MLV(i)
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, King of Israel,
2 to know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and uprightness,
4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion,
5 that the wise man may hear and increase in learning and that the man of understanding may attain to sound-wisdom,
6 to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. The foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother. 9 Because they will be a wreath of charm to your head and chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, Come with us. Let us lay wait for blood. Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol and whole, as those who go down into the pit. 13 We will find all precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoil. 14 You will cast your lot among us. We will all have one bag.
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Restrain your foot from their path. 16 Because their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood. 17 Because the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird, 18 and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of the owners of it.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places. 21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
22 How long, you* simple ones, will you* love simplicity? And scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn back at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you*. I will make my words known to you*.
24 Because I have called and you* have refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man has regarded, 25 but you* have made all my counsel void and want none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your* calamity. I will mock when your* fear comes, 27 when your* fear comes as a storm and your* calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you*.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, 29 because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices.
32 Because the backsliding of the simple will kill them and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 But he who listens to me will dwell securely and will be quiet without fear of evil.
7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. The foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother. 9 Because they will be a wreath of charm to your head and chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, Come with us. Let us lay wait for blood. Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol and whole, as those who go down into the pit. 13 We will find all precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoil. 14 You will cast your lot among us. We will all have one bag.
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Restrain your foot from their path. 16 Because their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood. 17 Because the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird, 18 and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of the owners of it.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places. 21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
22 How long, you* simple ones, will you* love simplicity? And scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn back at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you*. I will make my words known to you*.
24 Because I have called and you* have refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man has regarded, 25 but you* have made all my counsel void and want none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your* calamity. I will mock when your* fear comes, 27 when your* fear comes as a storm and your* calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you*.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, 29 because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices.
32 Because the backsliding of the simple will kill them and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 But he who listens to me will dwell securely and will be quiet without fear of evil.