Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1

1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:[#1 Kings 4.32; Eccl 12.9]

Prologue

2For learning about wisdom and instruction,

for understanding words of insight,

3for gaining instruction in wise dealing,[#Prov 2.9; 19.20]

righteousness, justice, and equity;

4to teach shrewdness to the simple,[#Prov 2.10, 11; 8.5, 12]

knowledge and prudence to the young—

5let the wise, too, hear and gain in learning[#Prov 9.9; 14.6]

and the discerning acquire skill,

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;[#Job 28.28; Ps 111.10; Eccl 12.13]

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Warnings against Evil Companions

8Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,[#Prov 4.1; 6.20]

and do not reject your mother’s teaching,

9for they are a fair garland for your head[#Gen 41.42; Prov 4.9]

and pendants for your neck.

10My child, if sinners entice you,[#Deut 13.8; Eph 5.11]

do not consent.

11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;[#v 18 ; Prov 12.6]

let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

12like Sheol let us swallow them alive[#Ps 28.1; 124.3]

and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

13We shall find all kinds of costly things;

we shall fill our houses with spoil.

14Throw in your lot among us;

we will all have one purse”—

15my child, do not walk in their way;[#Ps 1.1; 119.101]

keep your foot from their paths,

16for their feet run to evil,[#Isa 59.7]

and they hurry to shed blood.

17For in vain is the net baited

while the bird is looking on;

18yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves!

and set an ambush—for their own lives!

19Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain;[#Prov 15.27; #1.19 Gk: Heb are the ways]

it takes away the life of its possessors.

The Call of Wisdom

20Wisdom cries out in the street;[#Prov 8.1]

in the squares she raises her voice.

21At the busiest corner she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

22“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?[#vv 4, 29, 32; Ps 1.1]

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?

23Give heed to my reproof;[#Joel 2.28]

I will pour out my thoughts to you;

I will make my words known to you.

24Because I have called and you refused,[#Isa 65.12; Zech 7.11; Rom 10.21]

have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,

25and because you have ignored all my counsel[#Ps 107.11; Prov 15.10; Lk 7.30]

and would have none of my reproof,

26I also will laugh at your calamity;[#Ps 2.4; Prov 6.15; 10.24]

I will mock when panic strikes you,

27when panic strikes you 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;[#Isa 1.15; Ezek 8.18; Mic 3.4; Zech 7.13]

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

29Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord ,

30would have none of my counsel[#Ps 81.11]

and despised all my reproof,

31therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way[#Job 4.8; Prov 14.14; Isa 3.11; Jer 6.19]

and be sated with their own devices.

32For waywardness kills the simple,[#Jer 2.19]

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

33but those who listen to me will be secure[#Ps 25.12]

and will live at ease without dread of disaster.”

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ