1:1 The Proverbs1 of2 Solomon3 son of David,4 king of Israel:5
1:2 To6 learn7 wisdom8 and moral instruction,9
and to discern10 wise counsel.11
1:3 To receive12 moral instruction13 in skillful living,14
in15 righteousness,16 justice,17 and equity.18
1:4 To impart19 shrewdness20 to the morally naive,21
and22 a discerning23 plan24 to the young person.25
1:5 (Let the wise also26 hear27 and gain28 instruction,
and let the discerning29 acquire30 guidance!31)
1:6 To discern32 the meaning of33 a proverb and a parable,34
the sayings of the wise35 and their36 riddles.37
Introduction to the Theme of the Book
1:7 Fearing the Lord38 is the beginning39 of moral knowledge,40
but41 fools42 despise43 wisdom and instruction.44
1:8 Listen,45 my child,46 to the instruction47 from48 your father,
and do not forsake the teaching49 from50 your mother.
1:9 For they will be like51 an elegant52 garland53 on54 your head,
and like55 pendants around56 your neck.
Admonition to Avoid Easy but Unjust Riches
1:10 My child, if sinners57 try to entice58 you,
do not consent!59
1:11 If they say, “Come with us!
We will60 lie in wait61 to shed blood;62
we will ambush63 an innocent person64 capriciously.65
1:12 We will swallow them alive66 like Sheol,67
those full of vigor68 like those going down to the Pit.
1:13 We will seize69 all kinds70 of precious wealth;
we will fill our houses with plunder.71
We will all share73 equally in what we steal.”74
1:15 My child, do not go down75 their way,76
withhold yourself77 from their path;78
1:16 for they79 are eager80 to inflict harm,81
and they hasten82 to shed blood.83
1:17 Surely it is futile to spread84 a net
1:18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood,87
they ambush their own lives!88
1:19 Such89 are the ways90 of all who gain profit unjustly;91
it92 takes away the life93 of those who obtain it.94
Warning Against Disregarding Wisdom
1:20 Wisdom95 calls out96 in the street,
she shouts loudly97 in the plazas;98
1:21 at the head of the noisy99 streets she calls,
in the entrances of the gates in the city100 she utters her words:101
1:22 “How long will you simpletons102 love naiveté?103
How long104 will mockers105 delight106 in mockery107
and fools108 hate knowledge?
1:23 If only109 you will respond110 to my rebuke,111
then112 I will pour113 out my thoughts114 to you
and115 I will make116 my words known to you.
1:24 However,117 because118 I called but you refused to listen,119
because120 I stretched out my hand121 but no one paid attention,
1:25 because122 you neglected123 all my advice,
and did not comply124 with my rebuke,
1:26 so125 I myself will laugh126 when disaster strikes you,127
I will mock when what you dread128 comes,
1:27 when what you dread129 comes like a whirlwind,130
and disaster strikes you131 like a devastating storm,132
when distressing trouble133 comes on you.
1:28 Then they will call to me, but I will not answer;
they will diligently seek134 me, but they will not find me.
1:29 Because135 they hated moral knowledge,136
and did not choose to fear the Lord,137
1:30 they did not comply with my advice,
they spurned138 all my rebuke.
1:31 Therefore139 they will eat from the fruit140 of their way,141
and they will be stuffed full142 of their own counsel.
1:32 For the waywardness143 of the simpletons will kill144 them,
and the careless ease145 of fools will destroy them.
1:33 But the one who listens146 to me will live in security,147
and will be at ease148 from the dread of harm.
Benefits of Seeking Wisdom149