New King James Version NKJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
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The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
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That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
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receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion--
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that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth--
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
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the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
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to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, 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 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
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Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.
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for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
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My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
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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 us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to 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 shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
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we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse"--
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throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse" --
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;
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my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;
16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
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for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;
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For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.
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but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.
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Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.
20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.
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Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the markets she raises her voice;
21 She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:
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on the top of the walls she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, 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 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
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Give heed to my reproof; behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
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Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke,
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and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,
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I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,
27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon 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 on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not 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 did not 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 would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.
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would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
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therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
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For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil."
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but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil."