Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;

3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;

4 for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—

6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Warning Against Enticement

8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

9 They will be a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.

11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let's lie in wait for someone's blood,
let's waylay some harmless soul;

12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;

14 throw in your lot with us,
and we will share a common purse”—

15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;

16 for their feet rush into sin,
they are swift to shed blood.

17 How useless to spread a net
in full view of all the birds!

18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they waylay only themselves!

19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom

20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street,
she raises her voice in the public squares;

21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out,
in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:

22 “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?

23 If you had responded to my rebuke,
I would have poured out my heart to you
and made my thoughts known to you.

24 But since you rejected me when I called
and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,

25 since you ignored all my advice
and would not accept my rebuke,

26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—

27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me.

29 Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the Lord,

30 since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,

31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

PROVERBS 1

How Proverbs //Can Be Used

1  t These are the proverbs
of King Solomon of Israel,
the son of David.

2 Proverbs will teach you
wisdom and self-control
and how to understand
sayings with deep meanings.

3 You will learn what is right
and honest and fair.

4 From these, an ordinary person
can learn to be smart,
and young people can gain
knowledge and good sense.

5 If you are already wise,
you will become even wiser.
And if you are smart,
you will learn to understand

6 proverbs and sayings,
as well as words of wisdom,
and all kinds of riddles.

7  t Respect and obey the [Lord]!
This is the beginning
of knowledge.t
Only a fool rejects wisdom
and good advice.

Warnings //against Bad Friends

8 My child, obey the teachings
of your parents,

9 and wear their teachings
as you would a pretty hat
or a lovely necklace.

10 Don't be tempted by sinners
or listen

11 when they say,
“Come on! Let's gang up
and kill somebody,
just for the fun of it!

12 They're well and healthy now,
but we'll finish them off
once and for all.

13 We'll take their valuables
and fill our homes
with stolen goods.

14 If you join our gang,
you'll get your share.”

15 Don't follow anyone like that
or do what they do.

16 They are in a big hurry
to commit some crime,
perhaps even murder.

17 They are like a bird
that sees the bait,
but ignores the trap.t

18 They gang up to murder someone,
but they are the victims.

19 The wealth you get from crime
robs you of your life.

Wisdom Speaks

20  t Wisdomt shouts in the streets
wherever crowds gather.

21 She shouts in the marketplaces
and near the city gates
as she says to the people,

22 “How much longer
will you enjoy
being stupid fools?
Won't you ever stop sneering
and laughing at knowledge?

23 Listen as I correct you
and tell you what I think.

24 You completely ignored me
and refused to listen;

25 you rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.

26 “So when you are struck
by some terrible disaster,

27 or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
I will laugh and make fun.

28 You will ask for my help,
but I won't listen;
you will search,
but you won't find me.

29 No, you would not learn,
and you refused
to respect the [Lord].

30 You rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.

31 “Now you will eat the fruit
of what you have done,
until you are stuffed full
with your own schemes.

32 Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
to stupid fools.

33 But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
without fear of disaster.”