Proverbs 1

1The proverbs of Solomon # Pr 10:1; 25:1 the son of David, king of Israel:

Prologue

2To know wisdom and instruction,

to perceive the words of understanding,

3to receive the instruction of wisdom,

justice, judgment, and equity;

4to give prudence to the simple, # Pr 8:5

to the young man knowledge and discretion,

5a wise man will hear and increase in learning, # Pr 9:9

and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

6to understand a proverb and an interpretation, # Ps 49:4; 78:2

the words of the wise and their riddles.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, # Job 28:28; Pr 9:10; Ecc 12:13

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Warnings Against Evil Companions

8My son, hear the instruction of your father,

and do not forsake the teaching of your mother; # Pr 6:20

9for they will be a wreath of grace upon your head, # Pr 4:9

and a necklace around your neck. # Ge 41:42

10My son, if sinners entice you,

do not consent. # Eph 5:11

11If they say, “Come with us,

let us lie in wait for blood, # Pr 12:6

let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; # Pr 1:18

12let us swallow them up # Ps 124:3 alive like Sheol,

and whole, like those who go down into the pit; # Ps 28:1

13we will find all kinds of precious possessions,

we will fill our houses with plunder;

14cast in your lot among us;

let us all have one purse,”

15my son, do not walk in the way with them; # Ps 1:1

keep your foot from their path, # Ps 119:101

16for their feet run to evil,

and they make haste to shed blood. # Pr 6:18; Isa 59:7

17Surely, in vain the net is spread

in the sight of any bird;

18but they lie in wait for their own blood;

they lurk secretly for their own lives.

19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; # Pr 15:27

it takes away the life of its owners.

The Call of Wisdom

20Wisdom cries out in the street, # Pr 9:3; Jn 7:37

she raises her voice in the markets.

21She cries out at the entrance of the noisiest street, at the entrance of the city gates

she speaks her words:

22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing # Ps 1:1

and fools hate knowledge. # Pr 1:29

23Turn to my rebuke;

behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; # Isa 32:15; Joel 2:28

I will make my words known to you.

24Because I have called and you refused, # Isa 65:12; 66:4

I have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,

25because you neglected all my counsel,

and would have none of my reproof, # Ps 107:11; Pr 1:30

26I also will laugh at your calamity; # Ps 2:4

I will mock when your terror comes, # Pr 10:24

27when your terror comes like a storm

and your destruction comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

28“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; # Job 27:9; Isa 1:15

they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,

29because they hated knowledge # Pr 1:22

and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

30They would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof. # Ps 81:11; Pr 1:25

31Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

and be filled with their own devices. # Job 4:8; Pr 14:14

32For the turning away of the simple will slay them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them. # Jer 2:19

33But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, # Ps 25:12–13

and will be at ease without fear of evil.”

Currently Selected:

Proverbs 1: MEV

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

The Holy Bible, Modern English Version

Learn More About Modern English Version

Proverbs 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.”

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®

Learn More About New International Reader’s Version