Proverbs 1
The Beginning of Knowledge
[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.
The Enticement of Sinners
[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.
The Call of Wisdom
[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.” (ESV)
