Beginning
Why Proverbs Is Important
1 These are the wise words of Solomon son of David. Solomon was king of Israel.
2 They teach wisdom and self-control.
They give understanding.
3 They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled.
They will teach you what is honest and fair and right.
4 They give the ability to think to those with little knowledge.
They give knowledge and good sense to the young.
5 Wise people should also listen to them and learn even more.
Even they can find good advice in these words.
6 Then they will be able to understand wise words and stories.
They will understand the words of wise men and their riddles.
7 Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord.
But foolish people hate wisdom and discipline.
Warnings Against Evil
8 My child, listen to your father’s teaching.
And do not forget your mother’s advice.
9 Their teaching will beautify your life.
It will be like flowers in your hair or a chain around your neck.
10 My child, sinners will try to lead you into sin.
But do not follow them.
11 They might say, “Come with us.
Let’s ambush and kill someone.
Let’s attack some harmless person just for fun.
12 Let’s swallow them alive, as death does.
Let’s swallow them whole, as the grave does.
13 We will take all kinds of valuable things.
We will fill our houses with what we steal.
14 Come join us,
and we will share with you what we steal.”
15 My child, do not go along with them.
Do not do what they do.
16 They run to do evil.
They are quick to kill.
17 It is useless to spread out a net
right where the birds can see it!
18 These men are setting their own trap.
They will only catch themselves!
19 All greedy people end up this way.
Greed takes away the life of the greedy person.
Wisdom Speaks
20 Wisdom is like a good woman who shouts in the street.
She raises her voice in the city squares.
21 She cries out in the noisy street.
She makes her speech at the city gates:
22 “You foolish people! How long do you want to stay foolish?
How long will you make fun of wisdom?
How long will you hate knowledge?
23 Listen when I correct you.
I will tell you what’s in my heart.
I will tell you what I am thinking.
24 I called, but you refused to listen.
I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.
25 You did not follow my advice.
You did not want me to correct you.
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble.
I will make fun when disaster happens to you.
27 Disaster will come over you like a storm.
Trouble will strike you like a whirlwind.
Pain and trouble will overwhelm you.
28 “Then you will call out to me.
But I will not answer.
You will look for me.
But you will not find me.
29 You rejected knowledge.
You did not choose to respect the Lord.
30 You did not accept my advice.
You rejected my correction.
31 So you will get what you deserve.
You will get what you planned for others.
32 Fools wander away and get killed.
They are destroyed because they do not care.
33 But those who listen to me will live in safety.
They will be safe, without fear of being hurt.”
Rewards of Wisdom
2 My child, believe what I say.
And remember what I command you.
2 Listen to wisdom.
Try with all your heart to gain understanding.
3 Cry out for wisdom.
Beg for understanding.
4 Search for it as you would for silver.
Hunt for it like hidden treasure.
5 Then you will understand what it means to respect the Lord.
Then you will begin to know God.
6 Only the Lord gives wisdom.
Knowledge and understanding come from him.
7 He stores up wisdom for those who are honest.
Like a shield he protects those who are innocent.
8 He guards those who are fair to others.
He protects those who are loyal to him.
9 Then you will understand what is honest and fair and right.
You will understand what is good to do.
10 You will have wisdom in your heart.
And knowledge will be pleasing to you.
11 Good sense will protect you.
Understanding will guard you.
12 It will keep you from doing evil.
It will save you from people whose words are bad.
13 Such people do not do what is right.
They do what is evil.
14 They enjoy doing wrong.
They are happy to do what is crooked and evil.
15 What they do is wrong.
Their ways are dishonest.
16 It will save you from the unfaithful wife
who tries to lead you into adultery with pleasing words.
17 Such women leave the husbands they married when they were young.
They forget the promise they made before God.
18 If you go to her house, you are on your way to death.
What she does leads to death.
19 No one who goes to her comes back.
He will not continue to live.
20 But wisdom will help you be a good person.
It will help you do what is right.
21 Those who are honest will stay in the land.
Those who are innocent will remain in it.
22 But evil people will be removed from the land.
The unfaithful will be thrown out of it.
Advice to Children
3 My child, do not forget my teaching.
Keep my commands in mind.
2 Then you will live a long time.
And your life will be successful.
3 Don’t ever stop being kind and truthful.
Let kindness and truth show in all you do.
Write them down in your mind as if on a tablet.
4 Then you will be respected
and pleasing to both God and men.
5 Trust the Lord with all your heart.
Don’t depend on your own understanding.
6 Remember the Lord in everything you do.
And he will give you success.
7 Don’t depend on your own wisdom.
Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong.
8 Then your body will be healthy.
And your bones will be strong.
9 Honor the Lord by giving him part of your wealth.
Give him the firstfruits from all your crops.
10 Then your barns will be full.
And your wine barrels will overflow with new wine.
11 My child, do not reject the Lord’s discipline.
And don’t become angry when he corrects you.
12 The Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects the child that he likes.
13 Happy is the person who finds wisdom.
And happy is the person who gets understanding.
14 Wisdom is worth more than silver.
It brings more profit than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
Nothing you want is equal to it.
16 With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life.
With her left hand she gives you riches and honor.
17 Wisdom will make your life pleasant.
It will bring you peace.
18 As a tree makes fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it.
Everyone who uses wisdom will be happy.
19 Using his wisdom, the Lord made the earth.
Using his understanding, he set the sky in place.
20 Using his knowledge, he made rivers flow from underground springs.
And he made the clouds drop rain on the earth.
21 My child, hold on to wisdom and reason.
Don’t let them out of your sight!
22 They will give you life.
Like a necklace, they will beautify your life.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety.
And you will not get hurt.
24 You won’t need to be afraid when you lie down.
When you lie down, your sleep will be peaceful.
25 You won’t need to be afraid of trouble coming suddenly.
You won’t need to fear the ruin that comes to the wicked.
26 The Lord will keep you safe.
He will keep you from being trapped.
27 Whenever you are able,
do good to people who need help.
28 If you have what your neighbor asks for,
don’t say to him,
“Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow.”
29 Don’t make plans to hurt your neighbor.
He lives nearby and trusts you.
30 Don’t accuse a man for no good reason.
Don’t accuse him if he has not harmed you.
31 Don’t be jealous of men who use violence.
And don’t choose to be like them.
32 The Lord hates those who do wrong.
But he is a friend to those who are honest.
33 The Lord will put a curse on the evil person’s house.
But he will bless the home of people who do what is right.
34 The Lord laughs at those who laugh at him.
But he is kind to those who are not proud.
35 Wise people will receive honor.
But foolish people will be disgraced.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.