Proverbs

箴言的价值

1以色列王大卫儿子所罗门的箴言：

2要使人晓得智慧和训诲， 分辨通达的言语，

3使人处事领受智慧、 仁义、公平、正直的训诲，

4使愚人灵明， 使少年人有知识和谋略，

5使智慧人听见，增长学问， 使聪明人得着智谋，

6使人明白箴言和譬喻， 懂得智慧人的言词和谜语。

给年青人的忠告

7敬畏耶和华是知识的开端； 愚妄人藐视智慧和训诲。

8我儿，要听你父亲的训诲， 不可离弃你母亲的法则；

9因为这要作你头上的华冠， 你项上的金链。

10我儿，恶人若引诱你， 你不可随从。

11他们若说：你与我们同去， 我们要埋伏流人之血， 要蹲伏害无罪之人；

12我们好像阴间，把他们活活吞下； 他们如同下坑的人， 被我们囫囵吞了；

13我们必得各样宝物， 将所掳来的，装满房屋；

14你与我们大家同分， 我们共用一个囊袋；

15我儿，不要与他们同行一道， 禁止你脚走他们的路。

16因为，他们的脚奔跑行恶； 他们急速流人的血，

17好像飞鸟， 网罗设在眼前仍不躲避。

18这些人埋伏，是为自流己血； 蹲伏，是为自害己命。

19凡贪恋财利的，所行之路都是如此； 这贪恋之心乃夺去得财者之命。

智慧呼唤人

20智慧在街市上呼喊， 在宽阔处发声，

21在热闹街头喊叫， 在城门口，在城中发出言语，

22说：你们愚昧人喜爱愚昧， 亵慢人喜欢亵慢， 愚顽人恨恶知识，要到几时呢？

23你们当因我的责备回转； 我要将我的灵浇灌你们， 将我的话指示你们。

24我呼唤，你们不肯听从； 我伸手，无人理会；

25反轻弃我一切的劝戒， 不肯受我的责备。

26你们遭灾难，我就发笑； 惊恐临到你们，我必嗤笑。

27惊恐临到你们，好像狂风； 灾难来到，如同暴风； 急难痛苦临到你们身上。

28那时，你们必呼求我，我却不答应， 恳切地寻找我，却寻不见。

29因为，你们恨恶知识， 不喜爱敬畏耶和华，

30不听我的劝戒， 藐视我一切的责备，

31所以必吃自结的果子， 充满自设的计谋。

32愚昧人背道，必杀己身； 愚顽人安逸，必害己命。

33惟有听从我的，必安然居住， 得享安静，不怕灾祸。

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.”