The Purpose of Proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon(A) son of David, king of Israel:
For learning what wisdom and discipline are;
for understanding insightful sayings;
for receiving wise instruction
in righteousness, justice, and integrity;(B)
for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,[a](C)
knowledge and discretion(D) to a young man—
a wise man will listen and increase his learning,(E)
and a discerning man will 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 grace on your head
and a gold chain 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.[c]
Let’s attack some innocent person(O) just for fun![d]
12 Let’s swallow them alive,(P) like Sheol,
still healthy as they 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 our money”[e]
15 my son, don’t travel that road with them(S)
or set foot on their path,(T)
16 because their feet run toward trouble
and they hurry to commit murder.[f](U)
17 It is foolish 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 raises her voice 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, foolish 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 turning away 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 free from the fear of danger.”(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 Or simple, or gullible
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or an enigma
  3. Proverbs 1:11 Lit Let’s ambush for blood
  4. Proverbs 1:11 Lit person for no reason
  5. Proverbs 1:14 Lit us; one bag will be for all of us
  6. Proverbs 1:16 Lit to shed blood
  7. Proverbs 1:18 Lit they ambush for their blood
  8. Proverbs 1:19 Lit takes the life of its masters
  9. Proverbs 1:21 Lit at the head of
  10. Proverbs 1:23 Lit back to my reprimand

The Beginning of Knowledge

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

To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in (B)righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to (C)the simple,
    knowledge and (D)discretion to the youth—
Let the wise hear and (E)increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
    (F)the words of the wise and their (G)riddles.

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

The Enticement of Sinners

(I)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
for they are (J)a graceful garland for your head
    and (K)pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners (L)entice you,
    do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, (M)let us lie in wait for blood;
    (N)let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us (O)swallow them alive,
    and whole, like (P)those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
    we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, (Q)do not walk in the way with them;
    (R)hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for (S)their feet run to evil,
    and they make haste to shed blood.
17 (T)For in vain is a net spread
    in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men (U)lie in wait for their own blood;
    they (V)set an ambush for their own lives.
19 (W)Such are the ways of everyone who is (X)greedy for unjust gain;
    (Y)it takes away the life of its possessors.

The Call of Wisdom

20 (Z)Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
    in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
    at (AA)the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O (AB)simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will (AC)scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools (AD)hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,[a]
behold, I will (AE)pour out my spirit to you;
    I will make my words known to you.
24 (AF)Because I have called and (AG)you refused to listen,
    have (AH)stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have (AI)ignored all my counsel
    and (AJ)would have none of my reproof,
26 I also (AK)will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when (AL)terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like (AM)a storm
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 (AN)Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they (AO)hated knowledge
    and (AP)did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 (AQ)would have none of my counsel
    and (AR)despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat (AS)the fruit of their way,
    and have (AT)their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by (AU)their turning away,
    and (AV)the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but (AW)whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be (AX)at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Or Will you turn away at my reproof?

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

¶ Men pwovèb Salomon, pitit David la, ki te wa peyi Izrayèl.

Pwovèb sa yo la pou fè moun konnen sa ki rele gen sajès ak bon levasyon, pou yo konprann lè moun lespri ap pale ak yo.

Pwovèb sa yo la tou pou moutre moun jan pou yo viv avèk konprann, pou yo gen bon kondit, pou yo pa fè lenjistis, pou yo mache dwat nan lavi.

Y'ap louvri lespri moun ki manke konprann, y'ap bay jenn gason yo konesans ak konprann.

Se pou moun ki gen konesans koute sa ki nan pwovèb yo, pou yo ka mete sou sa yo konnen deja. Se pou moun ki gen lespri koute sa ki nan pwovèb yo, pou yo ka konnen ki jan pou yo mennen bak yo pi byen,

konsa, y'a ka konprann sans tout pwovèb ak tout parabòl, sans tout pawòl k'ap soti nan bouch moun ki gen bon konprann yo ak koze tout moun pa ka konprann.

¶ Lè ou gen krentif pou Bondye, se lè sa a ou konmanse gen konesans. Moun fou pa konn valè sa yo rele gen konesans, yo refize aprann.

Pitit mwen, koute papa ou non lè l'ap ba ou bon levasyon! Pa janm bliye sa manman ou te moutre ou!

Menm jan bèl foula mare nan tèt ak kolye pase nan kou bay pi bèl aparans, konsa tou konsèy papa ou ak manman ou ap fè anpil pou ou.

10 ¶ Pitit mwen, lè moun k'ap fè sa ki mal vle detounen ou, pa kite yo pran tèt ou.

11 Si yo di ou: Vini ak nou non! Ann anbiske kò nou pou n' touye moun. Ann pare pèlen pou nou pran inonsan yo, san yo pa gen anyen ak nou.

12 Ann vale yo tou vivan, tankou simityè ki pa janm refize mò. Ann vale yo tout ankè tankou kadav y'ap antere.

13 N'a jwenn tout kalite gwo richès, n'a plen kay nou ak tout bagay n'a pran.

14 W'a jwenn pa ou nan tou sa n'a pran. Va gen yon sèl kès pou nou tout.

15 Pitit mwen, pa mache avèk moun konsa! Pa mete pye ou kote moun sa yo pase!

16 Yo toujou dèyè pou fè sa ki mal. Pou ti krik ti krak, yo mete san deyò.

17 Kisa ou konprann ou fè lè ou kite zwezo wè ou ap tann pèlen pou li?

18 Se konsa moun sa yo pran nan pèlen yo menm yo pare a. Yo tonbe nan pyèj yo mete a, yo mouri.

19 Nan chache genyen sa ki pa pou ou, se ou ki lakòz malè rive ou. Se sa menm ki pou rive tout moun ki pa wè pase vòlò.

20 ¶ Koute byen. Sajès ap rele nan lari, l'ap pale byen fò sou plas piblik.

21 L'ap rele nan tout kalfou, nan pòtay lavil yo, toupatou kote tout moun ka tande.

22 L'ap di: Bann egare! Kilè n'a sispann renmen fè tenten? Kilè n'a sispann pran plezi nou nan pase tout bagay nan betiz? Kilè moun fou yo va soti pou yo aprann?

23 Se pou n' koute m' lè m'ap rale zòrèy nou. M'ap di nou tou sa ki nan tèt mwen, m'ap fè nou konnen tou sa m' konnen.

24 Ki jan nou ye konsa? Mwen rele nou, nou fè tankou nou pa tande m'. Mwen lonje men ban nou, nou fè tankou nou pa wè m'.

25 Anhan! Se konsa sa ye? Nou voye tout konsèy mwen te ban nou yo jete byen lwen nou. Nou refize kite m' korije nou.

26 Konsa, lè n'a nan ka, m'a ri nou. Lè malè va fè nou tranble, m'a pase nou nan rizib.

27 Lè malè va tonbe sou nou tankou yon van siklòn, lè tray va pase sou nou tankou yon toubouyon, lè lapenn ak kè sere va pran nou,

28 le sa a, n'a rele m', mwen menm yo rele sajès, men mwen p'ap reponn nou. N'a mache chache m' toupatou, men nou p'ap jwenn mwen.

29 Nou pa t' vle wè konesans, nou te toujou refize gen krentif pou Bondye.

30 Nou pa t' janm vle koute konsèy m' t'ap ban nou, nou te toujou derefize koute m' lè m' t'ap korije nou.

31 Se pou nou rekòlte sa nou te simen an. Se pou nou sibi konsekans vye konsèy nou t'ap swiv yo.

32 Moun ki san esperyans yo mouri paske yo refize aprann. Bann moun fou yo menm, yo pa pran anyen pou anyen, se sa k'ap pèdi yo tou.

33 Men, moun ki koute sa m' di yo jwenn lasirans, y'a viv ak kè poze, yo p'ap bezwen pè anyen.