Proverbs 1

The Purpose of Proverbs

1These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.H4912H8010H1121H1732H4428H34782Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.H3045H2451H4148H995H561H9983Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.H3947H4148H7919H6664H4941H43394These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.H5414H6195H6612H5288H1847H42095Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidanceH2450H8085H3254H3948H995H7069H84586by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.H995H4912H4426H1697H2450H24207Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.H3374H3068H7225H1847H191H936H2451H4148

A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom

8My child

, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.H1121H8085H4148H1H5203H8451H5179What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.H3880H2580H7218H6060H162110My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!H1121H2400H6601H1411They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!H559H3212H693H1818H6845H5355H260012Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave

; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.H1104H2416H7585H8549H3381H95313Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.H4672H3368H1952H4390H1004H799814Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”H5307H1486H8432H259H359915My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.H1121H3212H1870H4513H7272H541016They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.H7272H7323H7451H4116H8210H181817If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.H2600H7568H2219H5869H1167H367118But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.H693H1818H6845H531519Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.H734H1214H1215H3947H5315H1167

Wisdom Shouts in the Streets

20Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.H2454H7442H2351H5414H6963H733921She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate.H7121H7218H1993H6607H8179H5892H559H56122“How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?H6612H157H6612H3887H2530H3944H3684H8130H184723Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.H7725H8433H5042H7307H3045H169724“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.H7121H3985H5186H3027H718125You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.H6544H6098H14H843326So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—H7832H343H3932H6343H93527when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.H6343H935H7722H7584H343H857H5492H6869H6695H93528“When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.H7121H6030H7836H467229For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord.H8130H1847H977H3374H306830They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.H14H6098H5006H843331Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.H398H6529H1870H7646H415632For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.H4878H6612H2026H7962H3684H633But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”H8085H7931H983H7599H6343H7451