Proverbs 1
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.
2 for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
3 and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
4 To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
6 by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
9 For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
Let's bury them alive; let's put them in the grave while they're still healthy! (Sheol h7585)
13 We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
14 Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
15 my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
16 For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
17 How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
20 Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
21 in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
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 will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will fools 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 warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know to you.
24 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
25 because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
26 in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
27 when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
When panic rains down on you like a storm, when trouble hits you like a whirlwind, when sorrow and pain come on you,
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
then you'll call out to me for help, but I won't answer; you'll search hard for me, but won't find me.
29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
30 They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
31 So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
