Proverbs 1
Contemporary English Version
How Proverbs Can Be Used
1 (A) These are the proverbs
of King Solomon of Israel,
the son of David.
2 Proverbs will teach you
wisdom and self-control
and how to understand
sayings with deep meanings.
3 You will learn what is right
and honest and fair.
4 From these, an ordinary person
can learn to be smart,
and young people can gain
knowledge and good sense.
5 If you are already wise,
you will become even wiser.
And if you are smart,
you will learn to understand
6 proverbs and sayings,
as well as words of wisdom,
and all kinds of riddles.
7 (B) Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the beginning
of knowledge.[a]
Only a fool rejects wisdom
and good advice.
Warnings against Bad Friends
8 My child, obey the teachings
of your parents,
9 and wear their teachings
as you would a pretty hat
or a lovely necklace.
10 Don't be tempted by sinners
or listen 11 when they say,
“Come on! Let's gang up
and kill somebody,
just for the fun of it!
12 They're well and healthy now,
but we'll finish them off
once and for all.
13 We'll take their valuables
and fill our homes
with stolen goods.
14 If you join our gang,
you'll get your share.”
15 Don't follow anyone like that
or do what they do.
16 They are in a big hurry
to commit some crime,
perhaps even murder.
17 They are like a bird
that sees the bait,
but ignores the trap.[b]
18 They gang up to murder someone,
but they are the victims.
19 The wealth you get from crime
robs you of your life.
Wisdom Speaks
20 (C) Wisdom[c] shouts in the streets
wherever crowds gather.
21 She shouts in the marketplaces
and near the city gates
as she says to the people,
22 “How much longer
will you enjoy
being stupid fools?
Won't you ever stop sneering
and laughing at knowledge?
23 Listen as I correct you
and tell you what I think.
24 You completely ignored me
and refused to listen;
25 you rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.
26 “So when you are struck
by some terrible disaster,
27 or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
I will laugh and make fun.
28 You will ask for my help,
but I won't listen;
you will search,
but you won't find me.
29 No, you would not learn,
and you refused
to respect the Lord.
30 You rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.
31 “Now you will eat the fruit
of what you have done,
until you are stuffed full
with your own schemes.
32 Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
to stupid fools.
33 But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
without fear of disaster.”
Footnotes
- 1.7 the beginning of knowledge: Or “what knowledge is all about.”
- 1.17 They are … trap: Or “Be like a bird that won't go for the bait, if it sees the trap.”
- 1.20 Wisdom: In the book of Proverbs the word “wisdom” is sometimes used as though wisdom were a supernatural being who was with God at the time of creation.
Proverbios 1
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Propósito de los proverbios
1 Los proverbios de Salomón(A), hijo de David(B), rey de Israel:
2 Para aprender[a] sabiduría(C) e instrucción,
Para discernir dichos profundos[b](D),
3 Para recibir instrucción en sabia conducta(E),
Justicia, juicio y equidad(F);
4 Para dar a los simples prudencia(G),
Y a los jóvenes conocimiento y discreción(H).
5 El sabio oirá y crecerá en conocimiento(I),
Y el inteligente(J) adquirirá habilidad,
6 Para entender proverbio y metáfora[c],
Las palabras de los sabios y sus enigmas(K).
7 ¶El temor del[d] Señor es el principio de la sabiduría(L);
Los necios desprecian la sabiduría y la instrucción.
Peligro de las malas compañías
8 ¶Oye, hijo mío, la instrucción de tu padre(M)
Y no abandones la enseñanza de tu madre(N);
9 Porque son guirnalda de gracia para tu cabeza(O),
Y collares para tu cuello(P).
10 Hijo mío, si los pecadores te quieren seducir[e](Q),
No consientas(R).
11 Si dicen: «Ven con nosotros,
Pongámonos al acecho para derramar sangre(S),
Sin causa asechemos al inocente(T),
12 Devorémoslos vivos(U) como el Seol,
Enteros, como los que descienden al abismo(V);
13 Hallaremos toda clase de preciadas riquezas,
Llenaremos nuestras casas de botín;
14 Echa tu suerte con[f] nosotros,
Todos tendremos una bolsa»,
15 Hijo mío, no andes en el camino con ellos(W).
Aparta tu pie de su senda(X),
16 Porque sus pies corren hacia el mal,
Y se apresuran a derramar sangre(Y).
17 Porque es en vano tender la red
Ante los ojos de cualquier ave[g];
18 Pero ellos a su propia sangre acechan,
Tienden lazo a sus propias vidas(Z).
19 Tales son los caminos de todo el que se beneficia por la violencia:
Que quita la vida de sus poseedores(AA).
Habla la sabiduría
20 ¶(AB)La sabiduría clama en la calle,
En las plazas alza[h] su voz;
21 Clama en las esquinas de las calles concurridas;
A la entrada de las puertas de la ciudad pronuncia sus discursos:
22 «¿Hasta cuándo, oh simples(AC), amarán la simpleza,
Y los burladores(AD) se deleitarán en hacer burla,
Y los necios aborrecerán el conocimiento(AE)?
23 -»Vuélvanse a mi reprensión,
Y derramaré mi espíritu sobre ustedes(AF);
Les haré conocer mis palabras.
24 -»Porque he llamado(AG) y han rehusado oír(AH),
He extendido mi mano(AI) y nadie ha hecho caso.
25 -»Han desatendido todo consejo mío(AJ)
Y no han deseado mi reprensión(AK).
26 -»También yo me reiré(AL) de la calamidad(AM) de ustedes,
Me burlaré cuando sobrevenga lo que temen(AN),
27 Cuando venga como tormenta lo que temen
Y su calamidad sobrevenga como torbellino(AO),
Cuando vengan sobre ustedes tribulación y angustia.
28 -»Entonces me invocarán, pero no responderé(AP);
Me buscarán con diligencia, pero no me hallarán(AQ),
29 Porque odiaron el conocimiento(AR),
Y no escogieron el temor[i] del Señor,
30 Ni quisieron aceptar mi consejo,
Y despreciaron toda mi reprensión(AS).
31 -»Comerán del fruto de su conducta(AT),
Y de sus propias artimañas se hartarán(AU).
32 -»Porque el desvío de los simples los matará,
Y la complacencia de los necios los destruirá(AV).
33 -»Pero el que me escucha vivirá[j] seguro,
Y descansará, sin temor al mal(AW)».
Proverbs 1
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
Prologue
2 That men may know wisdom and instruction,
understand words of insight,
3 receive instruction in wise dealing,
righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 that prudence may be given to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 the wise man also may hear and increase in learning,
and the man of understanding acquire skill,
6 to understand a proverb and a figure,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Warnings against Evil Companions
8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and reject not your mother’s teaching;
9 for they are a fair garland for your head,
and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood,
let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive
and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 throw in your lot among us,
we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them,
hold back your foot from their paths;
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird;
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood,
they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence;
it takes away the life of its possessors.
The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street;
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 on the top of the walls[a] she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Give heed[b] to my reproof;
behold, I will pour out my thoughts[c] to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 and you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,
27 when panic strikes you like a storm,
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel,
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacence of fools destroys them;
33 but he who listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of evil.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:21 Heb uncertain
- Proverbs 1:23 Heb Turn
- Proverbs 1:23 Heb spirit
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