Proverbs, starting at chapter 1
{1:1} The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
{1:2} to know wisdom and instruction;
to discern the words of understanding;
{1:3} to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
{1:4} to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young man:
{1:5} that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
{1:6} to understand a proverb, and parables,
the words and riddles of the wise.
{1:7} The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
{1:8} My son, listen to your father's instruction,
and don't forsake your mother's teaching:
{1:9} for they will be a garland to grace your head,
and chains around your neck.
{1:10} My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent.
{1:11} If they say, "Come with us,
Let's lay in wait for blood;
let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
{1:12} let's swallow them up alive like Sheol,
and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
{1:13} We'll find all valuable wealth.
We'll fill our houses with spoil.
{1:14} You shall cast your lot among us.
We'll all have one purse."
{1:15} My son, don't walk in the way with them.
Keep your foot from their path,
{1:16} for their feet run to evil.
They hurry to shed blood.
{1:17} For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
{1:18} but these lay wait for their own blood.
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
{1:19} So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.
It takes away the life of its owners.
{1:20} Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
She utters her voice in the public squares.
{1:21} She calls at the head of noisy places.
At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
{1:22} "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
and fools hate knowledge?
{1:23} Turn at my reproof.
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you.
I will make known my words to you.
{1:24} Because I have called, and you have refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
{1:25} but you have ignored all my counsel,
and wanted none of my reproof;
{1:26} I also will laugh at your disaster.
I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
{1:27} when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish come on you.
{1:28} Then will they call on me, but I will not answer.
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
{1:29} because they hated knowledge,
and didn't choose the fear of the LORD.
{1:30} They wanted none of my counsel.
They despised all my reproof.
{1:31} Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own schemes.
{1:32} For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
{1:33} But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,
and will be at ease, without fear of harm."
{2:1} My son, if you will receive my words,
and store up my commandments within you;
{2:2} So as to turn your ear to wisdom,
and apply your heart to understanding;
{2:3} Yes, if you call out for discernment,
and lift up your voice for understanding;
{2:4} If you seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hidden treasures:
{2:5} then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
and find the knowledge of God.
{2:6} For the LORD gives wisdom.
Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
{2:7} He lays up sound wisdom for the upright.
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity;
{2:8} that he may guard the paths of justice,
and preserve the way of his holy ones.
{2:9} Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
equity and every good path.
{2:10} For wisdom will enter into your heart.
Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
{2:11} Discretion will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you,
{2:12} to deliver you from the way of evil,
from the men who speak perverse things;
{2:13} who forsake the paths of uprightness,
to walk in the ways of darkness;
{2:14} who rejoice to do evil,
and delight in the perverseness of evil;
{2:15} who are crooked in their ways,
and wayward in their paths:
{2:16} To deliver you from the strange woman,
even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;
{2:17} who forsakes the friend of her youth,
and forgets the covenant of her God:
{2:18} for her house leads down to death,
her paths to the dead.
{2:19} None who go to her return again,
neither do they attain to the paths of life:
{2:20} that you may walk in the way of good men,
and keep the paths of the righteous.
{2:21} For the upright will dwell in the land.
The perfect will remain in it.
{2:22} But the wicked will be cut off from the land.
The treacherous will be rooted out of it.
{3:1} My son, don't forget my teaching;
but let your heart keep my commandments:
{3:2} for length of days, and years of life,
and peace, will they add to you.
{3:3} Don't let kindness and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
{3:4} So you will find favor,
and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
{3:5} Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and don't lean on your own understanding.
{3:6} In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
{3:7} Don't be wise in your own eyes.
Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
{3:8} It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones.
{3:9} Honor the LORD with your substance,
with the first fruits of all your increase:
{3:10} so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
{3:11} My son, don't despise the LORD's discipline,
neither be weary of his reproof:
{3:12} for whom the LORD loves, he reproves;
even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
{3:13} Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding.
{3:14} For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her return is better than fine gold.
{3:15} She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
{3:16} Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor.
{3:17} Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace.
{3:18} She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her.
{3:19} By wisdom the LORD founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens.
{3:20} By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies drop down the dew.
{3:21} My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
{3:22} so they will be life to your soul,
and grace for your neck.
{3:23} Then you shall walk in your way securely.
Your foot won't stumble.
{3:24} When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
{3:25} Don't be afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
{3:26} for the LORD will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being taken.
{3:27} Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
{3:28} Don't say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again;
tomorrow I will give it to you,"
when you have it by you.
{3:29} Don't devise evil against your neighbor,
seeing he dwells securely by you.
{3:30} Don't strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm.
{3:31} Don't envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways.
{3:32} For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD,
but his friendship is with the upright.
{3:33} The LORD's curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
{3:34} Surely he mocks the mockers,
but he gives grace to the humble.
{3:35} The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the promotion of fools.
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