New King James Version

English Standard Version

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

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

2To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,

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

3To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;

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

4To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—

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

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

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

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

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 instruction.

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

8My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

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

9For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.

9for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for 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 to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for 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 who go down to the Pit;

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

13We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil;

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

14Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”—

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

15My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from 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 make haste to shed blood.

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

17Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;

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

18But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.

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

19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

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

20Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.

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

21She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:

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

22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, 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?

23Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make 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 I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

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

25Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

30They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.

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

31Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

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

32For the turning away 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 safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. 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.