Introduction and Purpose
1The proverbs of David's son Solomon, king of Israel.H49122These proverbs are for gaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;H3045H2451H4148H995H561H998
3for acquiring the discipline that produces wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and upright living;H3947H4148H7919H6664H4941H4339
4for giving prudence to the na?ve, knowledge and discretion to the young.H5414H6195H6612H5288H1847H4209
5Let the wise listen and increase their learning; let the person of understanding receive guidanceH2450H8085H3254H3948H995H7069H8458
6in understanding proverbs, clever sayings, words of the wise, and their riddles.H995H4912H4426H1697H2450H2420 H3068H7225H1847H191H936H2451H4148 H8085H4148H1H5203H8451H517
The Major Theme
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.H3374The Minor Theme
8My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not let go of your mother's teaching.H11219They will be a graceful wreath for your head and a chain for your neck.H3880H2580H7218H6060H1621 H2400H6601H14
Avoid Evil Counsel
10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.H112111If they say, "Come with us! Let's lie in wait for blood; let's ambush some innocent person for no reason at all.H559H3212H693H1818H6845H5355H2600
12Let's swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those who go down into the Pit,H1104H2416H7585H8549H3381H953
13We'll find all kinds of valuable wealth, and we'll fill our houses with spoil.H4672H3368H1952H4390H1004H7998
14Throw your lot in with us, and all of us will have one purse."H5307H1486H8432H259H3599
15My son, do not go along with them, and keep your feet away from their paths!H1121H3212H1870H4513H7272H5410
16For they run toward evil; these enticers shed blood without hesitation.H7272H7323H7451H4116H8210H1818
17Look, it is useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds,H2600H7568H2219H5869H1167H3671
18but these people lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush only themselves.H693H1818H6845H5315
19Such is the way of all those who seek illicit gain? it takes away the lives of those who possess it.H734H1214H1215H3947H5315H1167 H7442H2351H5414H6963H7339
The Benefits of Choosing Wisdom
20Wisdom cries out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.H245421She calls out at the busiest part of the noisy streets, and at the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words:H7121H7218H1993H6607H8179H5892H559H561
22"You na?ve ones, how long will you love naivet? And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing or fools hate knowledge?H6612H157H6612H3887H2530H3944H3684H8130H1847
23Return to my correction! Look, I will pour out my spirit on you, and I will make my words known to you.H7725H8433H5042H7307H3045H1697 H3985H5186H3027H7181
The Consequences of Refusing Wisdom
24"Because I called out to you and you refused to respond? I appealed, but no one paid attention?H712125because you neglected all my advice and did not want my correction,H6544H6098H14H8433
26I will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when what you fear comes,H7832H343H3932H6343H935
27when what you dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.H6343H935H7722H7584H343H857H5492H6869H6695H935
28Then they will call out to me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.H7121H6030H7836H4672
29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord;H8130H1847H977H3374H3068
30they did not want my advice, and they rejected all my correction.H14H6098H5006H8433
31They will eat the fruit of their way, and they will be filled with their own devices.H398H6529H1870H7646H4156
New Testament
32Indeed, the waywardness of the na?ve will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.H4878H6612H2026H7962H3684H6
33But the person who listens to me will live safely and will be secure from the fear of evil.H8085H7931H983H7599H6343H7451
International Standard Version. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version®. Copyright © 1996-forever by The ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission. More details.
Old Testament
- 1. Genesis (50)
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- 19. Psalms (150)
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- 23. Isaiah (66)
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- 24. Jeremiah (52)
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- 26. Ezekiel (48)
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- 31. Obadiah (1)
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New Testament
- 57. Philemon (1)
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- 63. 2 John (1)
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- 64. 3 John (1)
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- 65. Jude (1)
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