Home Master Index
←Prev   Proverbs 1 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


1:1  These are the wise words of Solomon son of David. Solomon was king of Israel.
1:2  They teach wisdom and self-control. They give understanding.
1:3  They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled. They will teach you what is honest and fair and right.
1:4  They give the ability to think to those with little knowledge. They give knowledge and good sense to the young.
1:5  Wise people should also listen to them and learn even more. Even they can find good advice in these words.
1:6  Then they will be able to understand wise words and stories. They will understand the words of wise men and their riddles.
1:7  Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and discipline.
1:8  My child, listen to your father’s teaching. And do not forget your mother’s advice.
1:9  Their teaching will beautify your life. It will be like flowers in your hair or a chain around your neck.
1:10  My child, sinners will try to lead you into sin. But do not follow them.
1:11  They might say, “Come with us. Let’s ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some harmless person just for fun.
1:12  Let’s swallow them alive, as death does. Let’s swallow them whole, as the grave does.
1:13  We will take all kinds of valuable things. We will fill our houses with what we steal.
1:14  Come join us, and we will share with you what we steal.”
1:15  My child, do not go along with them. Do not do what they do.
1:16  They run to do evil. They are quick to kill.
1:17  It is useless to spread out a net right where the birds can see it!
1:18  These men are setting their own trap. They will only catch themselves!
1:19  All greedy people end up this way. Greed takes away the life of the greedy person.
1:20  Wisdom is like a good woman who shouts in the street. She raises her voice in the city squares.
1:21  She cries out in the noisy street. She makes her speech at the city gates:
1:22  “You foolish people! How long do you want to stay foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge?
1:23  Listen when I correct you. I will tell you what’s in my heart. I will tell you what I am thinking.
1:24  I called, but you refused to listen. I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.
1:25  You did not follow my advice. You did not want me to correct you.
1:26  So I will laugh when you are in trouble. I will make fun when disaster happens to you.
1:27  Disaster will come over you like a storm. Trouble will strike you like a whirlwind. Pain and trouble will overwhelm you.
1:28  “Then you will call out to me. But I will not answer. You will look for me. But you will not find me.
1:29  You rejected knowledge. You did not choose to respect the Lord.
1:30  You did not accept my advice. You rejected my correction.
1:31  So you will get what you deserve. You will get what you planned for others.
1:32  Fools wander away and get killed. They are destroyed because they do not care.
1:33  But those who listen to me will live in safety. They will be safe, without fear of being hurt.”