Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel,
2 These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,
to know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding,
3 that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.
to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and equity,
4 These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.
to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion,
5 Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels,
6 to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.
to understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. The foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
9 they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.
For they shall be a garland of grace to thy head, and chains about thy neck.
10 My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.
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 hide and attack innocent people for no reason.
If they say, Come with us. Let us lay wait for blood. Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
12 Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, and whole, as those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.
We shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil.
14 Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”
Thou shall cast thy lot among us. We will all have one bag.
15 My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;
My son, walk not thou in the way with them. Restrain thy foot from their path.
16 their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.
For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird,
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush for their own lives.
and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of the owners of it.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;
Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places.
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,
She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
22 “How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
Turn back at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you. I will make my words known to you.
24 I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.
Because I have called, and ye have refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man has regarded,
25 But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.
but ye have made all my counsel void, and want none of my reproof,
26 I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—
I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear comes,
27 when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
when your fear comes as a storm, and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me,
29 Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
30 they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.
Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.
For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them, and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”
But he who hearkens to me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.
