Proverbs 1
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
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 the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush 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 alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
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, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn 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 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.
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
27 when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm 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 on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will 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 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 They accepted 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 So they will eat 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 waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
