Proverbs 1
1 The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.
2 To know wisdom, and instruction:
They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
3 To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity:
They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
4 To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding.
They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
5 A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.
Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
6 He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.
understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
9 That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.
They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.
My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
11 If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for 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 him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down 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 shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.
We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
14 Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.
Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
15 My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.
My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
17 But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.
There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
18 And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.
However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
19 So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.
This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
20 Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
21 At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:
She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
22 O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise 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 Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.
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 I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.
For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
25 You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.
You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
26 I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.
So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
27 When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon 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 shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall 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 Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord,
Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
30 Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.
They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall 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 The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
33 But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.
But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
