Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, King of Israel:

2 For the knowledge of wisdom and correction, For discerning the sayings of intelligence;

3 For receiving the correction of prudence, Righteousness and justice, and equity;

4 For giving To the simple shrewdness, To the young man knowledge and discretion.

5 A wise man will hear and will increase learning, And a discreet man wise counsels will acquire,

6 By gaining discernment of proverb and satire, The words of the wise and their dark sayings.

7 The reverence of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and correction the foolish have despised.

8 Hear, my son, the correction of thy father, And do not reject the instruction of thy mother;

9 For a wreath of beauty shall they be to thy head, And chains of ornament to thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee do not consent.

11 If they say—Come with us,—Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us watch in secret for him who is needlessly innocent;

12 Let us engulf them like hades alive, While in health like them who are going down to the pit;

13 All costly substance shall we find, We shall fill our houses with spoil;

14 Thy lot shalt thou cast into our midst, One purse shall there be for us all!

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path.

16 For their feet to mischief do run, And haste to the shedding of blood.

17 Surely in vain is spread the net, In the sight of aught that hath wings!

18 Yet they for their own blood lie in wait, They watch in secret for their own life.

19 Such are the ways of every one that graspeth with greed, The life of the owners thereof it taketh away!

20 Wisdom in the open place soundeth forth, In the broadways she raiseth her voice;

21 At the head of bustling streets she crieth aloud,—At the openings of the gates in the city—her sayings she doth utter:—

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers in scoffing delight them? And dullards hate knowledge?

23 Will ye turn at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will make known my words to you.

24 Because I called and ye refused, I stretched out my hand and no one regarded;

25 But ye dismissed all my counsel, And to my rebuke would not yield

26 I also at your calamity will laugh, I will mock when cometh your dread;

27 When cometh as a crashing your dread And your calamity as a storm-wind overtaketh, When there come upon you distress and anguish.

28 Then will they call me but I will not answer, They will seek me diligently but shall not find me.

29 Because they hated knowledge, And the reverence of Yahweh did not choose;

30 Consented not to my counsel, Disdained all my rebuke

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And with their own counsels be filled.

32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,—And the carelessness of dullards will destroy them.

33 Whereas he that hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, And be at rest without dread of misfortune.