindness and righteousness. The king warns against rash actions and provides strongholds for gaining wisdom.

When King Solomon descended from the mountain, after meeting the sunrise, those gathered at the foot said:

You are an inspiration to us. Your words transform hearts. And your wisdom enlightens the mind. We long to listen to you.

Tell us: who are we?

He smiled and said:

You are the light of the world. You are the stars. You are the temple of truth. The Universe is in each of you. Plunge your mind into your heart, ask your heart, listen through your love. Blessed are those who know the language of God.

- What is a sense of life?

Life is a journey, a goal and a reward. Life is a dance of Love. Your purpose is to blossom. TO BE is a great gift to the world. Your life is the history of the Universe. And therefore life is more beautiful than all theories. Treat life as a holiday, because life is valuable in itself. Life consists of the present. And the meaning of the present is to be in the present.

- Why do misfortunes haunt us?

What you sow is what you reap. Unhappiness is your choice. Poverty is a human creation. And bitterness is the fruit of ignorance. By blaming, you lose strength, and by lusting, you dissipate happiness. Wake up, for a beggar is one who is not aware of himself. And those who have not found the Kingdom of God within are homeless. The one who wastes time becomes poor. Don't turn life into vegetation. Don't let the crowd destroy your soul. Let wealth not be your curse.

- How to overcome adversity?

Don't judge yourself. For you are divine. Don't compare or separate. Give thanks for everything. Rejoice, for joy works wonders. Love yourself, for those who love themselves love everyone. Bless dangers, for the brave find bliss. Pray in joy and misfortune will bypass you. Pray, but don't bargain with God. And know that praise is the best prayer, and happiness is the best food for the soul.

- What is the path to happiness?

Happy are the LOVERS, happy are the ones who thank. Happy are the peaceful. Happy are those who find heaven within themselves. Happy are those who give with joy and happy are those who receive gifts with joy. Happy are the seekers. Happy are the awakened ones. Happy are those who listen to the voice of God. Happy are those who fulfill their destiny. Happy are those who know Unity. Happy are those who have tasted the taste of God-contemplation. Happy are those who are in harmony. Happy are those who have seen the beauty of the world. Happy are those who open themselves to the Sun. Happy flowing like rivers. Happy are those who are ready to accept happiness. Happy are the wise. Happy are those who realize themselves. Happy are those who love themselves. Happy are those who praise life. Happy are the creators. Happy are the free. Happy are those who forgive.

- What is the secret of abundance?

Your life is the greatest treasure in God's treasury. And God is the treasure of the human heart. The wealth within you is inexhaustible, and the abundance around you is limitless. The world is rich enough for everyone to become rich. Therefore, the more you give, the more you receive. Happiness is at your doorstep. Open yourself to abundance. And turn everything into the gold of life. Blessed are those who find treasures within themselves.

- How to live in the light?

Drink from every moment of life, for unlived life gives rise to sorrow. And know that what is inside is also outside. The darkness of the world comes from darkness in the heart. Happiness is the sunrise. Contemplation of God is dissolution in the light. Enlightenment is the radiance of a thousand suns. Blessed are those who thirst for light.

- How to find harmony?

Live simply. Don't harm anyone. Don't be jealous. Let doubts purify, not bring powerlessness. Dedicate your life to beauty. Create for the sake of creativity, not for recognition. Treat your neighbors as revelations. Transform the past by forgetting it. Bring something new into the world. Fill your body with love. Become the energy of love, for love spiritualizes everything. Where there is love, there is God.

- How to achieve perfection in life?

Book of proverbs

1

The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, to learn wisdom and instruction, to understand the sayings of reason; learn the rules of prudence, justice, justice and righteousness; give intelligence to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the youth; a wise man will listen and increase his knowledge; and the wise man will find wise advice to understand the parable and the intricate speech, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; [good understanding of all who are led by him; and reverence for God is the beginning of understanding; fools only despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, the instruction of your father and do not reject your mother’s covenant, for this is a beautiful crown for your head and an ornament for your neck.

My son! if sinners persuade you, do not agree; if they say: “Come with us, we will set an ambush for murder, we will lie in wait for the blameless without guilt, we will swallow them up alive, like the grave, and whole, as if they were descending into the grave; Let us gather all kinds of precious possessions, let us fill our houses with spoils; You will cast your lot with us, we will all have the same warehouse,” my son! do not go on the journey with them, keep your foot from their path, for their feet run to evil and hasten to shed blood.

In the eyes of all the birds a net is laid in vain, but an ambush is made for their blood and their souls are laid in wait.

These are the ways of anyone who covets someone else's goods: it takes the life of the one who takes possession of it.

Wisdom proclaims in the streets, in the squares she raises her voice, in the main meeting places she preaches, at the entrances to the city gates she speaks her speech: “How long, O ignoramuses, will you love ignorance? How long will the violent enjoy rioting? How long will fools hate knowledge?

Turn to my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit on you, I will proclaim my words to you.

I called, and you did not listen; I stretched out my hand, and there was no one to hear; and you rejected all my advice and did not accept my reproofs.

For this reason I will laugh at your destruction; I will rejoice when horror comes upon you; when terror comes upon you like a storm, and trouble comes upon you like a whirlwind; when sorrow and distress befall you.

Then they will call me, and I will not hear; They will look for me in the morning and will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose for myself fear of the Lord, they did not accept my advice, they despised all my reproofs; therefore they will eat the fruit of their ways and be satisfied with their thoughts.

Because the stubbornness of the ignorant will kill them and the carelessness of fools will destroy them, but he who listens to me will live safely and calmly, without fear of evil.”

2

My son! if you accept my words and keep my commandments with you, so that your ear is attentive to wisdom and your heart is inclined to meditation; if you call on knowledge and appeal to reason; if you search for it like silver and search for it like treasure, you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth - knowledge and understanding; He reserves salvation for the righteous; He is a shield for those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of righteousness and preserves the path of His saints.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice and uprightness, every good path.

When wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasing to your soul, then prudence will protect you, understanding will protect you, in order to save you from the evil way, from the man who speaks lies, from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the paths of darkness; from those who rejoice in doing evil, who delight in evil depravity, whose paths are crooked and who wander in their paths; in order to save you from another's wife, from a stranger, who softens her speech, who has left the leader of her youth and forgotten the covenant of her God.

Her house leads to death, and her paths to the dead; none of those who enter it returns and enters the path of life.

Therefore walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous, for the righteous will live on the earth and the blameless will remain in it; and the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

3

My son! do not forget my instructions, and let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days, years of life and peace they will add to you.

Let mercy and truth not leave you: tie them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and you will find mercy and favor in the eyes of God and people.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Do not be a wise man in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and shun evil: this will be health for your body and nourishment for your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your increase, and your barns will be filled with abundance, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Do not reject the Lord’s punishment, my son, and do not be burdened by His reproof; for whom the Lord loves, He punishes and favors, like a father towards his son.

Blessed is the man who has acquired wisdom, and the man who has acquired understanding, because acquiring it is better than acquiring silver and the profit from it is greater than from gold: it is more valuable than precious stones; [no evil can resist her; she is well known to everyone who approaches her,] and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Longevity is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and glory; [the truth comes out of her mouth; she carries law and mercy on her tongue;] her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

She is a tree of life to those who acquire her, and blessed are those who keep her!

The Lord founded the earth with wisdom, established the heavens with understanding; Through His wisdom the abysses were opened, and the clouds sprinkled with dew.

My son! do not let them out of your sight; keep sanity and prudence, and they will be life for your soul and an ornament for your neck.

Then you will walk safely along your path and your foot will not stumble.

When you go to bed, you will not be afraid; and when you fall asleep, your sleep will be pleasant.

You will not be afraid of sudden fear or destruction from the wicked when it comes, for the Lord will be your trust and will keep your foot from being snatched.

Do not refuse a benefit to someone in need when your hand has the power to do it.

Do not say to your friend: “Go and come again, and tomorrow I will give” when you have it with you. [For you do not know what the coming day will bring forth.]

Do not plot evil against your neighbor when he lives with you without fear.

Don't quarrel with a person for no reason when he hasn't done you any harm.

Do not compete with a man who acts violently, and do not choose any of his ways, for the depraved is an abomination to the Lord, but He has fellowship with the righteous.

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the house of the pious.

If He laughs at the blasphemers, He gives grace to the humble.

The wise will inherit glory, and the foolish will inherit dishonor.

4

Hear, children, your father’s instruction and take heed, so that you may learn understanding, for I have taught you good teaching. Do not forsake my commandments.

For I too was a son to my father, dearly loved and the only one of my mother, and he taught me and said to me: let your heart hold my words; keep my commandments and live.

Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding: do not forget this and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Do not leave her, and she will protect you; love her and she will protect you.

The main thing is wisdom: acquire wisdom, and with all your possessions acquire understanding.

Treasure her highly, and she will exalt you; she will glorify you if you cleave to her; He will place a beautiful wreath on your head, he will give you a magnificent crown.

Listen, my son, and accept my words - and the years of your life will be multiplied.

I show you the path of wisdom, I lead you along straight paths.

When you walk, your progress will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.

Hold fast to the instruction, do not abandon it, keep it, because it is your life.

Do not enter into the path of the wicked and do not walk in the way of the wicked; leave it, do not walk on it, avoid it and pass by; because they will not sleep unless they do evil; They lose sleep if they do not cause someone to fall, for they eat the bread of iniquity and drink the wine of theft.

The path of the righteous is like a radiant light, which brightens more and more until the full day.

But the way of the wicked is like darkness; they don't know what they'll trip over.

My son! listen to my words and incline your ear to my words; let them not depart from your eyes; keep them within your heart: for they are life to the one who finds them, and health to his whole body.

Guard your heart above all else, for from it are the sources of life.

Put away from you the deceitfulness of your lips, and remove the deceit of your tongue from you.

Let your eyes look straight, and let your eyelashes be directed straight in front of you.

Consider the path for your feet, and let all your ways be sure.

Do not turn aside to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil, [for the Lord watches over the right ways, but the left ones are corrupt. He will make your paths straight, and arrange your marches in peace.]

5

My son! listen to my wisdom and incline your ear to my understanding, so that you may maintain discretion and your mouth may retain knowledge. [Do not listen to a flattering woman;] for the mouth of another man’s wife drips honey, and her speech is softer than oil; but the consequences from it are bitter, like wormwood, sharp, like a two-edged sword; her feet descend to death, her feet reach to the underworld.

If you wanted to comprehend the path of her life, then her paths are fickle and you will not recognize them.

So, children, listen to me and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

And you will groan later, when your flesh and your body are exhausted, and you will say: “Why did I hate instruction, and my heart despised reproof, and I did not listen to the voice of my teachers, I did not incline my ear to my teachers: I almost fell into all kinds of evil among the congregation and society!”

Drink the water from your cistern and the water that flows from your well.

Let not your springs overflow in the streets, nor let your streams of water over the squares; let them belong to you alone, and not to strangers with you.

May your source be blessed; and take comfort in the wife of your youth, the dear doe and the beautiful brimstone: let her breasts intoxicate you at all times, delight in her love constantly.

And why do you, my son, get carried away by strangers and embrace someone else’s breasts?

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He measures all his paths.

The lawless one is caught by his own iniquities, and he is kept in the bonds of his sin: he dies without instruction and is lost from the multitude of his madness.

6

My son! if you have stood surety for your neighbor and given your hand for another, you have entangled yourself with the words of your mouth, you have been caught by the words of your mouth.

So, my son, do this and deliver yourself, since you have fallen into the hands of your neighbor: go, fall at your feet and beg your neighbor; do not let your eyes sleep and your eyelids slumber; escape like a chamois from the hand and like a bird from the hand of a fowler.

Go to the ant, slothful one, look at its actions and be wise.

He has neither a boss, nor a guardian, nor a master; but he prepares his grain in the summer, and gathers his food in the harvest. [Or go to the bee and know how industrious she is, what honorable work she produces; her works are used for health by both kings and common people; she is loved by everyone and glorious; although she is weak in strength, she is respectable in wisdom.]

How long will you sleep, lazy man? when will you arise from your sleep?

You will sleep a little, doze a little, lie down with folded hands for a little: and your poverty will come like a passer-by and your need will come like a robber. [If you are not lazy, then your harvest will come like a source; poverty will run far away from you.]

The wicked man, the wicked man, walks with lying lips, winks with his eyes, speaks with his feet, makes signs with his fingers; deceit is in his heart: he plots evil at all times and sows discord.

But suddenly his death will come, he will suddenly be broken - without healing.

These are six things that the Lord hates, even seven that are an abomination to His soul: proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that forges evil plans, feet that quickly run to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and sows discord among brothers.

My son! keep your father's commandment and do not reject your mother's instruction; bind them forever on your heart, tie them around your neck.

When you go, they will guide you; when you go to sleep, they will guard you; When you awaken, they will talk with you: for the commandment is a lamp, and instruction is light, and edifying teachings are the way to life, to guard you from a worthless woman, from the flattering tongue of a stranger.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart, [so that you are not caught by your eyes,] and do not let her captivate you with her eyelashes, because because of a prodigal wife impoverished to a piece of bread, and a married wife catches a dear soul.

Can anyone take fire into his bosom so that his dress does not burn?

Can anyone walk on burning coals without having their feet burned?

The same thing happens to the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife: whoever touches her will not be left without guilt.

A thief is not allowed to go free if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; but, being caught, he will pay sevenfold, giving up all the property of his house.

Whoever commits adultery with a woman has no understanding; he who does this destroys his soul: he will find beatings and shame, and his dishonor will not be erased, because jealousy is the rage of a husband, and he will not spare on the day of vengeance, will not accept any ransom and will not be satisfied, no matter how many gifts you multiply .

7

My son! keep my words and hide my commandments with you. [My son! Honor the Lord, and you will be strong, and fear no one besides Him.]

Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching is like the pupil of your eyes.

Tie them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom: “You are my sister!” - and call reason your relatives, so that they protect you from another’s wife, from a stranger who softens her words.

So, one day I looked out the window of my house, through my bars, and saw among the inexperienced people, I noticed among the young people a foolish young man, crossing the square near its corner and walking along the road to her house, at dusk in the evening of the day, in the darkness of the night and in darkness.

And behold, a woman approached him, dressed as a harlot, with a treacherous heart, noisy and unbridled; her feet do not live in her house: now on the street, now in the squares, and she builds fortresses at every corner.

She grabbed him, kissed him and with a shameless face said to him: “I have a peace offering: today I have fulfilled my vows; That’s why I came out to meet you to find you, and - I found you; I made my bed with carpets, with colorful Egyptian fabrics; I scented my bedroom with myrrh, aloe and cinnamon; come in, we will revel in tenderness until the morning, we will enjoy love, because my husband is not at home: he has gone on a long journey; he took a purse of silver with him; will come home by the day of the full moon.”

She captivated him with many kind words, and with the softness of her lips took possession of him.

Immediately he followed her, like an ox to the slaughter, [and like a dog to a chain,] and like a deer to a shot, until the arrow pierced his liver; like a bird throwing itself into a snare and not knowing that it is for its destruction.

So, children, listen to me and pay attention to the words of my mouth.

Let not your heart turn aside from her path, do not wander in her paths, for she has cast down many wounded, and many mighty have been slain by her: her house is the path to the underworld, descending into the inner dwellings of death.

8

Is it not wisdom that calls? and does not reason raise its voice?

She stands in elevated places, along the road, at crossroads; she calls out at the gates at the entrance to the city, at the entrance to the doors: “To you, people, I cry, and to the sons of men my voice!

Learn, you fools, prudence, and you fools, learn reason.

Listen, for I will speak important things, and the words of my mouth are true; For my tongue shall speak truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips; all the words of my mouth are fair; there is no deceit or guile in them; all of them are clear to the rational and fair to those who have acquired knowledge.

Accept my teaching, not silver; knowledge is better than choice gold, because wisdom is better than pearls and nothing desired can compare with it.

I, wisdom, dwell with reason and seek sensible knowledge.

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and deceitful lips.

I have advice and truth; I am the mind, I have the strength.

By me kings reign and rulers legitimize truth; I am ruled by the rulers, and the nobles, and all the judges of the earth.

Those who love me I love, and those who seek me will find me; wealth and glory are mine, an unfailing treasure and truth; My fruits are better than gold, and the purest gold, and there is more benefit from me than from choice silver.

I walk in the path of righteousness, along the paths of justice, in order to bring significant benefits to those who love me, and I fill their treasuries. [When I proclaim what happens daily, I will not forget to count what is from eternity.]

The Lord had me as the beginning of His path, before His creatures, from time immemorial; I have been anointed from everlasting, from the beginning, before the existence of the earth.

I was born when there were no deeps yet, when there were no springs abundant with water.

I was born before the mountains were erected, before the hills, when He had not yet created either the earth, or the fields, or the initial specks of dust of the Universe.

When He prepared the heavens, I was there. When He drew a circular line across the face of the abyss, when He established the clouds at the top, when He strengthened the sources of the abyss, when He gave the sea a charter so that the waters would not cross its borders, when He laid the foundations of the earth: then I was an artist with Him and was a joy every day, having fun before Him. His face all the time, rejoicing in His earthly circle, and my joy was with the sons of men.

So, children, listen to me; and blessed are they who keep my ways!

Listen to the instructions and be wise and don't back down From him.

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching every day at my gates and standing guard at my doors! Because whoever finds me has found life, and will receive grace from the Lord; but whoever sins against me harms his soul: all those who hate me love death.”

9

Wisdom built herself a house, hewed out its seven pillars, slaughtered a sacrifice, dissolved her wine and prepared a meal for herself; sent her servants to proclaim from the heights of the city: “Whoever is foolish, turn here!” And she said to the weak-minded: “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine that I have dissolved; leave foolishness, and live and walk in the way of reason.”

He who teaches a blasphemer will gain disgrace for himself, and he who reproaches the wicked will bring shame upon himself.

Do not reprove the blasphemer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you; give instruction to the wise, and he will be even wiser; teach the truthful, and he will increase knowledge.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding, because through me your days will be multiplied and years of life will be added to you.

My son! if you are wise, then you are wise for yourself [and for your neighbors]; and if you are violent, then you will endure it alone. [He who is established in a lie feeds the winds, he chases the birds that fly, for he has left the paths of his vineyard and wanders along the paths of his field; passes through a waterless desert and a land doomed to thirst; collects barrenness with his hands.]

A woman who is reckless, noisy, stupid and knows nothing sits on a chair at the door of her house, on high places in the city, to call to those passing by on the road, going straight on their own paths: “Whoever is stupid, turn here!” - and she said to the feeble-minded: “Stolen waters are sweet and hidden bread is pleasant.”

And he does not know that the dead are there and that in the depths of the underworld they are called by her. [But you jump back, do not hesitate in place, do not stop your gaze on her, for in this way you will pass through someone else’s water. Stay away from strange water and do not drink from strange springs, so that you may live a long time and have more years of life.]