Proverbs 1
1
Purpose
1These are the proverbs of Solomon. He was the son of David and the king of Israel.
2Proverbs teach you wisdom and instruct you.
They help you understand wise sayings.
3They provide you with instruction and help you live wisely.
They lead to what is right and honest and fair.
4They give understanding to childish people.
They give knowledge and good sense to those who are young.
5Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned.
Let those who understand what is right get guidance.
6What I’m teaching also helps you understand proverbs and stories.
It helps you understand the sayings and riddles of those who are wise.
7If you really want to gain knowledge, you must begin by having respect for the Lord.
But foolish people hate wisdom and instruction.
Think and Live Wisely
A Warning Against Sinful Men
8My son, listen to your father’s advice.
Don’t turn away from your mother’s teaching.
9What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head.
It will be like a chain to decorate your neck.
10My son, if sinful men tempt you,
don’t give in to them.
11They might say, “Come along with us.
Let’s hide and wait to kill someone who hasn’t done anything wrong.
Let’s catch some harmless person in our trap.
12Let’s swallow them alive, as the grave does.
Let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down into the pit.
13We’ll get all kinds of valuable things.
We’ll fill our houses with what we steal.
14Cast lots with us for what they own.
We’ll share everything we take from them.”
15My son, don’t go along with them.
Don’t even set your feet on their paths.
16They are always in a hurry to sin.
They are quick to spill someone’s blood.
17How useless it is to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
18Those who hide and wait will spill their own blood.
They will be caught in their own trap.
19That’s what happens to everyone
who goes after money in the wrong way.
That kind of money takes away
the life of those who get it.
Wisdom’s Warning
20Out in the open wisdom calls out.
She raises her voice in a public place.
21On top of the city wall she cries out.
Here is what she says near the gate of the city.
22“How long will you childish people love your childish ways?
How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others?
How long will you foolish people hate knowledge?
23Pay attention to my warning!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you.
I will make known to you my teachings.
24But you refuse to listen when I call out to you.
No one pays attention when I reach out my hand.
25You turn away from all my advice.
And you do not accept my warning.
26So I will laugh at you when you are in danger.
I will make fun of you when hard times come.
27I will laugh when hard times hit you like a storm.
I will laugh when danger comes your way like a windstorm.
I will make fun of you when suffering and trouble come.
28“Then you will call to me. But I won’t answer.
You will look for me. But you won’t find me.
29You hated knowledge.
You didn’t choose to have respect for the Lord.
30You wouldn’t accept my advice.
You turned your backs on my warnings.
31So you will eat the fruit of the way you have lived.
You will choke on the fruit of what you have planned.
32“The wrong path that childish people take will kill them.
Foolish people will be destroyed by being satisfied with the way they live.
33But those who listen to me will live in safety.
They will be at ease and have no fear of being harmed.”
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Proverbs 1: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 1
1
The Value of Proverbs
1 #
1 Kgs 4.32
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.
2Here are proverbs that will help you to recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. 3They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. 4They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. 5These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, 6so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.
Advice to Young People
7 #
Job 28.28; Ps 111.10; Prov 9.10 To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the LORD.#1.7 To… LORD; or The most important part of knowledge is having reverence for the LORD. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.
8Pay attention to what your father and mother tell you, my child. 9Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.
10When sinners tempt you, my child, don't give in. 11Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it! 12They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them! 13We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot! 14Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”
15Don't go with people like that, my child. Stay away from them. 16They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. 17It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching, 18but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die. 19Robbery always claims the life of the robber — this is what happens to#1.19 One ancient translation what happens to; Hebrew the path of. anyone who lives by violence.
Wisdom Calls
20 #
Prov 8.1–3
Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and market places, 21calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:
22“Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy pouring scorn on knowledge? Will you never learn? 23Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. 24I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. 25You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. 26So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will mock you when terror strikes — 27when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. 28Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. 29You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the LORD. 30You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. 31So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. 32Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. 33But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.