Proverbs 1
1 The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, who reigned in Israel;
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.
2 to know wisdom and instruction, and to perceive words of understanding;
They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight.
3 to receive also hard saying, and to understand true justice, and [how] to direct judgment;
They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly.
4 that he might give subtlety to the simple, and to the young man discernment and understanding.
They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young.
5 For by the hearing of these a wise man will be wiser, and man of understanding will gain direction;
Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,
6 and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the saying of the wise also, and riddles.
understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and [there is] good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nothing wisdom and instruction.
Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
8 Hear, [my] son, the instruction of your father, and reject not the rules of your mother.
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
9 For you shall receive for your head a crown of graces, and a chain of gold round your neck.
They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
10 [My] son, let not ungodly men lead you astray, neither consent you [to them].
My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
11 If they should exhort you, saying, Come with us, partake in blood, and let us unjustly hide the just man in the earth:
They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
12 and let us swallow him alive, as Hades [would], and remove the memorial of him from the earth: (Sheol h7585)
Let's bury them alive; let's put them in the grave while they're still healthy! (Sheol h7585)
13 let us seize on his valuable property, and let us 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 but do you cast in your lot with us, and let us all provide a common purse, and let us have one pouch:
Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
15 go not in the way with them, but turn aside your 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 do evil, and are swift to shed blood. ]
For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.
17 for nets are not without cause spread for birds.
There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.
18 For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; and the overthrow of transgressors is evil.
However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
19 These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.
This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
20 Wisdom sings aloud in passages, and in the broad places speaks boldly.
Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.
21 And she makes proclamation on the top of the walls, and sits by the gates of princes; and at the gates of the city boldly says,
She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
22 So long as the simple cleave to justice, they shall not be ashamed: but the foolish being lovers of haughtiness, having become ungodly have hated knowledge, and are become subject to reproofs.
“How long will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?
23 Behold, I will bring forth to you the utterance of my breath, and I will instruct you in my speech.
Pay attention to my warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know to you.
24 Since I called, and you did not listen; and I spoke at length, and you gave no heed;
For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.
25 but you set at nothing my counsels, and disregarded my reproofs;
You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
26 therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; and I will rejoice against [you] when ruin comes upon you:
So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.
27 yes when dismay suddenly comes upon you, and [your] overthrow shall arrive like a tempest; and when tribulation and distress shall come upon you, or when ruin 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 For it shall be that when you call upon me, I will not listen to you: wicked men shall seek me, but 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 For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the word of the Lord:
Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord.
30 neither would they attend to my counsels, but derided my reproofs.
They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
31 Therefore shall they eat the fruits of their own way, and shall be filled with their own ungodliness.
So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes.
32 For because they wronged the simple, they shall be slain; and an inquisition shall ruin the ungodly.
Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.
33 But he that hearkens to me shall dwell in confidence, and shall rest securely from all evil.
But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
