Proverbs 1:1–9:18

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,^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.ⁱ

The fear of the Lord^j is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom^k and instruction.^l

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,^a to your father’s^b instruction

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.^c

They are a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.^d

My son, if sinful men entice^e you,

do not give in^f to them.^g

If they say, “Come along with us;

let’s lie in wait^h for innocent blood,

let’s ambush some harmless soul;

let’s swallowⁱ them alive, like the grave,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;^j

we will get all sorts of valuable things

and fill our houses with plunder;

cast lots with us;

we will all share the loot^k”—

my son, do not go along with them,

do not set foot^l on their paths;^m

for their feet rush into evil,ⁿ

they are swift to shed blood.^o

How useless to spread a net

where every bird can see it!

These men lie in wait^p for their own blood;

they ambush only themselves!^q

Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;

it takes away the life of those who get it.^r

Wisdom’s Rebuke

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,^a

she raises her voice in the public square;

on top of the wall she cries out,

at the city gate she makes her speech:

“How long will you who are simple^b love your simple ways?

How long will mockers delight in mockery

and fools hate^c knowledge?

Repent at my rebuke!

Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,

I will make known to you my teachings.

But since you refuse^d to listen when I call^e

and no one pays attention^f when I stretch out my hand,

since you disregard all my advice

and do not accept my rebuke,

I in turn will laugh^g when disaster^h strikes you;

I will mockⁱ when calamity overtakes you^j—

when calamity overtakes you like a storm,

when disaster^k sweeps over you like a whirlwind,

when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;^l

they will look for me but will not find me,^m

since they hated knowledge

and did not choose to fear the Lord.ⁿ

Since they would not accept my advice

and spurned my rebuke,^o

they will eat the fruit of their ways

and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.^p

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them;^q

but whoever listens to me will live in safety^r

and be at ease, without fear of harm.”^s

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

My son,^a if you accept my words

and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom

and applying your heart to understanding^b—

indeed, if you call out for insight^c

and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver

and search for it as for hidden treasure,^d

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.^e

For the Lord gives wisdom;^f

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.^g

He holds success in store for the upright,

he is a shield^h to those whose walk is blameless,ⁱ

for he guards the course of the just

and protects the way of his faithful ones.^j

Then you will understand^k what is right and just

and fair—every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart,^l

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Discretion will protect you,

and understanding will guard you.^m

Wisdom will saveⁿ you from the ways of wicked men,

from men whose words are perverse,

who have left the straight paths

to walk in dark ways,^o

who delight in doing wrong

and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,^p

whose paths are crooked^q

and who are devious in their ways.^r

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,^s

from the wayward woman with her seductive words,

who has left the partner of her youth

and ignored the covenant she made before God.^t

Surely her house leads down to death

and her paths to the spirits of the dead.^u

None who go to her return

or attain the paths of life.^v

Thus you will walk in the ways of the just

and keep to the paths of the righteous.

For the upright will live in the land,^w

and the blameless will remain in it;

but the wicked^x will be cut off from the land,^y

and the unfaithful will be torn from it.^z

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

My son,^a do not forget my teaching,^b

but keep my commands in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years^c

and bring you peace and prosperity.^d

Let love and faithfulness^e never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.^f

Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and humankind.^g

Trust in the Lord^h with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your pathsⁱ straight.^j

Do not be wise in your own eyes;^k

fear the Lord^l and shun evil.^m

This will bring health to your bodyⁿ

and nourishment to your bones.^o

Honor the Lord with your wealth,

with the firstfruits^p of all your crops;

then your barns will be filled^q to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.^r

My son,^s do not despise the Lord’s discipline,^t

and do not resent his rebuke,

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^u

as a father the son he delights in.^v

Blessed are those who find wisdom,

those who gain understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.^w

She is more precious than rubies;^x

nothing you desire can compare with her.^y

Long life is in her right hand;^z

in her left hand are riches and honor.^a

Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.^b

She is a tree of life^c to those who take hold of her;

those who hold her fast will be blessed.^d

By wisdom^e the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^f

by understanding he set the heavens^g in place;

by his knowledge the deeps were divided,

and the clouds let drop the dew.

My son,^h do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,ⁱ

preserve sound judgment and discretion;

they will be life for you,^j

an ornament to grace your neck.^k

Then you will go on your way in safety,^l

and your foot will not stumble.^m

When you lie down,ⁿ you will not be afraid;^o

when you lie down, your sleep^p will be sweet.

Have no fear of sudden disaster

or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

for the Lord will be at your side^q

and will keep your foot^r from being snared.^s

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to act.

Do not say to your neighbor,

“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—

when you already have it with you.^t

Do not plot harm against your neighbor,

who lives trustfully near you.^u

Do not accuse anyone for no reason—

when they have done you no harm.

Do not envy^v the violent

or choose any of their ways.

For the Lord detests the perverse^w

but takes the upright into his confidence.^x

The Lord’s curse^y is on the house of the wicked,^z

but he blesses the home of the righteous.^a

He mocks^b proud mockers^c

but shows favor to the humble^d and oppressed.

The wise inherit honor,

but fools get only shame.

Get Wisdom At Any Cost

Listen, my sons,^a to a father’s instruction;^b

pay attention and gain understanding.^c

I give you sound learning,

so do not forsake my teaching.

For I too was a son to my father,

still tender, and cherished by my mother.

Then he taught me, and he said to me,

“Take hold^d of my words with all your heart;

keep my commands, and you will live.^e

Get wisdom,^f get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^g

love her, and she will watch over you.^h

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

Though it cost allⁱ you have, get understanding.^j

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.^k

She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.^l”

Listen, my son,^m accept what I say,

and the years of your life will be many.ⁿ

I instruct^o you in the way of wisdom

and lead you along straight paths.^p

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

when you run, you will not stumble.^q

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

guard it well, for it is your life.^r

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

or walk in the way of evildoers.^s

Avoid it, do not travel on it;

turn from it and go on your way.

For they cannot rest until they do evil;^t

they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.^u

The path of the righteous^v is like the morning sun,^w

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.^x

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;^y

they do not know what makes them stumble.^z

My son,^a pay attention to what I say;

turn your ear to my words.^b

Do not let them out of your sight,^c

keep them within your heart;

for they are life to those who find them

and health to one’s whole body.^d

Above all else, guard^e your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.^f

Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let your eyes^g look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet^h

and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left;ⁱ

keep your foot from evil.

Warning Against Adultery

My son,^a pay attention to my wisdom,

turn your ear to my words^b of insight,

that you may maintain discretion

and your lips may preserve knowledge.

For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,

and her speech is smoother than oil;^c

but in the end she is bitter as gall,^d

sharp as a double-edged sword.

Her feet go down to death;

her steps lead straight to the grave.^e

She gives no thought to the way of life;

her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.^f

Now then, my sons, listen^g to me;

do not turn aside from what I say.

Keep to a path far from her,^h

do not go near the door of her house,

lest you lose your honor to others

and your dignity to one who is cruel,

lest strangers feast on your wealth

and your toil…