1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;
2 That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,
3 To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;
3 receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:
4 that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth --
5 That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
5 the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,
6 To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
6 to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; (But) the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
8 Hear, my son, your fathers instruction, and reject not your mothers teaching;
9 For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
9 for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
11 If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;
13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:
14 throw in your 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:
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;
16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
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:
17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;
18 And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush 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.
19 Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.
20 Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the markets she raises her voice;
21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:
21 on the top of the walls she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
22 "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their 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.
23 Give heed to my reproof; behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:
25 and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh in (the day of) your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,
27 When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.
27 when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like 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:
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah:
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof.
30 would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.
32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.
33 but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil."