Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 The proverbs of Solomon, King David's son, from Israel:
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The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline, to help one understand wise sayings.
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For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight,
3 They provide insightful instruction, which is righteous, just, and full of integrity.
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for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 They make the naive mature, the young knowledgeable and discreet.
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to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young—
5 The wise hear them and grow in wisdom; those with understanding gain guidance.
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let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill,
6 They help one understand proverbs and difficult sayings, the words of the wise, and their puzzles.
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to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction; don't neglect your mother's teaching;
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Hear, my child, your father's instruction, and do not reject your mother's teaching;
9 for they are a graceful wreath on your head, and beads for your neck.
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for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, don't let sinners entice you. Don't go
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My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 when they say: "Come with us. Let's set up a deadly ambush. Let's secretly wait for the innocent just for fun.
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If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
12 Let's swallow up the living like the grave— whole, like those who go down into the pit.
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like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.
13 We'll find all sorts of precious wealth; we'll fill our houses with plunder.
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We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty.
14 Throw in your lot with us; we'll share our money."
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Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse"—
15 My son, don't go on the path with them; keep your feet from their way,
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my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths;
16 because their feet run to evil; they hurry to spill blood.
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for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 It's useless to cast a net in the sight of a bird.
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For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on;
18 But these sinners set up a deadly ambush; they lie in wait for their own lives.
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yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves! and set an ambush—for their own lives!
19 These are the ways of all who seek unjust gain; it costs them their lives.
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Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
20 Wisdom shouts in the street; in the public square she raises her voice.
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Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.
21 Above the noisy crowd, she calls out. At the entrances of the city gates, she has her say:
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At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 "How long will you clueless people love your naïveté, mockers hold their mocking dear, and fools hate knowledge?
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"How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
23 You should respond when I correct you. Look, I'll pour out my spirit on you. I'll reveal my words to you.
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Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 I invited you, but you rejected me; I stretched out my hand to you, but you paid no attention.
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Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
25 You ignored all my advice, and you didn't want me to correct you.
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and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
26 So I'll laugh at your disaster; I'll make fun of you when dread comes over you,
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I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,
27 when terror hits you like a hurricane, and your disaster comes in like a tornado, when distress and oppression overcome you.
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when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won't answer; they will seek me, but won't find me
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Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.
29 because they hated knowledge and didn't choose the fear of the LORD.
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Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 They didn't want my advice; they rejected all my corrections.
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would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,
31 They will eat from the fruit of their way, and they'll be full of their own schemes.
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therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.
32 The immature will die because they turn away; smugness will destroy fools.
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For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 Those who obey me will dwell securely, untroubled by the dread of harm."
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but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster."
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.