English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: | 1These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. |
2To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, | 2Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. |
3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; | 3Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. |
4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— | 4These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. |
5Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, | 5Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance |
6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. | 6by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. |
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | 7Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom |
8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, | 8My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. |
9for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. | 9What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. |
10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. | 10My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! |
11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; | 11They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! |
12like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; | 12Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave ; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. |
13we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; | 13Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. |
14throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— | 14Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.” |
15my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, | 15My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. |
16for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. | 16They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder. |
17For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, | 17If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. |
18but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. | 18But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. |
19Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. | 19Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life. Wisdom Shouts in the Streets |
20Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; | 20Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. |
21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: | 21She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: |
22“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? | 22“How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? |
23If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. | 23Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. |
24Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, | 24“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. |
25because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, | 25You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. |
26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, | 26So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you— |
27when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. | 27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. |
28Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. | 28“When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. |
29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, | 29For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. |
30would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, | 30They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. |
31therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. | 31Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. |
32For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; | 32For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. |
33but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” | 33But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” |
ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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