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.”
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 1: GW
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
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 Beginning of Knowledge
1 # ch. 10:1; 25:1; 1 Kgs. 4:32; Eccles. 12:9 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in #ch. 2:9righteousness, justice, and equity;
4to give prudence to #ch. 8:5; 14:15, 18 the simple,
knowledge and #ch. 2:11; 3:21discretion to the youth—
5Let the wise hear and #ch. 9:9increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6to understand a proverb and a saying,
# ch. 22:17 the words of the wise and their #Judg. 14:12; Ps. 78:2riddles.
7 # ch. 9:10; [ch. 15:33]; See Job 28:28 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Enticement of Sinners
8 # ch. 6:20; [Ps. 34:11; Eph. 6:1, 2] Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9for they are #ch. 4:9; [ch. 3:22] a graceful garland for your head
and #[Gen. 41:42; Dan. 5:29]pendants for your neck.
10My son, if sinners #ch. 16:29entice you,
do not consent.
11If they say, “Come with us, #ver. 18; ch. 12:6; Jer. 5:26 let us lie in wait for blood;
# ver. 18; Ps. 10:8; 64:5 let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12like Sheol let us #Ps. 124:3; [Num. 16:32, 33] swallow them alive,
and whole, like #Ps. 28:1those who go down to the pit;
13we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15my son, #ch. 4:14; 24:1; Ps. 1:1 do not walk in the way with them;
# [Ps. 119:101] hold back your foot from their paths,
16for #ch. 6:18; Isa. 59:7; [Rom. 3:15]their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17 # [Job 40:24] For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18but these men #ver. 11lie in wait for their own blood;
they #ver. 11set an ambush for their own lives.
19 # [Job 8:13] Such are the ways of everyone who is #ch. 15:27 greedy for unjust gain;
# [1 Tim. 6:10] it takes away the life of its possessors.
The Call of Wisdom
20 # ch. 8:1; 9:3; [John 7:37] Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at #ch. 8:3the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22“How long, O #See ver. 4 simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will #See Ps. 1:1 scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools #ver. 29; ch. 5:12; [Job 21:14]hate knowledge?
23If you turn at my reproof,#1:23 Or Will you turn away at my reproof?
behold, I will #Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 #
Isa. 65:12; 66:4; Jer. 7:13 Because I have called and #Zech. 7:11 you refused to listen,
have #Rom. 10:21stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25because you have #See Ps. 107:11 ignored all my counsel
and #[Ps. 81:11; Luke 7:30]would have none of my reproof,
26I also #See Ps. 2:4 will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when #ch. 10:24; Jer. 48:43; 49:5terror strikes you,
27when terror strikes you like #[Zeph. 1:15]a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 # See 1 Sam. 8:18; Job 27:9 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29Because they #[See ver. 22 above] hated knowledge
and #[Job 21:14]did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 # [See ver. 25 above] would have none of my counsel
and #[See ver. 25 above]despised all my reproof,
31therefore they shall eat #Jer. 6:19 the fruit of their way,
and have #ch. 14:14; Isa. 3:11; [Job 4:8]their fill of their own devices.
32For the simple are killed by #Jer. 2:19 their turning away,
and #[Ps. 73:18, 19]the complacency of fools destroys them;
33but #[Ps. 25:12, 13] whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be #Ps. 112:7, 8at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV: