New American Standard Bible 1995

New Living Translation

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

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

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

2Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.

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

3Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.

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

4These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.

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

5Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance

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

6by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

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

7Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom

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

8My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

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

9What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.

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

10My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!

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

11They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!

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

12Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave ; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.

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

13Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.

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

14Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”

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

15My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.

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

16They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.

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

17If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.

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

18But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.

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

19Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life. Wisdom Shouts in the Streets

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

20Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.

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

21She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:

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

22“How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?

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

23Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.

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

24“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.

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

25You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.

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

26So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—

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

27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

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

28“When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.

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

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

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

30They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.

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

31Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.

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

32For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.

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

33But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.