Proverbs 1
1
The Reasons for Proverbs
1The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, ⌞given⌟
2to grasp wisdom and discipline,
to understand deep thoughts,
3to acquire the discipline of wise behavior—
righteousness and justice and fairness—
4to give insight to gullible people,
to give knowledge and foresight to the young—
5a wise person will listen and continue to learn,
and an understanding person will gain direction—
6to understand a proverb and a clever saying,
the words of wise people and their riddles.
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Listen to Wisdom
8My son,
listen to your father’s discipline,
and do not neglect your mother’s teachings,
9because discipline and teachings
are a graceful garland on your head
and a ⌞golden⌟ chain around your neck.
10My son,
if sinners lure you, do not go along.
11If they say,
“Come with us.
Let’s set an ambush to kill someone.
Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun.
12We’ll swallow them alive like the grave,
like those in good health who go into the pit.
13We’ll find all kinds of valuable possessions.
We’ll fill our homes with stolen goods.
14Join us.
We’ll split the loot equally.”
15My son,
do not follow them in their way.
Do not even set foot on their path,
16because they rush to do evil
and hurry to shed blood.
17It does no good to spread a net
within the sight of any bird.
18But these people set an ambush for their own murder.
They go into hiding only to lose their lives.
19This is what happens to everyone
who is greedy for unjust gain.
Greed takes away his life.
20Wisdom sings her song in the streets.
In the public squares she raises her voice.
21At the corners of noisy streets she calls out.
At the entrances to the city she speaks her words,
22“How long will you gullible people love being so gullible?
How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking?
How long will you fools hate knowledge?
23“Turn to me when I warn you.
I will generously pour out my spirit for you.
I will make my words known to you.
24“I called, and you refused to listen.
I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.
25You ignored all my advice.
You did not want me to warn you.
26I will laugh at your calamity.
I will make fun of you
when panic strikes you,
27when panic strikes you like a violent storm,
when calamity strikes you like a wind storm,
when trouble and anguish come to you.
28“They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer.
They will look for me, but they will not find me,
29because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30They refused my advice.
They despised my every warning.
31They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle.
They will be stuffed with their own schemes.
32“Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away.
Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference.
33But whoever listens to me will live without worry
and will be free from the dread of disaster.”
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 1
1
Purpose of Proverbs
1The proverbs of Solomon, King David’s son, from Israel:
2Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline,
to help one understand wise sayings.
3They provide insightful instruction,
which is righteous, just, and full of integrity.
4They make the naive mature,
the young knowledgeable and discreet.
5The wise hear them and grow in wisdom;
those with understanding gain guidance.
6They help one understand proverbs and difficult sayings,
the words of the wise, and their puzzles.
7Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Avoid evil associations
8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction;
don’t neglect your mother’s teaching;
9for they are a graceful wreath on your head,
and beads for your neck.
10My son, don’t let sinners entice you.
Don’t go
11when they say:
“Come with us.
Let’s set up a deadly ambush.
Let’s secretly wait for the innocent just for fun.
12Let’s swallow up the living like the grave#1.12 Heb Sheol—
whole, like those who go down into the pit.
13We’ll find all sorts of precious wealth;
we’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14Throw in your lot with us;
we’ll share our money.”
15My son, don’t go on the path with them;
keep your feet from their way,
16because their feet run to evil;
they hurry to spill blood.
17It’s useless to cast a net
in the sight of a bird.
18But these sinners set up a deadly ambush;
they lie in wait for their own lives.
19These are the ways of all who seek unjust gain;
it costs them their lives.
Listen to “Woman Wisdom”
20Wisdom shouts in the street;
in the public square she raises her voice.
21Above the noisy crowd, she calls out.
At the entrances of the city gates, she has her say:
22“How long will you clueless people love your naïveté,
mockers hold their mocking dear,
and fools hate knowledge?
23You should respond when I correct you.
Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you.
I’ll reveal my words to you.
24I invited you, but you rejected me;
I stretched out my hand to you,
but you paid no attention.
25You ignored all my advice,
and you didn’t want me to correct you.
26So I’ll laugh at your disaster;
I’ll make fun of you when dread comes over you,
27when terror hits you like a hurricane,
and your disaster comes in like a tornado,
when distress and oppression overcome you.
28Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will seek me, but won’t find me
29because they hated knowledge
and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.
30They didn’t want my advice;
they rejected all my corrections.
31They will eat from the fruit of their way,
and they’ll be full of their own schemes.
32The immature will die because they turn away;
smugness will destroy fools.
33Those who obey me will dwell securely,
untroubled by the dread of harm.”
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