Proverbs 1
1 The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.
2 in order to know wisdom and discipline,
These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,
3 to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.
4 so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.
5 By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,
6 He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;
9 so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.
10 My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.
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 us lie in wait for blood, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason.
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 discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.
14 Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”
15 My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;
16 For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.
17 But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.
18 Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush 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 gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.
20 Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;
21 She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,
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 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 Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.
25 You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.
26 Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—
27 When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome 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 to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and 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 held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
30 they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.
31 Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.
32 The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference 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 live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”
