Proverbs 1
1 The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 in order to know wisdom and discipline,
to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
3 to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
5 By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
6 He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
9 so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against 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.
Let's swallow them up alive like Sheol (Sheol h7585), and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
13 We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
We will find all valuable wealth. We will fill our houses with plunder.
14 Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
You shall cast your lot among us. We will all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
my son, do not walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
18 Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 “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?
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24 For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26 Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
27 When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome 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 to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and 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 For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
30 they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
