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

Finalidad de los proverbios

Los proverbios de Salomón hijo de David, rey de Israel,

para aprender sabiduría y doctrina,
para conocer razones prudentes,
para adquirir instrucción y prudencia,
justicia, juicio y equidad;
para dar sagacidad a los ingenuos,
y a los jóvenes inteligencia y cordura.
El sabio los escucha y aumenta su saber,
y el inteligente adquiere capacidad
para entender los proverbios y sentencias,
las palabras de los sabios y sus enigmas.

El principio de la sabiduría es el temor de Jehová;
los insensatos desprecian la sabiduría y la enseñanza.

Amonestaciones de la sabiduría

«Escucha, hijo mío, la instrucción de tu padre
y no abandones la enseñanza de tu madre,
porque adorno de gracia serán en tu cabeza,
y collares en tu cuello.
10 Hijo mío, si los pecadores intentan engañarte,
no lo consientas.
11 Si te dicen: “Ven con nosotros,
pongamos asechanzas para derramar sangre,
acechemos sin motivo al inocente;
12 los tragaremos vivos, como el seol,
y enteros, como los que caen en la fosa;
13 hallaremos toda clase de riquezas,
llenaremos nuestras casas con el botín.
14 Ven, une tu suerte a la nuestra
y hagamos una bolsa común entre todos”,
15 tú, hijo mío, no vayas en el camino con ellos,
sino aparta tu pie de sus veredas,
16 porque sus pies corren hacia el mal,
se apresuran a derramar sangre.
17 En vano es tender una red
ante los ojos del ave,
18 pero ellos a su propia sangre ponen asechanzas,
contra sí mismos tienden la trampa.
19 Así son las sendas de todo el que es dado a la codicia,
la cual quita la vida de sus poseedores.

20 »La sabiduría clama en las calles,
alza su voz en las plazas;
21 Clama en los principales lugares de reunión,
a la entrada de las puertas de la ciudad dice sus razones:
22 “¿Hasta cuándo, ingenuos, amaréis la ingenuidad?
¿Hasta cuándo los burlones desearán burlarse
y los insensatos aborrecerán el conocimiento?
23 ¡Volveos a mi reprensión!,
pues ciertamente yo derramaré mi espíritu sobre vosotros
y os haré saber mis palabras.
24 Yo os llamé, pero no quisisteis escuchar;
tendí mi mano, pero no hubo quien atendiera,
25 sino que desechasteis todos mis consejos
y rechazasteis mi reprensión;
26 por eso, también yo me reiré en vuestra calamidad,
me burlaré cuando os venga lo que teméis,
27 cuando venga como una destrucción lo que teméis
y vuestra calamidad llegue como un torbellino;
cuando sobre vosotros venga tribulación y angustia.

28 »”Entonces me llamarán, pero no responderé;
me buscarán de mañana, pero no me hallarán.
29 Por cuanto aborrecieron la sabiduría
y no escogieron el temor de Jehová,
30 sino que rechazaron mi consejo
y menospreciaron todas mis reprensiones,
31 comerán del fruto de su camino
y se hastiarán de sus propios consejos.
32 Porque el desvío de los ignorantes los matará,
la prosperidad de los necios los echará a perder;
33 pero el que me escuche vivirá confiadamente,
estará tranquilo, sin temor del mal.”

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