1 T he proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

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

2 T hat people may know skillful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,

To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,

3 R eceive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity,

To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;

4 T hat prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth—

To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—

5 T he wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel —

A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

6 T hat people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles.

To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

7 T he reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Shun Evil Counsel

8 M y son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother.

My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

9 F or they are a chaplet (garland) of grace upon your head and chains and pendants for your neck.

For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.

10 M y son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

11 I f they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause;

If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

12 L et us swallow them up alive as does Sheol (the place of the dead), and whole, as those who go down into the pit;

Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

13 W e shall find and take all kinds of precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;

We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil;

14 T hrow in your lot with us and be a sworn brother and comrade; let us all have one purse in common—

Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”—

15 M y son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path;

My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;

16 F or their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.

17 F or in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird!

Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;

18 B ut they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.

But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.

19 S o are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such takes away the lives of its possessors.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners. The Call of Wisdom

20 W isdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets;

Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.

21 S he cries at the head of the noisy intersections; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:

22 H ow long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.

23 I f you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I '> Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.

Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

24 B ecause I have called and you have refused, have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it,

Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

25 A nd you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof,

Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke,

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic—

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,

27 W hen your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 T hen will they call upon me but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me.

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

29 B ecause they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord,

Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord,

30 W ould accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.

31 T herefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

32 F or the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.

For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 B ut whoso hearkens to me shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”