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17  O do good to your servant that I may live, ♦︎
   and so shall I keep your word.
18  Open my eyes, that I may see ♦︎
   the wonders of your law.
19  I am a stranger upon earth; ♦︎
   hide not your commandments from me.
20  My soul is consumed at all times ♦︎
   with fervent longing for your judgements.
21  You have rebuked the arrogant; ♦︎
   cursed are those who stray from your commandments.
22  Turn from me shame and rebuke, ♦︎
   for I have kept your testimonies.
23  Rulers also sit and speak against me, ♦︎
   but your servant meditates on your statutes.
24  For your testimonies are my delight; ♦︎
   they are my faithful counsellors.
25  My soul cleaves to the dust; ♦︎
   O give me life according to your word.
26  I have acknowledged my ways and you have answered me; ♦︎
   O teach me your statutes.
27  Make me understand the way of your commandments, ♦︎
   and so shall I meditate on your wondrous works.
28  My soul melts away in tears of sorrow; ♦︎
   raise me up according to your word.
29  Take from me the way of falsehood; ♦︎
   be gracious to me through your law.
30  I have chosen the way of truth ♦︎
   and your judgements have I laid before me.
31  I hold fast to your testimonies; ♦︎
   O Lord, let me not be put to shame.
32  I will run the way of your commandments, ♦︎
   when you have set my heart at liberty.

The False Attractions of Adultery

7My child, keep my words
   and store up my commandments with you;
² keep my commandments and live,
   keep my teachings as the 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 insight your intimate friend,
⁵ that they may keep you from the loose^* woman,
   from the adulteress with her smooth words.

⁶ For at the window of my house
   I looked out through my lattice,
⁷ and I saw among the simple ones,
   I observed among the youths,
   a young man without sense,
⁸ passing along the street near her corner,
   taking the road to her house
⁹ in the twilight, in the evening,
   at the time of night and darkness.

¹⁰ Then a woman comes towards him,
   decked out like a prostitute, wily of heart.^*
11 She is loud and wayward;
   her feet do not stay at home;
¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
   and at every corner she lies in wait.
¹³ She seizes him and kisses him,
   and with impudent face she says to him:
¹⁴ ‘I had to offer sacrifices,
   and today I have paid my vows;
¹⁵ so now I have come out to meet you,
   to seek you eagerly, and I have found you!
¹⁶ I have decked my couch with coverings,
   coloured spreads of Egyptian linen;
¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
   aloes, and cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
   let us delight ourselves with love.
¹⁹ For my husband is not at home;
   he has gone on a long journey.
²⁰ He took a bag of money with him;
   he will not come home until full moon.’

²¹ With much seductive speech she persuades him;
   with her smooth talk she compels him.
²² Right away he follows her,
   and goes like an ox to the slaughter,
or bounds like a stag towards the trap^*
23   until an arrow pierces its entrails.
He is like a bird rushing into a snare,
   not knowing that it will cost him his life.

²⁴ And now, my children, listen to me,
   and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
²⁵ Do not let your hearts turn aside to her ways;
   do not stray into her paths.
²⁶ for many are those she has laid low,
   and numerous are her victims.
²⁷ Her house is the way to Sheol,
   going down to the chambers of death.

THE SECOND LETTER OF

John

Salutation

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, ²because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us for ever:

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from^* Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

Truth and Love

4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. ⁵But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. ⁶And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it.

7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist! ⁸Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we^* have worked for, but may receive a full reward. ⁹Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching; ¹¹for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.

Final Greetings

12 Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister send you their greetings.^*