Proverbs 1
Introduction to the Book
1:1 The Proverbs1 of2 Solomon3 son of David,4 king of Israel:5
1:2 To6 learn7 wisdom8 and moral instruction,9
and to discern10 wise counsel.11
1:3 To receive12 moral instruction13 in skillful living,14
in15 righteousness,16 justice,17 and equity.18
1:4 To impart19 shrewdness20 to the morally naive,21
and22 a discerning23 plan24 to the young person.25
1:5 (Let the wise also26 hear27 and gain28 instruction,
and let the discerning29 acquire30 guidance!31)
1:6 To discern32 the meaning of33 a proverb and a parable,34
the sayings of the wise35 and their36 riddles.37
Introduction to the Theme of the Book
1:7 Fearing the
but41 fools42 despise43 wisdom and instruction.44
1:8 Listen,45 my child,46 to the instruction47 from48 your father,
and do not forsake the teaching49 from50 your mother.
1:9 For they will be like51 an elegant52 garland53 on54 your head,
and like55 pendants56 around57 your neck.
Admonition to Avoid Easy but Unjust Riches
1:10 My child, if sinners58 try to entice59 you,
do not consent!60
1:11 If they say, “Come with us!
We will61 lie in wait62 to shed blood;63
we will ambush64 an innocent person65 capriciously.66
1:12 We will swallow them alive67 like Sheol,68
those full of vigor69 like those going down to the Pit.
1:13 We will seize70 all kinds71 of precious wealth;
we will fill our houses with plunder.72
1:14 Join with us!73
We will all share74 equally in what we steal.”75
1:15 My child, do not go down76 their way,77
withhold yourself78 from their path;79
1:16 for they80 are eager81 to inflict harm,82
and they hasten83 to shed blood.84
1:17 Surely it is futile to spread85 a net
in plain sight of86 any bird,87
1:18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood,88
they ambush their own lives!89
1:19 Such90 are the ways91 of all who gain profit unjustly;92
it93 takes away the life94 of those who obtain it!95
Warning Against Disregarding Wisdom
1:20 Wisdom96 calls out97 in the street,
she shouts loudly98 in the plazas;99
1:21 at the head of the noisy100 streets she calls,
in the entrances of the gates in the city101 she utters her words:102
1:22 “How long will you simpletons103 love naiveté?104
How long105 will mockers106 delight107 in mockery108
and fools109 hate knowledge?
1:23 If only110 you will respond111 to my rebuke,112
then113 I will pour114 out my thoughts115 to you
and116 I will make117 my words known to you.
1:24 However,118 because119 I called but you refused to listen,120
because121 I stretched out my hand122 but no one paid attention,
1:25 because123 you neglected124 all my advice,
and did not comply125 with my rebuke,
1:26 so126 I myself will laugh127 when disaster strikes you,128
I will mock when what you dread129 comes,
1:27 when what you dread130 comes like a whirlwind,131
and disaster strikes you132 like a devastating storm,133
when distressing trouble134 comes on you.
1:28 Then they will call to me, but I will not answer;
they will diligently seek135 me, but they will not find me.
1:29 Because136 they hated moral knowledge,137
and did not choose to fear the
1:30 they did not comply with my advice,
they spurned139 all my rebuke.
1:31 Therefore140 they will eat from the fruit141 of their way,142
and they will be stuffed full143 of their own counsel.
1:32 For the waywardness144 of the
simpletons will kill145 them,
and the careless ease146 of fools will destroy them.
1:33 But the one who listens147 to me will live in security,148
and will be at ease149 from the dread of harm.