The Purpose of Proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon(A) son of David, king of Israel:
For learning wisdom and discipline;
for understanding insightful sayings;
for receiving prudent instruction
in righteousness, justice, and integrity;(B)
for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,[a](C)
knowledge and discretion(D) to a young man—
let a wise person listen and increase learning,(E)
and let a discerning person obtain guidance—
for understanding a proverb or a parable,[b]
the words of the wise, and their riddles.(F)

The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;(G)
fools despise wisdom and discipline.(H)

Avoid the Path of the Violent

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,(I)
for they will be a garland(J) of favor on your head
and pendants[c] around your neck.(K)
10 My son, if sinners entice you,(L)
don’t be persuaded.(M)
11 If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush(N) and kill someone.[d]
Let’s attack some innocent person(O) just for fun![e]
12 Let’s swallow them alive,(P) like Sheol,
whole, like those who go down to the Pit.(Q)
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder.(R)
14 Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share the loot”[f]
15 my son, don’t travel that road with them(S)
or set foot on their path,(T)
16 because their feet run toward evil
and they hurry to shed blood.(U)
17 It is useless to spread a net
where any bird can see it,
18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves;[g]
they attack their own lives.
19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;(V)
it takes the lives of those who receive it.[h]

Wisdom’s Plea

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;
she makes her voice heard in the public squares.(W)
21 She cries out above[i] the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers(X) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?(Y)
23 If you respond to my warning,[j](Z)
then I will pour out my spirit on you(AA)
and teach you my words.
24 Since I called out and you refused,(AB)
extended my hand and no one paid attention,(AC)
25 since you neglected all my counsel(AD)
and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.(AE)
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.(AF)
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,(AG)
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,(AH)
31 they will eat the fruit of their way(AI)
and be glutted with their own schemes.(AJ)
32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,(AK)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”(AL)

Footnotes

  1. 1:4 Or simple, or gullible
  2. 1:6 Or an enigma
  3. 1:9 Lit chains
  4. 1:11 Lit Let’s ambush for blood
  5. 1:11 Lit person for no reason
  6. 1:14 Lit us; one bag will be for all of us
  7. 1:18 Lit they ambush for their blood
  8. 1:19 Lit takes the life of its masters
  9. 1:21 Lit at the head of
  10. 1:23 Lit you turn back to my reprimand

Purpose and Theme

The proverbs(A) of Solomon(B) son of David, king of Israel:(C)

for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a](D)
    knowledge and discretion(E) to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,(F)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,(G)
    the sayings and riddles(H) of the wise.[b](I)

The fear of the Lord(J) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools[c] despise wisdom(K) and instruction.(L)

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(M) to your father’s(N) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(O)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(P)

10 My son, if sinful men entice(Q) you,
    do not give in(R) to them.(S)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait(T) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow(U) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(V)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot(W)”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot(X) on their paths;(Y)
16 for their feet rush into evil,(Z)
    they are swift to shed blood.(AA)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait(AB) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!(AC)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.(AD)

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(AE)
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[d] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

22 “How long will you who are simple(AF) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(AG) knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
24 But since you refuse(AH) to listen when I call(AI)
    and no one pays attention(AJ) when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh(AK) when disaster(AL) strikes you;
    I will mock(AM) when calamity overtakes you(AN)
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster(AO) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;(AP)
    they will look for me but will not find me,(AQ)
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.(AR)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,(AS)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.(AT)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(AU)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety(AV)
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”(AW)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  3. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.
  4. Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners

Увод

Притчите – мъдрост и поука

(A)Притчи на Соломон, син на Давид, цар на Израил, записани, за да се познаят мъдрост и поука, да се разбират разумните слова; да се усвоят правилата на мъдростта, справедливостта, правосъдието и правдата; да се даде разум на глупавите, знание и разсъдливост – на младежите. Мъдрият се вслушва и увеличава познанието си и разумният ще придобие мъдър съвет, за да разбира притчата и образната реч, думите на мъдреците и техните загадки. (B)Начало на знанието е страхопочитанието пред Господа[a]; само глупците презират мъдростта и наставлението.

Да се избягва лошото общество

(C)Сине мой, слушай поучението на баща си и не пренебрегвай наставлението на майка си, (D)защото те са скъпоценен венец за главата ти и огърлица за шията ти.

10 Сине мой, ако грешници те примамват, не скланяй. 11 Ако кажат: „Ела с нас да устроим засада за убийство, противозаконно да причакаме невинен, 12 ще го погълнем, както преизподнята поглъща, и изцяло ще го глътнем, както слизащите в гроба, 13 ще намерим всякакво скъпоценно имущество, ще напълним къщите си с плячка, 14 ще изтегляш жребия си заедно с нас, ще има една кесия за всички ни“ – 15 сине мой, не ходи на път с тях, не стъпвай с крака си на пътеките им, 16 (E)защото краката им тичат към зло и бързат да проливат кръв. 17 Безполезно е да се разпъва мрежа пред погледа на птицата[b]. 18 Но те устройват засада против кръвта си, дебнат против живота си. 19 Такива са пътищата на всеки, който придобива чрез грабеж. Заграбеното отнема живота на новия си господар.

Мъдростта напомня

20 (F)Мъдростта вика високо[c] на улицата, издига глас по площадите; 21 вика високо сред уличния шум; изрича словата си при входа на градските порти:

22 (G)„Докога, неразумни, ще обичате безумието, докога присмехулниците ще се наслаждават на подигравките и глупците ще мразят знанието? 23 Обърнете се към моите поучения! Ето ще излея духа си върху вас, ще известя думите си. 24 (H)Защото повиках, а вие не послушахте; прострях ръка и нямаше кой да внимава. 25 (I)И пренебрегнахте всички мои съвети, и не приехте напомнянията ми. 26 Затова ще се надсмея на вашето нещастие; ще се подиграя, когато ви сполети напаст, 27 (J)когато ви връхлети ужас като буря и нещастие се спусне върху вас, когато ви постигнат беда и притеснение. 28 Тогава ще ме зоват, но няма да отговоря; отрано ще ме търсят и няма да ме намерят. 29 Тъй като намразиха знанието и не избраха да почитат Господа; 30 не приеха съвета ми и презряха моите укори, 31 затова ще ядат от плодовете на своя път и ще се насищат от своите съвети. 32 (K)Защото неразумните ще бъдат убити от своето отстъпничество, а глупците – погубени от безгрижието си; 33 но онзи, който се вслушва в мене, ще живее безопасно и спокойно, без да се страхува от зло.“

Footnotes

  1. 1:7 В Септуагинта е добавено: „онези, които се водят от него, добре разбират всичко и благоговението пред Бога е начало на разбирането“.
  2. 1:17 В Септуагинта: „защото мрежи за птици не се разпъват безпричинно“.
  3. 1:20 В Септуагинта: „пее химни“.

The Beginning of Knowledge

The (A)proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction,
To [a]perceive the words of understanding,
To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
To give prudence to the (B)simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
(C)A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will [b]attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their (D)riddles.

(E)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Shun Evil Counsel

(F)My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
For they will be a (G)graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
(H)Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us (I)lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like [c]Sheol,
And whole, (J)like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious [d]possessions,
We shall fill our houses with [e]spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, (K)do not walk in the way with them,
(L)Keep your foot from their path;
16 (M)For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in [f]vain the net is spread
In the sight of any [g]bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 (N)So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.

The Call of Wisdom

20 (O)Wisdom calls aloud [h]outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the [i]chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you [j]simple ones, will you love [k]simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely (P)I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 (Q)Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you (R)disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 (S)I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When (T)your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 “Then(U) they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they (V)hated knowledge
And did not (W)choose the fear of the Lord,
30 (X)They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore (Y)they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the [l]turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell (Z)safely,
And (AA)will be [m]secure, without fear of evil.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:2 understand or discern
  2. Proverbs 1:5 acquire
  3. Proverbs 1:12 Or the grave
  4. Proverbs 1:13 Lit. wealth
  5. Proverbs 1:13 plunder
  6. Proverbs 1:17 futility
  7. Proverbs 1:17 Lit. lord of the wing
  8. Proverbs 1:20 in the street
  9. Proverbs 1:21 LXX, Syr., Tg. top of the walls; Vg. the head of multitudes
  10. Proverbs 1:22 naive
  11. Proverbs 1:22 naivete
  12. Proverbs 1:32 waywardness
  13. Proverbs 1:33 at ease