< 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 discern the words of understanding.
To know wisdom and instruction; to comprehend the words of understanding;
3 To receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity.
To receive the discipline of wisdom, justice, and right, and equity;
4 To give shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to the young man.
To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion;
5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will attain to sound counsel.
That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and the man of understanding may attain unto wise counsels;
6 To understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.
8 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching:
Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and a necklace around your neck.
For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11 If they say, "Come with us, Let's lie in wait for blood; let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
If they say: 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us lurk for the innocent without cause;
12 let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those that go down into the pit; (Sheol h7585)
13 We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with spoil.
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Throw in your lot with us. We'll all have one purse."
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse' —
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,
My son, walk not thou in the way with them, restrain thy foot from their path;
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
For in vain the net is spread in the eyes of any bird;
18 but these lie in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
And these lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; it taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
Wisdom crieth aloud in the streets, she uttereth her voice in the broad places;
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
She calleth at the head of the noisy streets, at the entrances of the gates, in the city, she uttereth her words:
22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
'How long, ye thoughtless, will ye love thoughtlessness? And how long will scorners delight them in scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn at my reproof. Look, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man attended,
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof;
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
I also, in your calamity, will laugh, I will mock when your dread cometh;
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
When your dread cometh as a storm, and your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; when trouble and distress come upon you.
28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
Then will they call me, but I will not answer, they will seek me earnestly, but they shall not find me.
29 because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of YHWH.
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD;
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
For the waywardness of the thoughtless shall slay them, and the confidence of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm."
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.'

< Proverbs 1 >