Proverbs 1
1 THE PROVERBS of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to comprehend the words of understanding;
That one may learn wisdom and instruction, And receive words of understanding;
3 To receive the discipline of wisdom, justice, and right, and equity;
That one may gain the instruction of prudence, Justice, equity, and uprightness;
4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion;
Which will give caution to the simple, To the young man wisdom and discretion;
5 That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and the man of understanding may attain unto wise counsels;
Let the wise man hear, and he will increase his knowledge, And the man of understanding will gain wise counsels;
6 To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
So as to understand a proverb and a deep maxim, The words of the wise and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
Hear, O my son! the instruction of thy father, And neglect not the teaching of thy mother!
9 For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
For they shall be a graceful wreath for thy head, And a chain around thy neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not!
11 If they say: 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us lurk for the innocent without cause;
If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us lurk secretly for him who is innocent in vain;
12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those that go down into the pit; (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow them up alive, like the underworld, Yea, in full health, as those that go down into the pit; (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
We shall find all kinds of precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse' —
Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse;”—
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them, restrain thy foot from their path;
My son, walk thou not in their way, Refrain thy foot from their path!
16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
For their feet run to evil, And make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain the net is spread in the eyes of any bird;
For as the net is spread in vain Before the eyes of any bird,
18 And these lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk for their own lives.
So they lie in wait for their own blood; They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; it taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Such are the ways of every one greedy of unjust gain; It taketh away the life of the possessor thereof.
20 Wisdom crieth aloud in the streets, she uttereth her voice in the broad places;
Wisdom crieth out in the highway; In the market-place she uttereth her voice;
21 She calleth at the head of the noisy streets, at the entrances of the gates, in the city, she uttereth her words:
At the head of the noisy streets she crieth aloud; At the entrances of the gates, throughout the city, she proclaimeth her words [[saying]]:
22 'How long, ye thoughtless, will ye love thoughtlessness? And how long will scorners delight them in scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Turn ye at my reproof! Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make known my words to you!
24 Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man attended,
“Because I have called, and ye have refused, —Because I have stretched out my hand, and no one hath regarded.
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof;
Because ye have rejected all my counsel, And have slighted my rebuke, —
26 I also, in your calamity, will laugh, I will mock when your dread cometh;
I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your dread cometh as a storm, and your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; when trouble and distress come upon you.
When your fear cometh upon you like a storm. And destruction overtaketh you like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then will they call me, but I will not answer, they will seek me earnestly, but they shall not find me.
Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer! They will seek me early, But they shall not find me!
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD;
Because they have hated knowledge, And have not chosen the fear of the LORD, —
30 They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof.
Because they would not attend to my counsel, And have despised all my reproof, —
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own devices;
32 For the waywardness of the thoughtless shall slay them, and the confidence of fools shall destroy them.
Yea, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, And the carelessness of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.'
But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell securely, And shall not be disquieted with the fear of evil.”
