Proverbs 1
1The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
11If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
12Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit.
13We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
22“Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent hate knowledge?
23Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
27When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,
28then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
10My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
18And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
20Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.