Proverbs — Chapter 1

¹The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

²To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;

³To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness, justice, and equity;

⁴To give prudence to the simple, Knowledge and discretion to the young man:

⁵That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; That the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:

⁶To understand a proverb, and parables, The words and riddles of the wise.

⁷The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸My son, listen to your father`s instruction, And don`t forsake your mother`s teaching:

⁹For they will be a garland to grace your head, And chains around your neck.

¹⁰My son, if sinners entice you, don`t consent.

¹¹If they say, "Come with us, Let`s lay in wait for blood; Let`s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

¹²Let`s swallow them up alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³We`ll find all valuable wealth. We`ll fill our houses with spoil.

¹⁴You shall cast your lot among us. We`ll all have one purse."

¹⁵My son, don`t walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶For their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:

¹⁸These lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹She 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?

²³Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵But you have ignored all my counsel, And wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;

²⁷When calamity overtakes you like a storm, When your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come on you.

²⁸Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;

²⁹Because they hated knowledge, And didn`t choose the fear of Yahweh.

³⁰They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.

³¹Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own schemes.

³²For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

³³But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, And will be at ease, without fear of harm."