Add parallel Print Page Options

Warnings against Evil Companions

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teaching,(A)

Read full chapter

Lecture Against Gang Behavior

My child, may you keep[a] your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teachings,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:8 Or “obey,” or “hear”

The Call of Wisdom

20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
    in the squares she raises her voice.(A)
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?(B)
23 Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
    I will make my words known to you.(C)
24 Because I have called and you refused,
    have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,(D)
25 and because you have ignored all my counsel
    and would have none of my reproof,(E)
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when panic strikes you,(F)
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.(G)
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,(H)
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
    and be sated with their own devices.(I)
32 For waywardness kills the simple,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;(J)
33 but those who listen to me will be secure
    and will live at ease without dread of disaster.”(K)

Read full chapter

The Call of Lady Wisdom

20 Wisdom calls out in the streets,
    in the squares she raises her voice.
21 On a busy corner[a] she cries out,
    at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:
22 How long,[b] O simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing,
    and fools hate knowledge?
23 May you turn to my argument![c]
    Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you;
    I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I called out and you refused me,
    I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.
25 You have ignored all my counsel,
    and my reproof you are not willing to accept.
26 I will also laugh at your calamity;[d]
    I will mock when panic[e] comes upon you.
27 When your panic comes like a storm,
    and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you,
28 then they will call[f] me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but not find me.
29 Since they hated knowledge,
    and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
30 they were not willing to accept my counsel,
    they despised all my reproof.
31 They shall eat from the fruit of their way,
    and they shall be sated from their own schemes,
32 for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 Whoever listens to me will dwell in security
    and rest securely[g] from dread and disaster.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:21 Literally “head of commotion,” or “head of stirring, bustling”
  2. Proverbs 1:22 Literally “Until when”
  3. Proverbs 1:23 Or “turn at my reproach”
  4. Proverbs 1:26 Or “downfall”
  5. Proverbs 1:26 Or “dread, fear”
  6. Proverbs 1:28 Or “cry out to
  7. Proverbs 1:33 Or “be at ease, peace”

11 My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,(A)
12 for the Lord reproves the one he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights.(B)

Read full chapter

Happy Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

11 Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child.
    Do not be weary of his reproof
12 because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke,
    as a father delights in his son.

Read full chapter

Parental Advice

Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4.1 Heb know

The Father’s Wisdom

Children, listen to the instruction of a father,
    and be attentive in order to know insight.

Read full chapter

General Maxims

Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.(A)
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)

Read full chapter

He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself,
    and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt.[a]
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise and he will love you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Literally “abuse him”

17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
    but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray.

Read full chapter

17 On the path to life is he who guards instruction,
    but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.

Read full chapter

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.(A)

Read full chapter

12 He who loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who hates rebuke is stupid.

Read full chapter

13 A wise child loves discipline,[a]
    but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father

13 A wise child hears the discipline of a father,
    but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.

Read full chapter

18 Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,
    but one who heeds reproof is honored.(A)

Read full chapter

18 Poverty and disgrace belong to him who ignores instruction,
    but he who guards reproof will be honored.

Read full chapter

A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
    but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(A)

Read full chapter

A fool will despise the instruction of his father,
    but he who guards reproof is prudent.

Read full chapter

12 Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;
    they will not go to the wise.(A)

Read full chapter

12 A scoffer does not like his rebuke;[a]
    to the wise he will not go.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:12 Literally “rebuke belonging to him”

32 Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
    but those who heed admonition gain understanding.(A)

Read full chapter

32 He who ignores instruction despises himself,[a]
    but he who hears admonition gains heart.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:32 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  2. Proverbs 15:32 Or “mind”