Proverbs 1

The Value of Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.
2 Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. 3 They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. 4 They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. 5 These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated,

6 so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.

Advice to the Young

7 To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the LORD.t Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.
8 My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you.

9 Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.
10 My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in. 11 Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it! 12 They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them! 13 We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot!

14 Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”
15 My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them. 16 They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. 17 It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching, 18 but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die.

19 Robbery always claims the life of the robber—this is what happens tot anyone who lives by violence.

Wisdom Calls

20 Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces,

21 calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:
22 “Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? 23 Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. 24 I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. 25 You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. 26 So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes— 27 when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. 28 Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. 29 You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the LORD. 30 You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. 31 So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. 32 Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern.

33 But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”

Proverbs 1

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

2 To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;

3 To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;

4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:

5 That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

13 We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;

14 Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy 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 And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah:

30 They would none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.

32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.