New Living Translation NLT
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
1
The proverbs of Shlomo, the son of David, king of Yisra'el:
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
2
To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
3
To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
4
To give prudence to the simple, Knowledge and discretion to the young man:
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance
5
That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; That the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
6
To understand a proverb, and parables, The words and riddles of the wise.
7 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
8
My son, listen to your father's instruction, And don't forsake your mother's teaching:
9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
9
For they will be a garland to grace your head, And chains around your neck.
10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!
10
My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent.
11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
11
If they say, "Come with us, Let's lay in wait for blood; Let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave ; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
12
Let's swallow them up alive like She'ol, And whole, like those who go down into the pit.
13 Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
13
We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with spoil.
14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”
14
You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse."
15 My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.
15
My son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.
16
For their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.
17
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.
18
These lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
19
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.
20
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:
21
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
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?
22
"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, And fools hate knowledge?
23 Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.
23
Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
24
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.
25
But you have ignored all my counsel, And wanted none of my reproof;
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
26
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.
27
When calamity overtakes you like a storm, When your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come on you.
28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
28
Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD .
29
Because they hated knowledge, And didn't choose the fear of the LORD.
30 They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.
30
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.
31
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
32
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”
33
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, And will be at ease, without fear of harm."