11 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don't neglect your mother's instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! 11 They may say, "Come and join us. Let's hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let's ambush the innocent! 12 Let's swallow them alive, like the grave ; let's swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. 13 Think of the great things we'll get! We'll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. 14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we'll all share the loot." 15 My child, don't go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. 16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder. 17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. 18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. 19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. 21 She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: 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? 23 Come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise. 24 "I called you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. 25 You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. 26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you- 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. 28 "When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. 29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord . 30 They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. 31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. 32 For simpletons turn away from me-to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. 33 But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm."
11 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David , king of Israel : 2 To know wisdom and instruction , To discern the sayings of understanding , 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior , Righteousness , justice and equity ; 4 To give prudence to the [1]naive , To the youth knowledge and discretion , 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning , And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel , 6 To understand a proverb and a figure , 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 do not forsake your mother's teaching ; 9 Indeed , they are a graceful wreath to your head And [2] ornaments about 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 cause ; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol , Even whole , as those who go down to the pit ; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth , We will fill our houses with spoil ; 14 Throw in your lot [3]with us, We shall all have one purse ," 15 My son , do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path , 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood . 17 Indeed , it is [4]useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any [5]bird e ; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood ; They ambush their own lives . 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence ; It takes away the life of its possessors .
20 Wisdom shouts in the street , She [6]lifts her voice in the square ; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings : 22 "How long e , O [7] naive ones , will you love [8]being simple-minded ? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge ? 23 "Turn to my reproof , Behold , I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 "Because I called and you refused , I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention ; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof ; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity ; I will mock when your dread comes , 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind , When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer ; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because e they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord . 30 "They would not accept my counsel , They spurned all my reproof . 31 "So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices . 32 "For the waywardness of the [9]naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 "But he who listens to me shall [10]live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil ."
11 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[11]knowledge and discretion to the young- 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.[12]
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools[13] despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for innocent blood, let's ambush some harmless soul; 12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 cast lots with us; we will all share the loot"- 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 21 on top of the wall[14] she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 22 "How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you- 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. 30 Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
