Berean Study Bible

English Standard Version

1These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,

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

2for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,

2To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

3and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.

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

4To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

5Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

6by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

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

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

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

8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

9For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

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

10My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

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

11If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;

12let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

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

13We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

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

14Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—

14throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—

15my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.

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

16For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

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

17How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!

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

18But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.

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

19Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

19Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

20Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

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

21in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:

21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

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

23If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.

23If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

24Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,

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

25because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

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

26in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,

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

27when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.

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

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

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

29For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.

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

30They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

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

31So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

31therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

32For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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

33But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

33but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.