Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel,
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 to know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding,
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and equity,
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion,
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels,
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 to understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
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 wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 For they shall be a garland of grace to thy head, and chains about thy neck.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent 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 should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against 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 him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil.
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 Thou shall cast thy lot among us. We will all have one bag.
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them. Restrain thy foot from their path.
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird,
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of the owners of it.
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places.
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?
“Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent 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.
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 Because I have called, and ye have refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man has regarded,
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 but ye have made all my counsel void, and want none of my reproof,
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear comes,
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome 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 sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome 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 to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29 because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them, and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 But he who hearkens to me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
