Proverbs 1
1
The Purpose of Proverbs
1These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
5Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom
8My child,#1:8 Hebrew My son; also in 1:10, 15. listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
9What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.
10My child, if sinners entice you,
turn your back on them!
11They may say, “Come and join us.
Let’s hide and kill someone!
Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
12Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave#1:12 Hebrew like Sheol.;
let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
13Think of the great things we’ll get!
We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
14Come, throw in your lot with us;
we’ll all share the loot.”
15My child, don’t go along with them!
Stay far away from their paths.
16They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder.
17If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away.
18But these people set an ambush for themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed.
19Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
20Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
21She calls to the crowds along the main street,
to those gathered in front of the city gate:
22“How long, you simpletons,
will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
How long will you fools hate knowledge?
23Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
and make you wise.
24“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
25You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.
26So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
27when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,
and anguish and distress overwhelm you.
28“When they cry for help, I will not answer.
Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
29For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the Lord.
30They rejected my advice
and paid no attention when I corrected them.
31Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
choking on their own schemes.
32For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
33But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Proverbs 1
1
1The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2to know wisdom and instruction;
to discern the words of understanding;
3to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young man—
5that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
6to understand a proverb and parables,
the words and riddles of the wise.
7The fear of Yahweh#1:7 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “Lord” (all caps) in other translations. is the beginning of knowledge,
but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
9for they will be a garland to grace your head,
and chains around your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice you,
don’t consent.
11If they say, “Come with us.
Let’s lie in wait for blood.
Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
12Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,#1:12 Sheol is the place of the dead.
and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
13We’ll find all valuable wealth.
We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14You shall cast your lot among us.
We’ll all have one purse”—
15my son, don’t walk on the path with them.
Keep your foot from their path,
16for their feet run to evil.
They hurry to shed blood.
17For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
18but these lay in wait for their own blood.
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.
It takes away the life of its owners.
20Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
She utters her voice in the public squares.
21She calls at the head of noisy places.
At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
and fools hate knowledge?
23Turn at my reproof.
Behold,#1:23 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. I will pour out my spirit on you.
I will make known my words to you.
24Because I have called, and you have refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25but you have ignored all my counsel,
and wanted none of my reproof;
26I also will laugh at your disaster.
I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
27when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come on you.
28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer.
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
29because they hated knowledge,
and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
30They wanted none of my counsel.
They despised all my reproof.
31Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own schemes.
32For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,
and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
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