Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)
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.

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

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son,(AL) if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding(AM)
indeed, if you call out for insight(AN)
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,(AO)
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.(AP)
For the Lord gives wisdom;(AQ)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(AR)
He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield(AS) to those whose walk is blameless,(AT)
for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.(AU)

Then you will understand(AV) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,(AW)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.(AX)

12 Wisdom will save(AY) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,(AZ)
14 who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,(BA)
15 whose paths are crooked(BB)
    and who are devious in their ways.(BC)

16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,(BD)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.[b](BE)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.(BF)
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.(BG)

20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,(BH)
    and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked(BI) will be cut off from the land,(BJ)
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.(BK)

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,(BL) do not forget my teaching,(BM)
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years(BN)
    and bring you peace and prosperity.(BO)

Let love and faithfulness(BP) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(BQ)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(BR)

Trust in the Lord(BS) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths(BT) straight.[c](BU)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;(BV)
    fear the Lord(BW) and shun evil.(BX)
This will bring health to your body(BY)
    and nourishment to your bones.(BZ)

Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits(CA) of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled(CB) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.(CC)

11 My son,(CD) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(CE)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(CF)
    as a father the son he delights in.[d](CG)

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(CH)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(CI)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(CJ)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(CK)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(CL)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(CM)
18 She is a tree of life(CN) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(CO)

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

21 My son,(CS) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(CT)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(CU)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(CV)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(CW)
    and your foot will not stumble.(CX)
24 When you lie down,(CY) you will not be afraid;(CZ)
    when you lie down, your sleep(DA) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(DB)
    and will keep your foot(DC) from being snared.(DD)

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

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

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(DH)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(DI)
33 The Lord’s curse(DJ) is on the house of the wicked,(DK)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.(DL)
34 He mocks(DM) proud mockers(DN)
    but shows favor to the humble(DO) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(DP) to a father’s instruction;(DQ)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(DR)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(DS) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(DT)
Get wisdom,(DU) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(DV)
    love her, and she will watch over you.(DW)
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[e] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(DX) you have,[f] get understanding.(DY)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(DZ)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(EA)

10 Listen, my son,(EB) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(EC)
11 I instruct(ED) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(EE)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(EF)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(EG)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.(EH)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(EI)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.(EJ)

18 The path of the righteous(EK) is like the morning sun,(EL)
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(EM)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(EN)
    they do not know what makes them stumble.(EO)

20 My son,(EP) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(EQ)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(ER)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(ES)
23 Above all else, guard(ET) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(EU)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(EV) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[g] paths for your feet(EW)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(EX)
    keep your foot from evil.

Warning Against Adultery

My son,(EY) pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words(EZ) of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.
For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
    and her speech is smoother than oil;(FA)
but in the end she is bitter as gall,(FB)
    sharp as a double-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
    her steps lead straight to the grave.(FC)
She gives no thought to the way of life;
    her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.(FD)

Now then, my sons, listen(FE) to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.
Keep to a path far from her,(FF)
    do not go near the door of her house,
lest you lose your honor to others
    and your dignity[h] to one who is cruel,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
    and your toil enrich the house of another.(FG)
11 At the end of your life you will groan,
    when your flesh and body are spent.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
    How my heart spurned correction!(FH)
13 I would not obey my teachers
    or turn my ear to my instructors.
14 And I was soon in serious trouble(FI)
    in the assembly of God’s people.”(FJ)

15 Drink water from your own cistern,
    running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone,
    never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain(FK) be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.(FL)
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer(FM)
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

21 For your ways are in full view(FN) of the Lord,
    and he examines(FO) all your paths.(FP)
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;(FQ)
    the cords of their sins hold them fast.(FR)
23 For lack of discipline they will die,(FS)
    led astray by their own great folly.(FT)

Warnings Against Folly

My son,(FU) if you have put up security(FV) for your neighbor,(FW)
    if you have shaken hands in pledge(FX) for a stranger,
you have been trapped by what you said,
    ensnared by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, to free yourself,
    since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[i]
    and give your neighbor no rest!
Allow no sleep to your eyes,
    no slumber to your eyelids.(FY)
Free yourself, like a gazelle(FZ) from the hand of the hunter,(GA)
    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.(GB)

Go to the ant, you sluggard;(GC)
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer(GD)
    and gathers its food at harvest.(GE)

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?(GF)
    When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest(GG)
11 and poverty(GH) will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

12 A troublemaker and a villain,
    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13     who winks maliciously with his eye,(GI)
    signals with his feet
    and motions with his fingers,(GJ)
14     who plots evil(GK) with deceit in his heart—
    he always stirs up conflict.(GL)
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;(GM)
    he will suddenly(GN) be destroyed—without remedy.(GO)

16 There are six things the Lord hates,(GP)
    seven that are detestable to him:
17         haughty eyes,(GQ)
        a lying tongue,(GR)
        hands that shed innocent blood,(GS)
18         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,(GT)
19         a false witness(GU) who pours out lies(GV)
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.(GW)

Warning Against Adultery

20 My son,(GX) keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(GY)
21 Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.(GZ)
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
    when you sleep, they will watch over you;
    when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,(HA)
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life,(HB)
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
    from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.(HC)

25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
    or let her captivate you with her eyes.

26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
    but another man’s wife preys on your very life.(HD)
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
    without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
    without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps(HE) with another man’s wife;(HF)
    no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,(HG)
    though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery(HH) has no sense;(HI)
    whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
    and his shame will never(HJ) be wiped away.

34 For jealousy(HK) arouses a husband’s fury,(HL)
    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
    he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.(HM)

Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

My son,(HN) keep my words
    and store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and you will live;(HO)
    guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(HP)
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and to insight, “You are my relative.”
They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words.(HQ)

At the window of my house
    I looked down through the lattice.
I saw among the simple,
    I noticed among the young men,
    a youth who had no sense.(HR)
He was going down the street near her corner,
    walking along in the direction of her house
at twilight,(HS) as the day was fading,
    as the dark of night set in.

10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
    dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is unruly(HT) and defiant,
    her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
    at every corner she lurks.)(HU)
13 She took hold of him(HV) and kissed him
    and with a brazen face she said:(HW)

14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
    and I have food from my fellowship offering(HX) at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;
    I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
    with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed(HY)
    with myrrh,(HZ) aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!(IA)
19 My husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
    and will not be home till full moon.”

21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
    she seduced him with her smooth talk.(IB)
22 All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[j] stepping into a noose[k](IC)
23     till an arrow pierces(ID) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.(IE)

24 Now then, my sons, listen(IF) to me;
    pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
    or stray into her paths.(IG)
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
    her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
    leading down to the chambers of death.(IH)

Wisdom’s Call

Does not wisdom call out?(II)
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
beside the gate leading into the city,
    at the entrance, she cries aloud:(IJ)
“To you, O people, I call out;(IK)
    I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple,(IL) gain prudence;(IM)
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[l]
Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
My mouth speaks what is true,(IN)
    for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,(IO)
11 for wisdom is more precious(IP) than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(IQ)

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(IR)
13 To fear the Lord(IS) is to hate evil;(IT)
    I hate(IU) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(IV)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(IW) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(IX)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[m]
17 I love those who love me,(IY)
    and those who seek me find me.(IZ)
18 With me are riches and honor,(JA)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(JB)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;(JC)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.(JD)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,(JE)
    along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.(JF)

22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[n][o]
    before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;(JG)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,(JH)
    before the hills, I was given birth,(JI)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.(JJ)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,(JK)
    when he marked out the horizon(JL) on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above(JM)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(JN)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary(JO)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,(JP)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.(JQ)
30     Then I was constantly[p] at his side.(JR)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.(JS)

32 “Now then, my children, listen(JT) to me;
    blessed are(JU) those who keep my ways.(JV)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(JW) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(JX) find life(JY)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(JZ)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(KA)
    all who hate me love death.”(KB)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners
  2. Proverbs 2:17 Or covenant of her God
  3. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
  4. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
  5. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  6. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
  7. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level
  8. Proverbs 5:9 Or years
  9. Proverbs 6:3 Or Go and humble yourself,
  10. Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool
  11. Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  12. Proverbs 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew foolish, instruct your minds
  13. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers
  14. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion
  15. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work
  16. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child

Bible Gateway Recommends