Proverbs 1
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.
2 for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,
3 and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.
4 To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.
5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,
6 by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;
9 For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.
11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason.
12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.
14 Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”
15 my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;
16 For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.
17 How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
So are the ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.
20 Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;
21 in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
“How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?
23 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.
Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.
25 because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.
26 in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—
27 when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me.
29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
30 They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.
31 So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”
