Proverbs 1:7-19

New International Version

⁷The fear of the Lord^(A) is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools^[a] despise wisdom^(B) and instruction.^(C)

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

⁸Listen, my son,^(D) to your father’s^(E) instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.^(F)
⁹They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.^(G)

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

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Footnotes

Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

Proverbs 2:1-8

New International Version

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

2 My son,^(A) if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
²turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding^(B)—
³indeed, if you call out for insight^(C)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,^(D)
⁵then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.^(E)
⁶For the Lord gives wisdom;^(F)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.^(G)
⁷He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield^(H) to those whose walk is blameless,^(I)
⁸for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.^(J)

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Proverbs 3

New International Version

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

3 My son,^(A) do not forget my teaching,^(B)
but keep my commands in your heart,
²for they will prolong your life many years^(C)
and bring you peace and prosperity.^(D)

³Let love and faithfulness^(E) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.^(F)
⁴Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.^(G)

⁵Trust in the Lord^(H) with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths^(I) straight.^[a]^(J)

⁷Do not be wise in your own eyes;^(K)
fear the Lord^(L) and shun evil.^(M)
⁸This will bring health to your body^(N)
and nourishment to your bones.^(O)

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits^(P) of all your crops;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled^(Q) to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.^(R)

¹¹My son,^(S) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,^(T)
and do not resent his rebuke,
¹²because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^(U)
as a father the son he delights in.^[b]^(V)

¹³Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.^(W)
¹⁵She is more precious than rubies;^(X)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.^(Y)
¹⁶Long life is in her right hand;^(Z)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.^(AA)
¹⁷Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.^(AB)
¹⁸She is a tree of life^(AC) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.^(AD)

¹⁹By wisdom^(AE) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^(AF)
by understanding he set the heavens^(AG) in place;
²⁰by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹My son,^(AH) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,^(AI)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²²they will be life for you,^(AJ)
    an ornament to grace your neck.^(AK)
²³Then you will go on your way in safety,^(AL)
    and your foot will not stumble.^(AM)
²⁴When you lie down,^(AN) you will not be afraid;^(AO)
    when you lie down, your sleep^(AP) will be sweet.
²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶for the Lord will be at your side^(AQ)
    and will keep your foot^(AR) from being snared.^(AS)

²⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
²⁸Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.^(AT)
²⁹Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.^(AU)
³⁰Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

³¹Do not envy^(AV) the violent
or choose any of their ways.

³²For the Lord detests the perverse^(AW)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.^(AX)
³³The Lord’s curse^(AY) is on the house of the wicked,^(AZ)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.^(BA)
³⁴He mocks^(BB) proud mockers^(BC)
    but shows favor to the humble^(BD) and oppressed.
³⁵The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.