【Proverbs】Chapter 1 Next Chapter >>

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

1:2 That men may appreciate wisdom and discipline, may understand words of intelligence;

1:3 May receive training in wise conduct, in what is right, just and honest;

1:4 That resourcefulness may be imparted to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

1:5 A wise man by hearing them will advance in learning, an intelligent man will gain sound guidance,

1:6 That he may comprehend proverb and parable, the words of the wise and their riddles.

1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise.

1:8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your mother’s teaching;

1:9 A graceful diadem will they be for your head; a torque for your neck.

1:10 My son, should sinners entice you, and say,

1:11 "Come along with us! Let us lie in wait for the honest man, let us, unprovoked, set a trap for the innocent;

1:12 Let us swallow them up, as the nether world does, alive, in the prime of life, like those who go down to the pit!

1:13 All kinds of precious wealth shall we gain, we shall fill our houses with booty;

1:14 Cast in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse!" ?

1:15 My son, walk not in the way with them, hold back your foot from their path!

1:16 (For their feet run to evil, they hasten to shed blood.)

1:17 It is in vain that a net is spread before the eyes of any bird ?

1:18 These men lie in wait for their own blood, they set a trap for their own lives.

1:19 This is the fate of everyone greedy of loot: unlawful gain takes away the life of him who acquires it.

1:20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the open squares she raises her voice;

1:21 Down the crowded ways she calls out, at the city gates she utters her words:

1:22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love inanity,

1:23 how long will you turn away at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will acquaint you with my words.

1:24 "Because I called and you refused, I extended my hand and no one took notice;

1:25 Because you disdained all my counsel, and my reproof you ignored ?

1:26 I, in my turn, will laugh at your doom; I will mock when terror overtakes you;

1:27 When terror comes upon you like a storm, and your doom approaches like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish befall you.

1:28 "Then they call me, but I answer not; they seek me, but find me not;

1:29 Because they hated knowledge, and chose not the fear of the LORD;

1:30 They ignored my counsel, they spurned all my reproof; And in their arrogance they preferred arrogance, and like fools they hated knowledge:

1:31 "Now they must eat the fruit of their own way, and with their own devices be glutted.

1:32 For the self-will of the simple kills them, the smugness of fools destroys them.

1:33 But he who obeys me dwells in security, in peace, without fear of harm."

Fr: To: