Proverbs, 1

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

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

2. for learning what wisdom and discipline are, for understanding words of deep meaning,

2. That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,

3. for acquiring a disciplined insight, uprightness, justice and fair dealing;

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

4. for teaching sound judgement to the simple, and knowledge and reflection to the young;

4. that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth --

5. Let the wise listen and learn yet more, and a person of discernment will acquire the art of guidance.

5. the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,

6. for perceiving the meaning of proverbs and obscure sayings, the sayings of the sages and their riddles.

6. to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; fools spurn wisdom and discipline.

7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8. Listen, my child, to your father's instruction, do not reject your mother's teaching:

8. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching;

9. they will be a crown of grace for your head, a circlet for your neck.

9. for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

10. My child, if sinners try to seduce you, do not go with them.

10. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

11. If they say, 'Come with us: let us lie in ambush to shed blood; if we plan an ambush for the innocent without provocation,

11. If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

12. we can swallow them alive, like Sheol, and whole, like those who sink into oblivion.

12. like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

13. We shall find treasures of every sort, we shall fill our houses with plunder;

13. we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;

14. throw in your lot with us: one purse between us all.'

14. throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse" --

15. My child, do not follow them in their way, keep your steps out of their path

15. my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;

16. for their feet hasten to evil, they are quick to shed blood;

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

17. for the net is spread in vain if any winged creature can see it.

17. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;

18. It is for their own blood such people lie in wait, their ambush is against their own selves!

18. but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives.

19. Such are the paths of all who seek dishonest gain: which robs of their lives all who take it for their own.

19. Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.

20. Wisdom calls aloud in the streets, she raises her voice in the public squares;

20. Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the markets she raises her voice;

21. she calls out at the street corners, she delivers her message at the city gates.

21. on the top of the walls she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

22. 'You simple people, how much longer will you cling to your simple ways? How much longer will mockers revel in their mocking and fools go on hating knowledge?

22. "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

23. Pay attention to my warning. To you I will pour out my heart and tell you what I have to say.

23. Give heed to my reproof; behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

24. Since I have called and you have refused me, since I have beckoned and no one has taken notice,

24. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

25. since you have ignored all my advice and rejected all my warnings,

25. and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

26. I, for my part, shall laugh at your distress, I shall jeer when terror befalls you,

26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,

27. when terror befalls you, like a storm, when your distress arrives, like a whirlwind, when ordeal and anguish bear down on you.

27. when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

28. Then they will call me, but I shall not answer, they will look eagerly for me and will not find me.

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

29. They have hated knowledge, they have not chosen the fear of Yahweh,

29. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

30. they have taken no notice of my advice, they have spurned all my warnings:

30. would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

31. so they will have to eat the fruits of their own ways of life, and choke themselves with their own scheming.

31. therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

32. For the errors of the simple lead to their death, the complacency of fools works their own ruin;

32. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;

33. but whoever listens to me may live secure, will have quiet, fearing no mischance.'

33. but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil."