Pro 1 | HCSB | STEP | The proverbs of Solomon son of David , king of Israel :

Proverbs 1

Proverbs

The Purpose of Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomon ^a son of David, king of Israel:
2 For learning what wisdom and discipline are;
for understanding insightful sayings;
3 for receiving wise instruction
in righteousness, justice, and integrity; ^b
4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, ^{▼▼Or simple, or gullible
,} ^d
knowledge and discretion ^e to a young man –
5 a wise man will listen and increase his learning, ^f
and a discerning man will obtain guidance –
6 for understanding a proverb or a parable, ^{▼▼Or an enigma}
the words of the wise, and their riddles. ^h

7 The ^{▼▼fear(s) God or the Lord/ the fear of the Lord: No single English word conveys every aspect of the word fear in this phrase. The meaning includes worshipful submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect to the covenant-keeping God of Israel.}fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge; ^j
fools despise wisdom and discipline. ^k

Avoid the Path of the Violent

8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, ^l
9 for they will be a garland ^m of grace on your head
and a gold chain around your neck. ⁿ
10 My son, if sinners entice you, ^o
don’t be persuaded. ^p
11 If they say – “Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush ^q and kill someone. ^{▼▼Lit Let’s ambush for blood}
Let’s attack some innocent person ^s just for fun! ^{▼▼Lit person for no reason}
12 Let’s swallow them alive, ^u like ^{▼▼Sheol: A Hebrew word for either the grave or the realm of the dead}Sheol,
still healthy as they go down to the ^{▼▼Pit: Either the grave or the realm of the dead}Pit. ^x
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder. ^y
14 Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share our money” ^{▼▼Lit us; one bag will be for all of us} –
15 my son, don’t travel that road with them ^aa
or set foot on their path, ^ab
16 because their feet run toward trouble
and they hurry to commit murder. ^{▼▼Lit to shed blood
,} ^ad
17 It is foolish to spread a net
where any bird can see it,
18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; ^{▼▼Lit they ambush for their blood}
they attack their own lives.
19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; ^af
it takes the lives of those who receive it. ^{▼▼Lit takes the life of its masters}

Wisdom’s Plea

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;
she raises her voice in the public squares. ^ah
21 She cries out above ^{▼▼Lit at the head of} the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city ^{▼▼gate(s): The center for community discussions, political meetings, and trying of court cases}gates:
22 “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers ^ak enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge? ^al
23 If you respond to my warning, ^{▼▼Lit back to my reprimand
,} ^an
then I will pour out my spirit on you ^ao
and teach you my words.
24 Since I called out and you refused, ^ap
extended my hand and no one paid attention, ^aq
25 since you neglected all my counsel ^ar
and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. ^as
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me. ^at
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord, ^au
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction, ^av
31 they will eat the fruit of their way ^aw
and be glutted with their own schemes. ^ax
32 For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them, ^ay
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be free from the fear of danger.” ^az