Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions 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 Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
11 They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
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 will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will 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 Pay attention to my warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know to you.
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
27 When panic rains down on you like a storm, when trouble hits you like a whirlwind, when sorrow and pain come on you,
When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,
28 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.
then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29 Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
