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Proverbs 1
New Life Version
Proverbs 1
New Life Version
Wise Sayings for Good Use
1 These are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2 They show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding. 3 They help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair. 4 They give wisdom to the child-like, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young. 5 A wise man will hear and grow in learning. A man of understanding will become able 6 to understand a saying and a picture-story, the words of the wise and what they mean.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of much learning. Fools hate wisdom and teaching.
8 Hear your father’s teaching, my son, and do not turn away from your mother’s teaching. 9 For they are a glory to your head and a chain of beauty around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not go with them. 11 If they say, “Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us set a trap for those who are without blame. 12 Let us swallow them alive like death, as those who go down to the grave. 13 We will find all kinds of things of great worth. We will fill our houses with the stolen riches. 14 Throw in your share with us. We will all have one money bag.”
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path. 16 For their feet run to sin and hurry to kill. 17 Yes, the net is spread for nothing if the bird is watching. 18 They set traps for their own lives and wait to die. 19 Such are the ways of all who get things by hurting others. Their desire for stolen riches takes away their own lives.
20 Wisdom calls out in the street. She lifts her voice in the center of town. 21 There she cries out in the noisy streets. At the open gates of the city she speaks: 22 “O foolish ones, how long will you love being foolish? How long will those who laugh at others be happy in their laughing? How long will fools hate much learning? 23 Listen to my strong words! See, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you. 24 I called but you would not listen. I put out my hand and no one gave it a thought. 25 You did not listen when I told you what you should do, and you would not hear any of my strong words. 26 So I will laugh at your trouble. I will laugh when you are afraid. 27 Fear will come to you like a storm. Hard times will come like a strong wind. When trouble and suffering come upon you, 28 then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated much learning, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. 30 They would not listen when I told them what they should do. They laughed at all my strong words. 31 So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own plans. 32 For the foolish will be killed by their turning away. The trust that fools put in themselves will destroy them. 33 But he who listens to me will live free from danger, and he will rest easy from the fear of what is sinful.”
Proverbs 1
New International Version
Proverbs 1
New International Version
Purpose and Theme
1 The proverbs(A) of Solomon(B) son of David, king of Israel:(C)
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a](D)
knowledge and discretion(E) to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,(F)
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,(G)
the sayings and riddles(H) of the wise.[b](I)
7 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
8 Listen, my son,(M) to your father’s(N) instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(O)
9 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
- Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
- Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
- 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 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners
Proverbs 1
English Standard Version
Proverbs 1
English Standard Version
The Beginning of Knowledge
1 (A)The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in (B)righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to (C)the simple,
knowledge and (D)discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and (E)increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
(F)the words of the wise and their (G)riddles.
7 (H)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Enticement of Sinners
8 (I)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
and forsake not your mother's teaching,
9 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
- Proverbs 1:23 Or Will you turn away at my reproof?
Spreuken 1
Het Boek
Spreuken 1
Het Boek
1 Dit zijn de spreuken van Salomo, zoon van David en koning van Israël.
2 Hij schreef deze spreuken om de mensen te leren hoe zij moesten leven. Hoe zij moesten handelen in allerlei omstandigheden. 3 Want hij wilde dat zij verstandig zouden zijn en eerlijk en oprecht in hun hele levenswijze. 4 ‘Ik wil de eenvoudige wijsheid geven,’ zei hij. ‘En ik wil de jonge mensen waarschuwen voor problemen die zij in hun leven zullen ontmoeten.’
5 Zo kan een wijze nog wijzer worden en merkt een verstandig mens dat er nog veel te leren valt, 6 voordat hij deze spreuken goed begrijpt en weet wat er achter de woorden van een wijze schuilt.
7 Maar de basis van alle kennis is het eerbiedig ontzag voor de Here. Alleen dwazen schatten Gods lessen en wijsheid niet op hun waarde.
8 Mijn zoon, luister naar de wijze lessen van je vader. Zoek je houvast in wat je moeder je geleerd heeft.
9 Dat zal je in het leven verder helpen.
10 Mijn zoon, als zondaars proberen je over te halen, doe dan niet met hen mee.
11 Ook niet als zij zeggen: ‘Kom op, we nemen er een stel te pakken, wat maakt het uit als zij onschuldig zijn?
12 Wij maken hen af en jagen ze de dood in.
13 Zij hebben genoeg geld en spullen, dus wij kunnen een flinke slag slaan.
14 Reken maar dat jij je deel krijgt, want de buit is voor ons allemaal.’
15 Mijn zoon, trek niet met zulke mensen op. Blijf liever bij hen uit de buurt.
16 Zij hebben weinig goeds in de zin en gebruiken maar al te graag geweld.
17 Als een vogel het vangnet ziet, vliegt hij weg.
18 Maar deze mannen niet. Zij stellen hun leven in de waagschaal en vormen zo een bedreiging voor zichzelf.
19 Want wie zich zo probeert te verrijken, gaat aan die gewelddadige hebzucht ten onder.
20 De wijsheid is niet moeilijk te vinden en wordt als het ware van de daken geschreeuwd.
21 Zij is te horen in de drukte op de straten, op de plaatsen waar mensen samen zijn. Op de toegangswegen van de stad roept zij:
22 ‘Slechte mensen, hoelang blijft u nog prat gaan op uw slechtheid? En spotters, hoelang blijft u genieten van uw eigen sneren? Hoelang blijven dwazen de wijsheid negeren?
23 Laat mijn vermaning een les voor u zijn. Want ik zal u laten zien wat ik wil en wat ik denk. Als verfrissend water stromen mijn woorden u tegemoet.
24 Ik riep, maar u luisterde niet en niemand zag hoe ik mijn hand uitstak.
25 Mijn raad hebt u naast u neergelegd en mijn vermaning wees u van de hand.
26 Daarom zal ik lachen wanneer u valt en de spot met u drijven als u in het nauw zit.
27 Mijn spotgelach zal u in de oren klinken, wanneer uw leven snel en meedogenloos wordt verwoest en u niets anders overblijft dan angst en uitzichtloosheid.
28 Ja, dan zullen ze mij roepen, maar geen antwoord krijgen. Zij zullen hun best doen mij te vinden, maar zonder resultaat.
29 Zij wilden immers niets weten van kennis en inzicht, van eerbiedig ontzag voor de Here?
30 Zij legden mijn adviezen naast zich neer en wezen mijn vermaningen af.
31 Daarom moeten zij de gevolgen dragen en ondervinden wat zij zich op de hals hebben gehaald.
32 Want hun onwil wordt hun dood en hun voorspoed zal bedrieglijk blijken, ook die kan hun val niet voorkomen.
33 Maar wie wel naar mij luistert, hoeft zich nergens zorgen om te maken en hoeft niet bang te zijn voor het kwaad.’
New Life Version (NLV)
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
New International Version (NIV) 
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.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Het Boek (HTB)
Het Boek Copyright © 1979, 1988, 2007 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.