Proverbs 1
1 The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.
My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
11 If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a 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 We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit: (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.
For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
22 O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles 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 (Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.
For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
27 Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you,
When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,
28 Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde 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 did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.
But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
