Proverbs 1–3

1These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,

2for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,

3and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.

4To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

5let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

6by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

9For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

10My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

11If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

12let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

13We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

14Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—

15my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.

16For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

17How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!

18But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.

19Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

20Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

21in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:

22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

23If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.

24Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,

25because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

26in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,

27when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.

28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

29For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.

30They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

31So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

1My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,

2if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,

3if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,

4if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,

5then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.

6For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,

8to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.

9Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path.

10For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.

11Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

12to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity,

13from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,

14from those who enjoy doing evil and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,

15whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious.

16It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words

17who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.

18For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.

19None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.

20So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.

21For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

22but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.

1My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

2for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.

3Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;

12for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.

13Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,

14for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.

15She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.

16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

17All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.

18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

19The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

20By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.

21My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.

22They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.

23Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.

24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

25Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

26for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.

27Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.

28Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.

29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.

30Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;

32for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.

33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.

34He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.

35The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.