Proverbs 1
1 The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, who reigned in Israel;
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 to know wisdom and instruction, and to perceive words of understanding;
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 to receive also hard saying, and to understand true justice, and [how] to direct judgment;
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 that he might give subtlety to the simple, and to the young man discernment and understanding.
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 For by the hearing of these a wise man will be wiser, and man of understanding will gain direction;
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the saying of the wise also, and riddles.
He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
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.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 Hear, [my] son, the instruction of your father, and reject not the rules of your mother.
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 For you shall receive for your head a crown of graces, and a chain of gold round your neck.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 [My] son, let not ungodly men lead you astray, neither consent you [to them].
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to 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:
If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
12 and let us swallow him alive, as Hades [would], and remove the memorial of him from the earth: (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 let us seize on his valuable property, and let us fill our houses with spoils:
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 but do you cast in your lot with us, and let us all provide a common purse, and let us have one pouch:
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 go not in the way with them, but turn aside your foot from their paths:
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 [For their feet run to do evil, and are swift to shed blood. ]
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 for nets are not without cause spread for birds.
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; and the overthrow of transgressors is evil.
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Wisdom sings aloud in passages, and in the broad places speaks boldly.
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
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 the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
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.
“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 Behold, I will bring forth to you the utterance of my breath, and I will instruct you in my speech.
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 Since I called, and you did not listen; and I spoke at length, and you gave no heed;
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 but you set at nothing my counsels, and disregarded my reproofs;
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; and I will rejoice against [you] when ruin comes upon you:
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
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 sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome 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 they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29 For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the word of the Lord:
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 neither would they attend to my counsels, but derided my reproofs.
they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 Therefore shall they eat the fruits of their own way, and shall be filled with their own ungodliness.
Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 For because they wronged the simple, they shall be slain; and an inquisition shall ruin the ungodly.
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 But he that hearkens to me shall dwell in confidence, and shall rest securely from all evil.
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
