Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; Proverbs 3

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon. He was the son of David and the king of Israel. 2 Proverbs teach you wisdom and train you. They help you understand wise sayings. 3 They provide you with training and help you live wisely. They lead to what is right and honest and fair. 4 They give understanding to childish people. They give knowledge and good sense to those who are young. 5 Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned. Let those who understand what is right get guidance. 6 What I'm teaching also helps you understand proverbs and stories. It helps you understand the sayings and riddles of those who are wise. 7 If you really want to gain knowledge, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and training. 8 My son, listen to your father's advice. Don't turn away from your mother's teaching. 9 What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head. It will be like a chain to decorate your neck. 10 My son, if sinners tempt you, don't give in to them. 11 They might say, "Come along with us. Let's hide and wait to spill someone's blood. Let's catch some harmless people in our trap. 12 Let's swallow them alive, as the grave does. Let's swallow them whole, like those who go down into the pit. 13 We'll get all kinds of valuable things. We'll fill our houses with what we steal. 14 Come and join our gang. We'll share everything we have." 15 My son, don't go along with them. Don't even set your feet on their paths. 16 They are always in a hurry to sin. They are quick to spill someone's blood. 17 How useless it is to spread a net while all the birds are watching! 18 Those who hide and wait will spill their own blood. They will be caught in their own trap. 19 That's what happens to everyone who goes after money in the wrong way. That kind of money takes away the lives of those who get it. 20 Wisdom calls out in the street. She raises her voice in public places. 21 At the noisy street corners she cries out. Here is what she says near the gates of the city. 22 "How long will you childish people love your childish ways? How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others? How long will you foolish people hate knowledge? 23 Suppose you had paid attention to my warning. Then I would have poured out my heart to you. I would have told you what I was thinking. 24 But you turned away from me when I called out to you. None of you paid attention when I reached out my hand. 25 You turned away from all my advice. You wouldn't accept my warning. 26 So I will laugh at you when you are in danger. I will make fun of you when hard times come. 27 I will laugh when hard times hit you like a storm. I will laugh when danger comes your way like a windstorm. I will make fun of you when suffering and trouble come. 28 "Then you will call to me. But I won't answer. You will look for me. But you won't find me. 29 You hated knowledge. You didn't choose to have respect for the Lord. 30 You wouldn't accept my advice. You turned your backs on my warnings. 31 So you will eat the fruit of the way you have lived. You will choke on the fruit of what you have planned. 32 "Childish people go down the wrong path. They will die. Foolish people are satisfied with the way they live. They will be destroyed. 33 But those who listen to me will live in safety. They will not worry. They won't be afraid of getting hurt."

1 My son, accept my words. Store up my commands inside you. 2 Let your ears listen to wisdom. Apply your heart to understanding. 3 Call out for the ability to be wise. Cry out for understanding. 4 Look for it as you would look for silver. Search for it as you would search for hidden treasure. 5 Then you will understand how to have respect for the Lord. You will find out how to know God. 6 The LORD gives wisdom. Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth. 7 He stores up success for honest people. He is like a shield to those who live without blame. He keeps them safe. 8 He guards the path of those who are honest. He watches over the way of his faithful ones. 9 You will understand what is right and honest and fair. You will understand the right way to live. 10 Your heart will become wise. Your mind will delight in knowledge. 11 Good sense will keep you safe. Understanding will guard you. 12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of evil men. It will save you from men who twist their words. 13 Men like that leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways. 14 They take delight in doing what is wrong. They take joy in twisting everything around. 15 Their paths are crooked. Their ways are not straight. 16 Wisdom will save you from a woman who commits adultery. It will save you from a sinful wife and her tempting words. 17 She leaves the man she married when she was young. She breaks the promise she made to her God. 18 Her house leads down to death. Her paths lead to the spirits of the dead. 19 No one who goes to her comes back or reaches the paths of life. 20 You will walk in the ways of good people. You will follow the paths of those who do right. 21 Honest people will live in the land. Those who are without blame will remain in it. 22 But sinners will be cut off from the land. Those who aren't faithful will be torn away from it.

1 My son, do not forget my teaching. Keep my commands in your heart. 2 They will help you live for many years. They will bring you success. 3 Don't let love and truth ever leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will find favor and a good name in the eyes of God and people. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways remember him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight. 7 Don't be wise in your own eyes. Have respect for the LORD and avoid evil. 8 That will bring health to your body. It will make your bones strong. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth. Give him the first share of all your crops. 10 Then your storerooms will be so full they can't hold everything. Your huge jars will spill over with fresh wine. 11 My son, do not hate the LORD's training. Do not object when he corrects you. 12 The LORD trains those he loves. He is like a father who trains the son he is pleased with. 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom. Blessed is the one who gains understanding. 14 Wisdom pays better than silver does. She earns more than gold does. 15 She is worth more than rubies. Nothing you want can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways. All her paths lead to peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who hold her close. Those who hold on to her will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations. Through understanding he set the heavens in place. 20 By his knowledge the seas were separated, and the clouds dropped their dew. 21 My son, hold on to good sense and the understanding of what is right. Don't let them out of your sight. 22 They will be life for you. They will be like a gracious necklace around your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety. You will not trip and fall. 24 When you lie down, you won't be afraid. When you lie down, you will sleep soundly. 25 Don't be terrified by sudden trouble. Don't be afraid when sinners are destroyed. 26 The LORD is the one you will trust in. He will keep your feet from being caught in a trap. 27 Don't hold back good from those who are worthy of it. Don't hold it back when you can help. 28 Suppose you have something to give. Don't say to your neighbor, "Come back later. I'll give it to you tomorrow." 29 Don't plan to harm your neighbor. He lives near you and trusts you. 30 Don't bring charges against a man without any reason. He has not harmed you. 31 Don't be jealous of a man who hurts others. Don't choose any of his ways. 32 The LORD really hates sinful people. But he makes honest people his closest friends. 33 The LORD puts a curse on the houses of sinners. But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right. 34 He laughs at proud people who make fun of others. But he gives grace to those who are not proud. 35 Wise people receive honor. But the LORD puts foolish people to shame.