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The Reasons for Proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, given

to grasp wisdom and discipline,
    to understand deep thoughts,
to acquire the discipline of wise behavior—
    righteousness and justice and fairness—
to give insight to gullible people,
    to give knowledge and foresight to the young—
        a wise person will listen and continue to learn,
            and an understanding person will gain direction—
to understand a proverb and a clever saying,
    the words of wise people and their riddles.

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.
    Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Listen to Wisdom

My son,
    listen to your father’s discipline,
        and do not neglect your mother’s teachings,
            because discipline and teachings
                are a graceful garland on your head
                    and a golden chain around your neck.

10 My son,
    if sinners lure you, do not go along.
11 If they say,
    “Come with us.
        Let’s set an ambush to kill someone.
            Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun.
12 We’ll swallow them alive like the grave,
    like those in good health who go into the pit.
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable possessions.
    We’ll fill our homes with stolen goods.
14 Join us.
    We’ll split the loot equally.”

15 My son,
    do not follow them in their way.
    Do not even set foot on their path,
16 because they rush to do evil
    and hurry to shed blood.
17 It does no good to spread a net
    within the sight of any bird.
18 But these people set an ambush for their own murder.
    They go into hiding only to lose their lives.
19 This is what happens to everyone
    who is greedy for unjust gain.
        Greed takes away his life.

20 Wisdom sings her song in the streets.
    In the public squares she raises her voice.
21 At the corners of noisy streets she calls out.
    At the entrances to the city she speaks her words,
22 “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible?
    How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking?
        How long will you fools hate knowledge?

23 “Turn to me when I warn you.
    I will generously pour out my spirit for you.
        I will make my words known to you.

24 “I called, and you refused to listen.
    I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.
25 You ignored all my advice.
    You did not want me to warn you.
26 I will laugh at your calamity.
    I will make fun of you
        when panic strikes you,
27 when panic strikes you like a violent storm,
    when calamity strikes you like a wind storm,
        when trouble and anguish come to you.

28 “They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer.
    They will look for me, but they will not find me,
29 because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of Yahweh.
30 They refused my advice.
    They despised my every warning.
31 They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle.
    They will be stuffed with their own schemes.

32 “Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away.
    Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference.
33 But whoever listens to me will live without worry
    and will be free from the dread of disaster.”

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