English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

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

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

2To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,

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

3To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity;

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

4To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching;

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

9Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck.

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

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

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

11If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

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

12Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;

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

13We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil;

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

14Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,"

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

15My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,

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

16For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood.

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

17Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;

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

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

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

19So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.

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

20Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;

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

21At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:

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

22"How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?

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

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

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

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

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

25And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;

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

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

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

27When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

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

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

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

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

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

30"They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.

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

31"So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.

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

32"For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

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

33"But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil."

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