Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel,
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 to know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding,
for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and equity,
and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion,
To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels,
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 to understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. The foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 For they shall be a garland of grace to thy head, and chains about thy neck.
For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
11 If they say, Come with us. Let us lay wait for blood. Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, and whole, as those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil.
We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 Thou shall cast thy lot among us. We will all have one bag.
Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them. Restrain thy foot from their path.
my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird,
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of the owners of it.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places.
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?
“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn back at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you. I will make my words known to you.
If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
24 Because I have called, and ye have refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man has regarded,
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 but ye have made all my counsel void, and want none of my reproof,
because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear comes,
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
27 when your fear comes as a storm, and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me,
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
29 because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them, and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But he who hearkens to me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
