Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
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 knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent 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 should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against 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 him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
“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 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome 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 sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome 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 to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29 because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
