New Living Translation NLT
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
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The proverbs of Shlomo the son of David, king of Isra'el,
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
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are for learning about wisdom and discipline; for understanding words expressing deep insight;
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
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for gaining an intelligently disciplined life, doing what is right, just and fair;
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
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for endowing with caution those who don't think and the young person with knowledge and discretion.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance
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Someone who is already wise will hear and learn still more; someone who already understands will gain the ability to counsel well;
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
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he will understand proverbs, obscure expressions, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
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The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
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My son, heed the discipline of your father, and do not abandon the teaching of your mother;
9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
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they will be a garland to grace your head, a medal of honor for your neck.
10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!
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My son, if sinners entice you, don't go along with them.
11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
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Suppose they say, "Come with us: we'll ambush somebody and kill him, we'll waylay some harmless soul, just for fun;
12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave ; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
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we'll swallow him alive, like Sh'ol, whole, like those who descend to the pit;
13 Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
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we'll find everything he has of value, we'll fill our homes with loot!
14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”
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Throw in your lot with us; we'll share a common purse"-
15 My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.
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my son, don't go along with them, don't set foot on their path;
16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.
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Their feet run to evil, they rush to shed blood.
17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.
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For in vain is the net baited if any bird can see it;
18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.
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rather, they are ambushing themselves to shed their own blood, waylaying themselves.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
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So are the ways of all greedy for gain -it takes the lives of those who get it.
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.
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Wisdom calls aloud in the open air and raises her voice in the public places;
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:
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she calls out at streetcorners and speaks out at entrances to city gates:
22 “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?
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"How long, you whose lives have no purpose, will you love thoughtless living? How long will scorners find pleasure in mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?
23 Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.
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Repent when I reprove -I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make my words known to you.
24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
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Because you refused when I called, and no one paid attention when I put out my hand,
25 You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.
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but instead you neglected my counsel and would not accept my reproof;
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
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I, in turn, will laugh at your distress, and mock when terror comes over you
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.
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yes, when terror overtakes you like a storm and your disaster approaches like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble assail you.
28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
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Then they will call me, but I won't answer; they will seek me earnestly, but they won't find me.
29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD .
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Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of ADONAI,
30 They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.
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they refused my counsel and despised my reproof.
31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.
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So they will bear the consequences of their own way and be overfilled with their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
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For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them, and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them;
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”
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but those who pay attention to me will live securely, untroubled by fear of misfortune."
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.