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,
to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and equity,
to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion,
to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels,
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
6 to understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
to understand a proverb and parables, the words 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 the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
9 For they shall be a garland of grace to thy head, and chains about thy neck.
for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
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’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for 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’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil.
We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14 Thou shall cast thy lot among us. We will all have one bag.
You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them. Restrain thy foot from their path.
my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird,
For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
18 and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
but these lay 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.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places.
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, 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 at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on 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 you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 but ye have made all my counsel void, and want none of my reproof,
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26 I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear comes,
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes 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 calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on 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 seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
29 because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
They wanted 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.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them, and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease 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 securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
