1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
3 receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;
3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth --
4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--
5 the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--
6 to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.
6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 Hear, my son, your fathers instruction, and reject not your mothers teaching;
8 Listen, my son, to your fathers instruction and do not forsake your mothers teaching.
9 for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.
9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
11 If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
11 If they say, "Come along with us; lets lie in wait for someones blood, lets waylay some harmless soul;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
12 lets swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse" --
14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"--
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;
15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;
17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives.
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!
19 Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.
19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the markets she raises her voice;
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;
21 on the top of the walls she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
22 "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
22 "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23 Give heed to my reproof; behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
24 But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,
25 and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,
26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you--
27 when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,
30 would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,
30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil."
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."