New King James Version

New Living Translation

The Beginning of Knowledge

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

1

The Purpose of Proverbs

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.

2

To know wisdom and instruction,
To [a]perceive the words of understanding,

2

Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.

3

To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;

3

Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.

4

To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion —

4

These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.

5

A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will [b]attain wise counsel,

5

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance

6

To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.

6

by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

7

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom

8

Shun Evil Counsel

My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;

8

My child,a listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

9

For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.

9

What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.

10

My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.

10

My child, if sinners entice you,
turn your back on them!

11

If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

11

They may say, “Come and join us.
Let’s hide and kill someone!
Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!

12

Let us swallow them alive like [c]Sheol,
And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

12

Let’s swallow them alive, like the graveb;
let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.

13

We shall find all kinds of precious [d]possessions,
We shall fill our houses with [e]spoil;

13

Think of the great things we’ll get!
We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.

14

Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse” —

14

Come, throw in your lot with us;
we’ll all share the loot.”

15

My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;

15

My child, don’t go along with them!
Stay far away from their paths.

16

For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.

16

They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder.

17

Surely, in [f]vain the net is spread
In the sight of any [g]bird;

17

If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away.

18

But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.

18

But these people set an ambush for themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed.

19

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.

19

Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets

20

The Call of Wisdom

Wisdom calls aloud [h]outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.

20

Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.

21

She cries out in the [i]chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:

21

She calls to the crowds along the main street,
to those gathered in front of the city gate:

22

“How long, you [j]simple ones, will you love [k]simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
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?

23

Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.

23

Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
and make you wise.

24

Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

24

“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.

25

Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,

25

You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.

26

I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,

26

So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
I will mock you when disaster overtakes you —

27

When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.

27

when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,
and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

28

“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they 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.

29

Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,

29

For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the LORD.

30

They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.

30

They rejected my advice
and paid no attention when I corrected them.

31

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

31

Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
choking on their own schemes.

32

For the [l]turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

32

For simpletons turn away from me — to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.

33

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be [m]secure, without fear of evil.”

33

But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”

Parallel

New King James Version

New Living Translation

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1