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Dit zijn de spreuken van Salomo, zoon van David en koning van Israël.

Hij schreef deze spreuken om de mensen te leren hoe zij moesten leven. Hoe zij moesten handelen in allerlei omstandigheden. Want hij wilde dat zij verstandig zouden zijn en eerlijk en oprecht in hun hele levenswijze. ‘Ik wil de eenvoudige wijsheid geven,’ zei hij. ‘En ik wil de jonge mensen waarschuwen voor problemen die zij in hun leven zullen ontmoeten.’

Zo kan een wijze nog wijzer worden en merkt een verstandig mens dat er nog veel te leren valt, voordat hij deze spreuken goed begrijpt en weet wat er achter de woorden van een wijze schuilt.

Maar de basis van alle kennis is het eerbiedig ontzag voor de Here. Alleen dwazen schatten Gods lessen en wijsheid niet op hun waarde.

Mijn zoon, luister naar de wijze lessen van je vader. Zoek je houvast in wat je moeder je geleerd heeft.
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.’

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

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

to know wisdom and instruction;
to perceive the words of understanding;
to receive the instruction of wisdom,
justice, and judgment, and equity;
to give subtilty to the simple,
to the young man knowledge and discretion.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning;
and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
to understand a proverb, and the interpretation;
the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father,
and forsake not the law of thy mother:
for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,
and chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood,
let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12 let us swallow them up alive as the grave;
and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13 we shall find all precious substance,
we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14 cast in thy lot among us;
let us all have one purse:
15 my son, walk not thou in the way with them;
refrain thy foot from their path:
16 for their feet run to evil,
and make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
18 And they lay wait for their own blood;
they lurk privily for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain;
which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisdom crieth without;
she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 she crieth in the chief place of concourse,
in the openings of the gates:
in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?
and the scorners delight in their scorning,
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof:
behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you,
I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 but ye have set at nought all my counsel,
and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 when your fear cometh as desolation,
and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer;
they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 for that they hated knowledge,
and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
30 they would none of my counsel:
they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them,
and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely,
and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

The Beginning of Knowledge

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

To know wisdom and instruction,
To [a]perceive the words of understanding,
To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
To give prudence to the (B)simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
(C)A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will [b]attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their (D)riddles.

(E)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Shun Evil Counsel

(F)My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
For they will be a (G)graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
(H)Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us (I)lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like [c]Sheol,
And whole, (J)like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious [d]possessions,
We shall fill our houses with [e]spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, (K)do not walk in the way with them,
(L)Keep your foot from their path;
16 (M)For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in [f]vain the net is spread
In the sight of any [g]bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 (N)So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.

The Call of Wisdom

20 (O)Wisdom calls aloud [h]outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the [i]chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you [j]simple ones, will you love [k]simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely (P)I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 (Q)Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you (R)disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 (S)I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When (T)your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 “Then(U) they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they (V)hated knowledge
And did not (W)choose the fear of the Lord,
30 (X)They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore (Y)they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the [l]turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell (Z)safely,
And (AA)will be [m]secure, without fear of evil.”

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:2 understand or discern
  2. Proverbs 1:5 acquire
  3. Proverbs 1:12 Or the grave
  4. Proverbs 1:13 Lit. wealth
  5. Proverbs 1:13 plunder
  6. Proverbs 1:17 futility
  7. Proverbs 1:17 Lit. lord of the wing
  8. Proverbs 1:20 in the street
  9. Proverbs 1:21 LXX, Syr., Tg. top of the walls; Vg. the head of multitudes
  10. Proverbs 1:22 naive
  11. Proverbs 1:22 naivete
  12. Proverbs 1:32 waywardness
  13. Proverbs 1:33 at ease

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.