1 T he proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

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

2 T o know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,

to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;

3 T o receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;

to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

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

to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:

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

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

6 T o understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

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

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

8 M y son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:

9 F or they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.

for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

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

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

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

If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lay in wait for blood; let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

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

let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

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

We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

14 C ast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”—

You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.”

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

My son, don’t walk on the path 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. They hurry to shed blood.

17 S urely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;

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

18 B ut they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.

but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

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

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

20 W isdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.

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

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

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? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.

“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

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

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

24 B ecause I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

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

25 B ecause you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke,

but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

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

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

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

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.

Then will they 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 fear of the Lord,

because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.

30 T hey would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.

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

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

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

32 F or the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

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

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

But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”