Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,
for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.
and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.
To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.
by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.
For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
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 along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush 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 alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending 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 will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”
Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;
my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush for their own lives.
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush 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.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,
in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
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, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn 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.
If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made 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 you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.
because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
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 dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm 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 on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
29 Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.
They accepted 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.
So they will eat 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 waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
