67 passages · Life and end
A crafty serpent asks the woman whether God really forbade eating from any tree. She restates the command, and the serpent contradicts it, saying God is withholding godlike knowledge.
The woman eats the fruit and gives some to her husband, who eats. Their eyes are opened, they realize they are naked, sew fig leaves, and hide from God.
Potiphar's wife repeatedly urges Joseph to sleep with her, and he refuses, saying it would be a sin against God. When she grabs his cloak, he flees, and she uses the cloak to accuse him falsely, so he is imprisoned.
Joseph has his silver cup hidden in Benjamin's sack, then sends his steward to accuse the brothers of theft. The brothers vow the thief should die, and the cup is found on Benjamin.
Israel is told not to imitate the nations by practicing child sacrifice, divination, sorcery, or consulting mediums or the dead. God is driving the nations out because of these practices.
Samson falls in love with Delilah, and Philistine lords offer her silver to learn the source of his strength. Three times he gives a false answer, and each time she binds him and cries out that the Philistines are upon him, but he breaks free.
A distressing spirit comes on Saul, who throws his spear at David twice while David plays the harp. Saul, afraid because the LORD is with David, sends him away to lead soldiers, and all Israel loves David.
Saul disguises himself and visits a medium at Endor at night. He swears she will not be punished and asks her to bring up Samuel, and she is frightened when she sees him.
While Joab besieges Rabbah, David stays in Jerusalem, sees Bathsheba bathing, and sends for her though she is Uriah's wife. She becomes pregnant and tells him.
Satan incites David to count Israel's fighting men. Joab objects that it will bring guilt on Israel, but the king insists, and Joab reports over a million swordsmen, leaving out Levi and Benjamin.
In a scene in heaven, the LORD points to Job as a model of faithfulness. Satan argues that Job serves God only because he is blessed, and the LORD permits him to take Job's possessions but not harm Job himself.
Job begins his final defense by saying he made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully, since God sees every step and punishes injustice.
He hates the double-minded but loves the law, calling God his refuge and shield. He tells evildoers to leave him, asks for support so he lives, and says he trembles in awe of God's judgments.
David says he would welcome a righteous person striking or rebuking him as oil on the head, while his prayer stays against evildoers. He pictures their leaders thrown down and their bones scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
David keeps his eyes on the LORD, takes refuge in Him, and asks not to be left defenseless. He asks to be kept from traps and snares laid by evildoers, who should fall into their own nets.
The father warns his son not to join sinners who invite him to ambush the innocent for easy plunder. He argues that such people are really setting a trap for themselves and that greed destroys its owners.
Wisdom will also keep the son from the seductive woman who has abandoned her marriage covenant, whose path leads to death. The chapter ends by contrasting the fate of the upright, who stay in the land, with the wicked, who are removed.
The son is told to keep the father's words in mind, guard his heart as the source of life, avoid deceptive speech, look straight ahead, and not turn from the straight path.
The father asks his son to listen closely so he keeps discretion, warning that the adulteress's honeyed speech ends in bitterness and death.
The son is told to keep far from her door, or he will lose his strength and wealth to others. He is pictured groaning at the end of life, regretting that he ignored correction.
The son is told to keep his parents' commands close, as a lamp and guide, which protect him from the adulteress who can cost him everything.
The father recounts watching from his window as a young man lacking judgment wandered toward a woman's house at twilight and was met by a woman dressed provocatively.
The woman kisses him and invites him to her perfumed bed, saying she has offered peace offerings and her husband is away on a long trip.
Persuaded by her flattery, the young man follows at once, not realizing it will cost him his life, like an ox headed to slaughter.
The father asks his sons to listen and not stray onto her path, since many have been ruined by her and her house leads to death.
Folly is pictured as a loud, ignorant woman who sits at her door and calls the same simple passersby, promising that stolen pleasures are sweet, though her guests end up among the dead.
Wine and strong drink lead people astray. A king's anger is like a lion's roar, avoiding quarrels is honorable, and it is hard to find a truly faithful person.
The son is told to guide his heart well and not to keep company with heavy drinkers and overeaters, since such habits lead to poverty and ragged clothes.
The father asks for his son's heart and warns that prostitutes and adulteresses are like a deep pit and a robber lying in wait, leading many into unfaithfulness.
A riddle asks who suffers woe and wounds, and answers that it is those who linger over wine. The passage vividly describes a drinker's regret, confusion, and his craving for another drink.