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
1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. 2They are for achieving wisdom and instruction, and to recognize sayings that bring insight. 3They provide education in what makes sense, living right, judging correctly, and acting fairly. 4They give discernment to the immature, knowledge and discretion to the young. 5Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance, 6understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.
7Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.
8My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching. 9They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.
10My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them. 11They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun! 12Let's bury them alive; let's put them in the grave while they're still healthy! 13We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal! 14Come and join us#1:14. Literally, “throw in your lot with us.” and we'll all share what we get!”
15My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them. 16For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder. 17There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it. 18However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves! 19This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!
20Wisdom calls out in the streets; she#1:20. “She”: in Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a woman. shouts aloud in the squares. 21She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:
22“How long will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge? 23Pay attention to my warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know to you.
24For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care. 25You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.
26So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic. 27When panic rains down on you like a storm, when trouble hits you like a whirlwind, when sorrow and pain come on you, 28then you'll call out to me for help, but I won't answer; you'll search hard for me, but won't find me. 29Why?—because they hated knowledge, and they didn't choose to respect the Lord. 30They're not willing to accept my advice; they despise all my warnings.
31So they'll have to eat the fruit of their own choices, bloated by their own devious schemes. 32Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern. 33But everyone who listens to me will be kept safe, and will live without worrying about problems.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com