Proverbs 1:8-30
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Warnings against Evil Companions
8 Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
and do not reject your mother’s teaching,(A)
9 for they are a fair garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.(B)
10 My child, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.(C)
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us wantonly ambush the innocent;(D)
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive
and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.(E)
13 We shall find all kinds of costly things;
we shall fill our houses with spoil.
14 Throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15 my child, do not walk in their way;
keep your foot from their paths,(F)
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they hurry to shed blood.(G)
17 For in vain is the net baited
while the bird is looking on;
18 yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves!
and set an ambush—for their own lives!
19 Such is the end[a] of all who are greedy for gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.(H)
The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.(I)
21 At the busiest corner 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?(J)
23 Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.(K)
24 Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,(L)
25 and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,(M)
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,(N)
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.(O)
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,(P)
Footnotes
- 1.19 Gk: Heb are the ways
Proverbs 1:8-30
New International Version
Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom
Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men
8 Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)
9 They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.(D)
10 My son, if sinful men entice(E) you,
do not give in(F) to them.(G)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait(H) for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow(I) them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(J)
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(K)”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot(L) on their paths;(M)
16 for their feet rush into evil,(N)
they are swift to shed blood.(O)
17 How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait(P) for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!(Q)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.(R)
Wisdom’s Rebuke
20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(S)
she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[a] she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you who are simple(T) love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate(U) 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(V) to listen when I call(W)
and no one pays attention(X) 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(Y) when disaster(Z) strikes you;
I will mock(AA) when calamity overtakes you(AB)—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster(AC) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.