Proverbs 1
1THE PROVERBS (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:H4912H8010H1121H1732H4428H34782That people may know skillful {and} godly Wisdom and instruction, discern {and} comprehend the words of understanding {and} insight,H3045H2451H4148H995H561H9983Receive instruction in wise dealing {and} the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity,H3947H4148H7919H6664H4941H43394That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, {and} discernment to the youth--H5414H6195H6612H5288H1847H42095The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill {and} attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]--H2450H8085H3254H3948H995H7069H84586That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech {or} an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings {or} riddles.H995H4912H4426H1697H2450H24207The reverent {and} worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning {and} the principal {and} choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful {and} godly Wisdom, instruction, {and} discipline.H3374H3068H7225H1847H191H936H2451H41488My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not {nor} forsake the teaching of your mother.H1121H8085H4148H1H5203H8451H5179For they are a [victor's] chaplet (garland) of grace upon your head and chains {and} pendants [of gold worn by kings] for your neck.H3880H2580H7218H6060H162110My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.H1121H2400H6601H1411If they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait [to shed] blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause [and show that his piety is in vain];H559H3212H693H1818H6845H5355H260012Let us swallow them up alive as does Sheol (the place of the dead), and whole, as those who go down into the pit [of the dead];H1104H2416H7585H8549H3381H95313We shall find {and} take all kinds of precious goods [when our victims are put out of the way], we shall fill our houses with plunder;H4672H3368H1952H4390H1004H799814Throw in your lot with us [they insist] {and} be a sworn brother {and} comrade; let us all have one purse in common--H5307H1486H8432H259H359915My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path;H1121H3212H1870H4513H7272H541016For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.H7272H7323H7451H4116H8210H181817For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird!H2600H7568H2219H5869H1167H367118But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.H693H1818H6845H531519So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors.H734H1214H1215H3947H5315H116720Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets;H2454H7442H2351H5414H6963H733921She cries at the head of the noisy intersections [in the chief gathering places]; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:H7121H7218H1993H6607H8179H5892H559H56122How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge?H6612H157H6612H3887H2530H3944H3684H8130H184723If you will turn (repent) {and} give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.H7725H8433H5042H7307H3045H169724Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it,H7121H3985H5186H3027H718125And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof,H6544H6098H14H843326I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror {and} panic--H7832H343H3932H6343H93527When your panic comes as a storm {and} desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.H6343H935H7722H7584H343H857H5492H6869H6695H93528Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early {and} diligently but they will not find me.H7121H6030H7836H467229Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent {and} worshipful fear of the Lord,H8130H1847H977H3374H306830Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,H14H6098H5006H843331Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.H398H6529H1870H7646H415632For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them.H4878H6612H2026H7962H3684H633But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely {and} in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear {or} dread of evil.H8085H7931H983H7599H6343H7451