Proverbs 1
1 The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 in order to know wisdom and discipline,
for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
11 If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
19 Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
20 Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22 “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?
“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
23 Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal 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 For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
27 When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome 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 to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and 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 For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
