Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
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 along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush 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 alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 You shall cast your lot amongst us. We’ll all have one purse”—
Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly 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 is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools 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 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words 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 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
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 comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, 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 hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.
For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
They accepted 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.
So they will eat 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 simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
