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
Introduction
1These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. 2They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings. 3They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way. You will learn to do what is right and to be honest and fair. 4These proverbs will make even those without education smart. They will teach young people what they need to know and how to use what they have learned. 5Even the wise could become wiser by listening to these proverbs. They will gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems. 6These sayings will help you understand proverbs, stories with hidden meanings, words of the wise, and other difficult sayings.
7Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.
Advice to a Son
8My son,#1:8 My son The proverbs in this section may have been directed originally to a teenage boy, perhaps a prince, who was becoming a young man. They are intended to teach him how to be a responsible person and leader who loves and respects God. listen to your father when he corrects you, and don’t ignore what your mother teaches you. 9What you learn from your parents will bring you honor and respect, like a crown or a gold medal.#1:9 Literally, “They are like a wreath of favor to your head and a necklace around your neck.”
10My son, those who love to do wrong will try to trick you. Don’t listen to them. 11They will say, “Come with us. Let’s hide and beat to death anyone who happens to walk by. 12We will swallow them whole, as the grave swallows the dying. 13We will take everything they have and fill our houses with stolen goods. 14So join us, and you can share everything we get.”
15My son, don’t follow them. Don’t even take the first step along that path. 16They run to do something evil, and they cannot wait to kill someone.
17You cannot trap birds with a net if they see you spreading it out. 18But evil people cannot see the trap they set for themselves. 19This is what happens to those who are greedy. Whatever they get destroys them.
The Good Woman—Wisdom
20Listen! Wisdom#1:20 Wisdom Wisdom is pictured here as a good woman trying to get the attention of this young man, calling him to be wise and obey God. In a later passage (9:13-18), Foolishness is represented as another woman who is urging him toward a life of sin. is shouting in the streets. She is crying out in the marketplace. 21She is calling out where the noisy crowd gathers:
22“Fools, how long will you love being ignorant? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge? 23I wanted to tell you everything I knew and give you all my knowledge, but you didn’t listen to my advice and teaching.
24“I tried to help, but you refused to listen. I offered my hand, but you turned away from me. 25You ignored my advice and refused to be corrected. 26So I will laugh at your troubles and make fun of you when what you fear happens. 27Disasters will strike you like a storm. Problems will pound you like a strong wind. Trouble and misery will weigh you down.
28“Fools will call for me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me. 29That is because they hated knowledge. They refused to fear and respect the Lord. 30They ignored my advice and refused to be corrected. 31They filled their lives with what they wanted. They went their own way, so they will get what they deserve.
32“Fools die because they refuse to follow wisdom. They are content to follow their foolish ways, and that will destroy them. 33But those who listen to me will live in safety and comfort. They will have nothing to fear.”
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