Proverbs - Chapter 1 | English Standard Version

  • 1. The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
  • 2. To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
  • 3. to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
  • 4. to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth--
  • 5. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,
  • 6. to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
  • 7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  • 8. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,
  • 9. for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
  • 10. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
  • 11. If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;
  • 12. like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
  • 13. we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;
  • 14. throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse"--
  • 15. my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
  • 16. for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
  • 17. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
  • 18. but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
  • 19. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
  • 20. Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;
  • 21. at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
  • 22. "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
  • 23. If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
  • 24. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
  • 25. because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
  • 26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,
  • 27. when 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 upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
  • 29. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
  • 30. would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,
  • 31. therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.
  • 32. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
  • 33. but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."
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