The Value of Proverbs

1 ^(A)The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.

² Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. ³ They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. ⁴ They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. ⁵ These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, ⁶ so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.

Advice to the Young

^7 (B)To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord.^[a] Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.

⁸ My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you. ⁹ Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.

¹⁰ My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in. ¹¹ Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it! ¹² They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them! ¹³ We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot! ¹⁴ Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”

¹⁵ My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them. ¹⁶ They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. ¹⁷ It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching, ¹⁸ but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die. ¹⁹ Robbery always claims the life of the robber—this is what happens to^[b] anyone who lives by violence.

Wisdom Calls

^20 (C)Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces, ²¹ calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:

²² “Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? ²³ Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. ²⁴ I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. ²⁵ You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. ²⁶ So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes— ²⁷ when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. ²⁸ Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. ²⁹ You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord. ³⁰ You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. ³¹ So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. ³² Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. ³³ But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”