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
The Purpose of Proverbs
1The proverbs of Solomon#1Kg 4:32; Pr 10:1; 25:1; Ec 12:9 son of David, king of Israel:
2For learning wisdom and discipline;
for understanding insightful sayings;
3for receiving prudent instruction
in righteousness, justice, and integrity;#Pr 2:9
4for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,#1:4 Or simple, or gullible#Pr 8:5
knowledge and discretion#Pr 2:11; 3:21 to a young man —
5let a wise person listen and increase learning,#Pr 9:9; 16:21,23
and let a discerning person obtain guidance —
6for understanding a proverb or a parable,#1:6 Or an enigma
the words of the wise, and their riddles.#Nm 12:8; Jdg 14:12; Ps 49:4; Hab 2:6
7The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;#Jb 28:28; Ps 111:10; Pr 9:10; 15:33
fools despise wisdom and discipline.#Eph 5:17
Avoid the Path of the Violent
8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,#Pr 6:20; 31:1
9for they will be a garland#Pr 4:9 of favor on your head
and pendants#1:9 Lit chains around your neck.#Gn 41:42; Pr 6:21; Dn 5:29
10My son, if sinners entice you,#Pr 16:29
don’t be persuaded.#Ps 141:4
11If they say — “Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush#Pr 12:6; Jr 5:26 and kill someone.#1:11 Lit Let’s ambush for blood
Let’s attack some innocent person#Ps 10:8 just for fun!#1:11 Lit person for no reason
12Let’s swallow them alive,#Ps 124:3 like Sheol,
whole, like those who go down to the Pit.#Ps 28:1
13We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder.#Pr 24:4
14Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share the loot”#1:14 Lit us; one bag will be for all of us —
15my son, don’t travel that road with them#Ps 1:1; Pr 4:14
or set foot on their path,#Ps 119:101; Pr 16:19
16because their feet run toward evil
and they hurry to shed blood.#Pr 6:17–18; Is 59:7; Rm 3:15
17It is useless to spread a net
where any bird can see it,
18but they set an ambush to kill themselves;#1:18 Lit they ambush for their blood
they attack their own lives.
19Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;#Pr 15:27; Ezk 22:27; Hab 2:6–12
it takes the lives of those who receive it.#1:19 Lit takes the life of its masters
Wisdom’s Plea
20Wisdom calls out in the street;
she makes her voice heard in the public squares.#Pr 8:1–3; 9:3
21She cries out above#1:21 Lit at the head of the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22“How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers#Ps 1:1 enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?#Jb 21:14; Pr 1:29; 5:12
23If you respond to my warning,#1:23 Lit you turn back to my reprimand#Pr 3:11; 15:5,31–32
then I will pour out my spirit on you#Jl 2:28
and teach you my words.
24Since I called out and you refused,#Is 65:12; 66:4; Jr 7:13; Zch 7:11
extended my hand and no one paid attention,#Is 65:2; Rm 10:21
25since you neglected all my counsel#Ps 107:11; Lk 7:30
and did not accept my correction,
26I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.#Ps 2:4
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
28Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.#1Sm 8:18
29Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,#Pr 1:7
30were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,#Pr 5:12; 15:5
31they will eat the fruit of their way#Jr 6:19
and be glutted with their own schemes.#Pr 14:14; 28:19
32For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,#Jr 2:19
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”#Ps 112:7–8; Pr 3:24–26
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