Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel,
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 to know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding,
That one may learn wisdom and instruction, And receive words of understanding;
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and equity,
That one may gain the instruction of prudence, Justice, equity, and uprightness;
4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion,
Which will give caution to the simple, To the young man wisdom and discretion;
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 man hear, and he will increase his knowledge, And the man of understanding will gain wise counsels;
6 to understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
So as to understand a proverb and a deep maxim, The words of the wise and their dark sayings.
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; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
Hear, O my son! the instruction of thy father, And neglect not the teaching of thy mother!
9 For they shall be a garland of grace to thy head, and chains about thy neck.
For they shall be a graceful wreath for thy head, And a chain around thy neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not!
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 with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us lurk secretly for him who is innocent in vain;
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 up alive, like the underworld, Yea, in full health, as those that go down into the pit; (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil.
We shall find all kinds of precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Thou shall cast thy lot among us. We will all have one bag.
Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse;”—
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them. Restrain thy foot from their path.
My son, walk thou not in their way, Refrain thy foot from their path!
16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
For their feet run to evil, And make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird,
For as the net is spread in vain Before the eyes of any bird,
18 and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
So they lie in wait for their own blood; They lurk secretly for 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 are the ways of every one greedy of unjust gain; It taketh away the life of the possessor thereof.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places.
Wisdom crieth out in the highway; In the market-place she uttereth her voice;
21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
At the head of the noisy streets she crieth aloud; At the entrances of the gates, throughout the city, she proclaimeth her words [[saying]]:
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, 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.
Turn ye at my reproof! Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make known my words to you!
24 Because I have called, and ye have refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man has regarded,
“Because I have called, and ye have refused, —Because I have stretched out my hand, and no one hath regarded.
25 but ye have made all my counsel void, and want none of my reproof,
Because ye have rejected all my counsel, And have slighted my rebuke, —
26 I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear comes,
I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;
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 fear cometh upon you like a storm. And destruction overtaketh you like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon 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 will they call upon me, but I will not answer! They will seek me early, But they shall not find me!
29 because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
Because they have hated knowledge, And have not chosen the fear of the LORD, —
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
Because they would not attend to my counsel, And have despised all my reproof, —
31 Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own devices;
32 For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them, and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
Yea, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, And the carelessness of fools shall destroy them.
33 But he who hearkens to me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.
But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell securely, And shall not be disquieted with the fear of evil.”
