Proverbs

The Beginning of Knowledge

1These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David,king of Israel,

2for gaining wisdom and discipline,for comprehending words of insight,

3and for receiving instruction in wise livingand in righteousness, justice, and equity.

4To impart prudence to the simpleand knowledge and discretion to the young,

5let the wise listen and gain instruction,and the discerning acquire wise counsel

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

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,but foolsdespise wisdom and discipline.

The Enticement of Sin

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

9For they are a garland of grace on your headand a pendant around your neck.

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

11If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood,let us ambush the innocent without cause,

12let us swallow them alive like Sheol,and whole like those descending into the Pit.

13We will find all manner of precious goods;we will fill our houses with plunder.

14Throw in your lot with us;let us all share one purse”—

15my son, do not walk the road with themor set foot upon their path.

16For their feet run to evil,and they are swift to shed blood.

17How futile it is to spread the netwhere any bird can see it!

18But they lie in wait for their own blood;they ambush their own lives.

19Such is the fate of all who are greedy,whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

Wisdom Calls Aloud

20Wisdom calls out in the street,she lifts her voice in the square;

21in the main concourseshe cries aloud,at the city gates she makes her speech:

22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways?How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

23If you had repented at my rebuke,then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.

24Because you refused my call,and no one took my outstretched hand,

25because you neglected all my counsel,and wanted none of my correction,

26in turn I will mock your calamity;I will sneer when terror strikes you,

27when your dread comes like a storm,and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.

28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

29For they hated knowledgeand chose not to fear the LORD.

30They accepted none of my counsel;they despised all my reproof.

31So they will eat the fruit of their own way,and be filled with their own devices.

32For the waywardness of the simple will slay them,and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety,secure from the fear of evil.”

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

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

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

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

5that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

6to understand a proverb and parables,the words and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the LORDis the beginning of knowledge,but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

8My son, listen to your father’s instruction,and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

9for they will be a garland to grace your head,and chains around your neck.

10My son, if sinners entice you,don’t consent.

11If they say, “Come with us.Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

12Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

13We’ll find all valuable wealth.We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

14You shall cast your lot among us.We’ll all have one purse”—

15my son, don’t walk on the path with them.Keep your foot from their path,

16for their feet run to evil.They hurry to shed blood.

17For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

18but these lay in wait for their own blood.They lurk secretly for their own lives.

19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.It takes away the life of its owners.

20Wisdom calls aloud in the street.She utters her voice in the public squares.

21She calls at the head of noisy places.At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

23Turn at my reproof.Behold,I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

24Because I have called, and you have refused;I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

25but you have ignored all my counsel,and wanted none of my reproof;

26I also will laugh at your disaster.I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

27when calamity overtakes you like a storm,when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.

28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer.They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,

29because they hated knowledge,and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.

30They wanted none of my counsel.They despised all my reproof.

31Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,and be filled with their own schemes.

32For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”