Proverbs 1 (New International Version)

Prologue: Purpose and Theme

1 The proverbs¹ of Solomon² son of David, king of Israel:³ 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to the simple,⁴ knowledge and discretion⁵ to the young-- 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,⁶ and let the discerning get guidance-- 6 for understanding proverbs and parables,⁷ the sayings and riddles⁸ of the wise.⁹ 7 The fear of the LORD¹⁰ is the beginning of knowledge, but fools^a despise wisdom¹¹ and discipline.¹²

Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against Enticement

8 Listen, my son,¹³ to your father's¹⁴ instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.¹⁵ 9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.¹⁶ 10 My son, if sinners entice¹⁷ you, do not give in¹⁸ to them.¹⁹ 11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait²⁰ for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; 12 let's swallow²¹ them alive, like the grave,^b and whole, like those who go down to the pit;²² 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse²³"-- 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot²⁴ on their paths;²⁵ 16 for their feet rush into sin,²⁶ they are swift to shed blood.²⁷ 17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! 18 These men lie in wait²⁸ for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!²⁹ 19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.³⁰

Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom

20 Wisdom calls aloud³¹ in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; 21 at the head of the noisy streets^c she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: 22 "How long will you simple ones^d32 love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate³³ knowledge? 23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. 24 But since you rejected³⁴ me when I called³⁵ and no one gave heed³⁶ when I stretched out my hand, 25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh³⁷ at your disaster;³⁸ I will mock³⁹ when calamity overtakes you⁴⁰-- 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster⁴¹ sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer;⁴² they will look for me but will not find me.⁴³ 29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,⁴⁴ 30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,⁴⁵ 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.⁴⁶ 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;⁴⁷ 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety⁴⁸ and be at ease, without fear of harm."⁴⁹