Proverbs 1
1 THE PROVERBS (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:2 That people may know skillful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,3 Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity,4 That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth--5 The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]--6 That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles.7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother.9 For they are a [victor’s] chaplet (garland) of grace upon your head and chains and pendants [of gold worn by kings] for your neck.10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait [to shed] blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause [and show that his piety is in vain];12 Let us swallow them up alive as does Sheol (the place of the dead), and whole, as those who go down into the pit [of the dead];13 We shall find and take all kinds of precious goods [when our victims are put out of the way], we shall fill our houses with plunder;14 Throw in your lot with us [they insist] and be a sworn brother and comrade; let us all have one purse in common--15 My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path;16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird!18 But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors. 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets;21 She cries at the head of the noisy intersections [in the chief gathering places]; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:22 How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge?23 If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it, 25 And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof,26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic--27 When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.28 Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord, 30 Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.
Proverbs 1
Wise Sayings of Solomon
1-6 A Manual for Living These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king— Written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it's going; A manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There's something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn— Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.
Start with God
7 Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.
8-19 Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother's knee. Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair, like rings on your fingers. Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them. If they say—"Let's go out and raise some hell. Let's beat up some old man, mug some old woman. Let's pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals. We'll load up on top-quality loot. We'll haul it home by the truckload. Join us for the time of your life! With us, it's share and share alike!"— Oh, friend, don't give them a second look; don't listen to them for a minute. They're racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on. Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, Yet that's what these people are doing— they're doing themselves in. When you grab all you can get, that's what happens: the more you get, the less you are.
Lady Wisdom
20-21 Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out:
22-24 "Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn? About face! I can revise your life. Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you; I'm ready to tell you all I know. As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear; I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me.
25-28 "Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice, How can I take you seriously? I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles! What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces? What if catastrophe strikes and there's nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes? You'll need me then. You'll call for me, but don't expect an answer. No matter how hard you look, you won't find me.
29-33 "Because you hated Knowledge and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God, Because you wouldn't take my advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you, Well, you've made your bed—now lie in it; you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it? Don't you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy—you're in good hands."