VerseAI

NIV

Proverbs 1

  1. 1<pb/>The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
  2. 2<pb/><t>for gaining wisdom and instruction;</t> <t>for understanding words of insight;</t>
  3. 3<t>for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,</t> <t>doing what is right and just and fair;</t>
  4. 4<t>for giving prudence to those who are simple,<f>[1]</f></t> <t>knowledge and discretion to the young—</t>
  5. 5<t>let the wise listen and add to their learning,</t> <t>and let the discerning get guidance—</t>
  6. 6<t>for understanding proverbs and parables,</t> <t>the sayings and riddles of the wise.<f>[2]</f> <pb/></t>
  7. 7<t>The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,</t> <t>but fools<f>[3]</f> despise wisdom and instruction.</t>
  8. 8<t>Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction</t> <t>and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.</t>
  9. 9<t>They are a garland to grace your head</t> <t>and a chain to adorn your neck. <pb/></t>
  10. 10<t>My son, if sinful men entice you,</t> <t>do not give in to them.</t>
  11. 11<t>If they say, “Come along with us;</t> <t>let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,</t> <t>let’s ambush some harmless soul;</t>
  12. 12<t>let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,</t> <t>and whole, like those who go down to the pit;</t>
  13. 13<t>we will get all sorts of valuable things</t> <t>and fill our houses with plunder;</t>
  14. 14<t>cast lots with us;</t> <t>we will all share the loot”—</t>
  15. 15<t>my son, do not go along with them,</t> <t>do not set foot on their paths;</t>
  16. 16<t>for their feet rush into evil,</t> <t>they are swift to shed blood.</t>
  17. 17<t>How useless to spread a net</t> <t>where every bird can see it!</t>
  18. 18<t>These men lie in wait for their own blood;</t> <t>they ambush only themselves!</t>
  19. 19<t>Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;</t> <t>it takes away the life of those who get it.</t>
  20. 20<t>Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,</t> <t>she raises her voice in the public square;</t>
  21. 21<t>on top of the wall<f>[4]</f> she cries out,</t> <t>at the city gate she makes her speech: <pb/></t>
  22. 22<t>“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?</t> <t>How long will mockers delight in mockery</t> <t>and fools hate knowledge?</t>
  23. 23<t>Repent at my rebuke!</t> <t>Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,</t> <t>I will make known to you my teachings.</t>
  24. 24<t>But since you refuse to listen when I call</t> <t>and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,</t>
  25. 25<t>since you disregard all my advice</t> <t>and do not accept my rebuke,</t>
  26. 26<t>I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;</t> <t>I will mock when calamity overtakes you—</t>
  27. 27<t>when calamity overtakes you like a storm,</t> <t>when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,</t> <t>when distress and trouble overwhelm you. <pb/></t>
  28. 28<t>“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;</t> <t>they will look for me but will not find me,</t>
  29. 29<t>since they hated knowledge</t> <t>and did not choose to fear the LORD.</t>
  30. 30<t>Since they would not accept my advice</t> <t>and spurned my rebuke,</t>
  31. 31<t>they will eat the fruit of their ways</t> <t>and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.</t>
  32. 32<t>For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,</t> <t>and the complacency of fools will destroy them;</t>
  33. 33<t>but whoever listens to me will live in safety</t> <t>and be at ease, without fear of harm.”</t>