The Value of Proverbs
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.
2 Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. 3 They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. 4 They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. 5 These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, 6 so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.
Advice to the Young
7 To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.
8 My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you. 9 Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.
10 My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in. 11 Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it! 12 They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them! 13 We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot! 14 Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”
15 My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them. 16 They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. 17 It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching, 18 but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die. 19 Robbery always claims the life of the robber—this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.
Wisdom Calls
20 Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces, 21 calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:
22 “Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? 23 Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. 24 I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. 25 You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. 26 So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes— 27 when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. 28 Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. 29 You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord. 30 You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. 31 So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. 32 Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. 33 But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”
1 The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel, 2 To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge, 3 To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie, 4 To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels, 6 To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings. 7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction. 8 My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching. 9 For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke. 10 My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause: 12 We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit: 13 We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle: 14 Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse: 15 My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path. 16 For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing: 18 So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues. 19 Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof. 20 Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes. 21 She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying, 22 O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge? 23 (Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes) 24 Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde. 25 But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction. 26 I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth. 27 Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you, 28 Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me, 29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. 30 They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction. 31 Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises. 32 For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them. 33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.