The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Proverbs 01
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of
David, king of Israel:
2 to know wisdom and instruction;
to discern the words of understanding;
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the
young man—
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase
in learning; that the man of understanding may
attain to sound counsel;
6 to understand a proverb and parables,
the words and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of Yahweh† is the beginning of
knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and
instruction.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
and don’tforsake yourmother’s teaching;
9 for they will be a garland to grace your
head, and chains around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
don’t consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us.
Let’s lie in wait for blood.
Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent
without cause.
12 Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,‡
and whole, like those who go down
into the pit.
13 We’ll find all valuable wealth.
We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14 You shall cast your lot among us.
We’ll all have one purse”—
15 my son, don’t walk on the path with
them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 for their feet run to evil.
They hurry to shed blood.
17 For the net is spread in vain in the sight
of any bird;
18 but these lay in wait for their own blood.
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is
greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
She utters her voice in the public
squares.
21 She 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?
23 Turn at my reproof. Behold,§ I will pour out my spirit on
you. I will make known my words to you.
24 Because I have called, and you have
refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no
one has paid attention;
25 but you have ignored all my counsel,
and wanted none of my reproof;
26 I also will laugh at your disaster.
I will mock when calamity overtakes
you,
27 when calamity overtakes you like a
storm, when your disaster comes on like a
whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on
you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not
answer. They will seek me diligently, but they
will not find me,
29 because they hated knowledge,
and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
30 They wanted none of my counsel.
They despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of
their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill
them. The careless ease of fools will destroy
them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,
and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”