Proverbs 1
1 The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.
2 To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
3 To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
4 To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
5 A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
6 To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.
7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
8 My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
9 For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
10 My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.
My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
11 If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:
They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
12 We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe 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 finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
14 Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
15 My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
16 For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.
For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
17 Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
18 So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
19 Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
20 Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
21 She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
22 O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles 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 (Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
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 haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.
For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
25 But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
26 I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
27 Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon 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 vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde 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 hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
30 They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
31 Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
32 For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.
But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
