For the commandmentis a lampand the teachingis light;And reproofsfor disciplineare the wayof life
But he refusedand saidto his master'swife,"Behold,with me [here], my masterdoes not concernhimself with anythingin the house,and he has putallthat he ownsin my charge.
Your wordis a lampto my feetAnd a lightto my path.
The unfoldingof Your wordsgiveslight;It givesunderstandingto the simple.
Let the righteoussmiteme in kindnessand reproveme; It is oilupon the head;Do not let my headrefuseit, For stillmy prayeris against their wickeddeeds.
The preceptsof the LORDare right,rejoicingthe heart;The commandmentof the LORDis pure,enlighteningthe eyes.
He is [on] the pathof lifewho heedsinstruction,But he who ignoresreproofgoesastray.
The pathof life[leads] upwardfor the wiseThat he may keepawayfrom Sheolbelow.
He whose earlistensto the life-givingreproofWill dwellamongthe wise.
The rodand reproofgivewisdom,But a childwho getshis own waybringsshameto his mother.
She is a treeof lifeto those who takeholdof her, And happyare all who holdher fast.
Takeholdof instruction;do not letgo.Guardher, for she is your life.
Then he taughtme and saidto me, "Let your heartholdfastmy words;Keepmy commandmentsand live;
And you say,"HowI have hatedinstruction!And my heartspurnedreproof!
And I discoveredmorebitterthandeaththe womanwhoseheartis snaresand nets,whose handsare chains.Onewhois pleasingto Godwill escapefrom her, but the sinnerwill be capturedby her.
It is betterto listento the rebukeof a wisemanThanfor oneto listento the songof fools.
To the lawand to the testimony!Ifthey do not speakaccording to thisword,it is becausethey havenodawn.
"You shall also sayto thispeople,'Thussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I setbeforeyou the wayof lifeand the wayof death.
"I gavethem My statutesand informedthem of My ordinances,by which,if a manobservesthem, he will live.
You shall not hateyour fellowcountrymanin your heart;you may surelyreproveyour neighbor,but shall not incursinbecauseof him.
[So] we havethe propheticword[made] more sure,to whichyou dowellto pay attentionas to a lampshiningin a darkplace,untilthe daydawnsand the morning stararisesin your hearts.
Thereforerememberfrom whereyou have fallen,and repentand dothe deedsyou did at first;orelseI am comingto you and will removeyour lampstandout of its place--unlessyou repent.
