Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; Proverbs 3

Proverbs 1

1 These are the wise words of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.

2 They teach wisdom and self-control; they will help you understand wise words.

3 They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled and will teach you to do what is honest and fair and right.

4 They make the uneducated smarter and give knowledge and sense to the young.

5 Wise people can also listen and learn; even smart people can find good advice in these words.

6 Then anyone can understand wise words and stories, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord, but fools hate wisdom and self-control.

8 My child, listen to your father's teaching and do not forget your mother's advice.

9 Their teaching will be like flowers in your hair or a necklace around your neck.

10 My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not follow them.

11 They will say, "Come with us. Let's ambush and kill someone; let's attack some innocent people just for fun.

12 Let's swallow them alive, as death does; let's swallow them whole, as the grave does.

13 We will take all kinds of valuable things and fill our houses with stolen goods.

14 Come join us, and we will share with you stolen goods."

15 My child, do not go along with them; do not do what they do.

16 They are eager to do evil and are quick to kill.

17 It is useless to spread out a net right where the birds can see it.

18 But sinners will fall into their own traps; they will only catch themselves!

19 All greedy people end up this way; greed kills selfish people.

20 Wisdom is like a woman shouting in the street; she raises her voice in the city squares.

21 She cries out in the noisy street and shouts at the city gates:

22 "You fools, how long will you be foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom and hate knowledge?

23 If only you had listened when I corrected you, I would have told you what's in my heart; I would have told you what I am thinking.

24 I called, but you refused to listen; I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.

25 You did not follow my advice and did not listen when I corrected you.

26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble. I will make fun when disaster strikes you,

27 when disaster comes over you like a storm, when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind, when pain and trouble overwhelm you.

28 "Then you will call to me, but I will not answer. You will look for me, but you will not find me.

29 It is because you rejected knowledge and did not choose to respect the Lord.

30 You did not accept my advice, and you rejected my correction.

31 So you will get what you deserve; you will get what you planned for others.

32 Fools will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care.

33 But those who listen to me will live in safety and be at peace, without fear of injury."

Proverbs 2

1 My child, listen to what I say and remember what I command you.

2 Listen carefully to wisdom; set your mind on understanding.

3 Cry out for wisdom, and beg for understanding.

4 Search for it like silver, and hunt for it like hidden treasure.

5 Then you will understand respect for the Lord, and you will find that you know God.

6 Only the Lord gives wisdom; he gives knowledge and understanding.

7 He stores up wisdom for those who are honest. Like a shield he protects the innocent.

8 He makes sure that justice is done, and he protects those who are loyal to him.

9 Then you will understand what is honest and fair and what is the good and right thing to do.

10 Wisdom will come into your mind, and knowledge will be pleasing to you.

11 Good sense will protect you; understanding will guard you.

12 It will keep you from the wicked, from those whose words are bad,

13 who don't do what is right but what is evil.

14 They enjoy doing wrong and are happy to do what is crooked and evil.

15 What they do is wrong, and their ways are dishonest.

16 It will save you from the unfaithful wife who tries to lead you into adultery with pleasing words.

17 She leaves the husband she married when she was young. She ignores the promise she made before God.

18 Her house is on the way to death; those who took that path are now all dead.

19 No one who goes to her comes back or walks the path of life again.

20 But wisdom will help you be good and do what is right.

21 Those who are honest will live in the land, and those who are innocent will remain in it.

22 But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the unfaithful will be thrown out of it.

Proverbs 3

1 My child, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in mind.

2 Then you will live a long time, and your life will be successful.

3 Don't ever forget kindness and truth. Wear them like a necklace. Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.

4 Then you will be respected and will please both God and people.

5 Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding.

6 Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.

7 Don't depend on your own wisdom. Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong.

8 Then your body will be healthy, and your bones will be strong.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and the firstfruits from all your crops.

10 Then your barns will be full, and your wine barrels will overflow with new wine.

11 My child, do not reject the Lord's discipline, and don't get angry when he corrects you.

12 The Lord corrects those he loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in.

13 Happy is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gets understanding.

14 Wisdom is worth more than silver; it brings more profit than gold.

15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you could want is equal to it.

16 With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life, and with her left hand she gives you riches and honor.

17 Wisdom will make your life pleasant and will bring you peace.

18 As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it, and everyone who uses it will be happy.

19 The Lord made the earth, using his wisdom. He set the sky in place, using his understanding.

20 With his knowledge, he made springs flow into rivers and the clouds drop rain on the earth.

21 My child, hold on to wisdom and good sense. Don't let them out of your sight.

22 They will give you life and beauty like a necklace around your neck.

23 Then you will go your way in safety, and you will not get hurt.

24 When you lie down, you won't be afraid; when you lie down, you will sleep in peace.

25 You won't be afraid of sudden trouble; you won't fear the ruin that comes to the wicked,

26 because the Lord will keep you safe. He will keep you from being trapped.

27 Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help.

28 If you have what your neighbor asks for, don't say, "Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow."

29 Don't make plans to hurt your neighbor who lives nearby and trusts you.

30 Don't accuse a person for no good reason; don't accuse someone who has not harmed you.

31 Don't be jealous of those who use violence, and don't choose to be like them.

32 The Lord hates those who do wrong, but he is a friend to those who are honest.

33 The Lord will curse the evil person's house, but he will bless the home of those who do right.

34 The Lord laughs at those who laugh at him, but he gives grace to those who are not proud.

35 Wise people will receive honor, but fools will be disgraced.