Proverbs 1
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
World English Bible
1THE PROVERBS of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
1The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2To know wisdom and instruction; to comprehend the words of understanding;
2to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
3To receive the discipline of wisdom, justice, and right, and equity;
3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion;
4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
5That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and the man of understanding may attain unto wise counsels;
5that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
6To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
6to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
8My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
9For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
9for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
10My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
11If they say: 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us lurk for the innocent without cause;
11If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
12Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those that go down into the pit;
12Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
13We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
13We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse' —
14You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—
15My son, walk not thou in the way with them, restrain thy foot from their path;
15my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
16for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17For in vain the net is spread in the eyes of any bird;
17For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
18And these lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk for their own lives.
18but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; it taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20Wisdom crieth aloud in the streets, she uttereth her voice in the broad places;
20Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21She calleth at the head of the noisy streets, at the entrances of the gates, in the city, she uttereth her words:
21She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22'How long, ye thoughtless, will ye love thoughtlessness? And how long will scorners delight them in scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
23Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
23Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man attended,
24Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof;
25but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26I also, in your calamity, will laugh, I will mock when your dread cometh;
26I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
27When your dread cometh as a storm, and your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; when trouble and distress come upon you.
27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.
28Then will they call me, but I will not answer, they will seek me earnestly, but they shall not find me.
28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD;
29because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.
30They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof.
30They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
31Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32For the waywardness of the thoughtless shall slay them, and the confidence of fools shall destroy them.
32For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.'
33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
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