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Proverbs 1
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1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
1These are the wise sayings of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel.
2To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;
2They are written so you can learn wisdom and discipline, and to help you understand deep insights.
3To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;
3They teach you how to live wisely and to do what is right, just, and fair.
4To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:
4They give common sense to people who are easily led and give knowledge and purpose to the young.
5That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
5Let wise people listen and become even wiser, and let those who understand find the right path.
6To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
6This will help you understand proverbs, parables, the words of the wise, and their difficult puzzles.
7The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; Butthe foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
7Fearing the LORD is the starting point for true knowledge, but foolish people hate wisdom and discipline.
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
8My son, listen to your father’s correction and do not ignore your mother’s teaching.
9For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
9Their lessons will be like a beautiful crown on your head and a decorative chain around your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.
10My son, if sinful people try to tempt you, do not give in to them.
11If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
11They might say, "Come with us! Let’s hide and wait to kill someone; let’s ambush innocent people just for fun.
12Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;
12We will swallow them alive like the grave does, and take them down healthy as if they are falling into a pit.
13We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;
13We will find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with stolen goods.
14Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:
14Come join us; we will all share one big bag of money."
15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:
15My son, do not go along with them or even set foot on their path.
16For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
16They run toward evil and are in a hurry to kill.
17For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:
17It is useless to spread a net while a bird is watching you do it.
18And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.
18But these people are setting a trap for their own lives; they are ambushing themselves.
19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
19This is what happens to everyone who tries to get rich through violence; greed takes away the life of the person who has it.
20Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;
20Wisdom calls out loudly in the streets; she raises her voice in the public squares.
21She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:
21She shouts in the crowded markets and speaks her message at the city gates:
22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
22"How long will you simple people love being ignorant? How long will mockers enjoy their mocking and fools hate knowledge?
23Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.
23Turn back and listen to my correction! I will pour out my heart to you and make my words known to you.
24Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;
24I called to you and you refused to listen; I reached out my hand but no one cared.
25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:
25You ignored all my advice and would not accept my correction.
26I also will laugh inthe day ofyour calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
26So I will laugh when you are in trouble; I will mock you when terror strikes you.
27When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.
27When terror comes over you like a storm, and disaster hits you like a whirlwind, when you are overwhelmed by distress and pain.
28Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:
28Then they will call for my help, but I will not answer; they will look for me everywhere, but they will not find me.
29For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah,
29This is because they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30They would none of my counsel, They despised all my reproof.
30They rejected my advice and treated my correction with contempt.
31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
31Therefore, they will eat the fruit of their own choices and be stuffed with their own evil schemes.