The Purpose of Proverbs
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
1 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.
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.
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.
knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
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.
A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom
8 My child,a listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
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.
and be a chain of honor around your neck.
10 My child, if sinners entice you,
turn your back on them!
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!
Let’s hide and kill someone!
Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the graveb;
let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
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.
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.”
we’ll all share the loot.”
15 My child, don’t go along with them!
Stay far away from their paths.
Stay far away from their paths.
16 They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder.
They hurry to commit murder.
17 If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away.
it knows to stay away.
18 But these people set an ambush for themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed.
they are trying to get themselves killed.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
it robs them of life.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
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:
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?
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.
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.
I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
25 You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.
and rejected the correction I offered.
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
I will mock you when disaster overtakes you —
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.
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.
Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
29 For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the LORD.
and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 They rejected my advice
and paid no attention when I corrected them.
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.
choking on their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me — to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”
untroubled by fear of harm.”