The World English Bible (WEB): Proverbs — Story, Setting & Ideas

From www.ebible.org with slight reformatting by Martin Ward.

001:001 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

001:002 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;

001:003 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness,

001:004 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion

001:005 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;

that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:

001:006 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles

001:007 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish

despise wisdom and instruction.

001:008 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake

your mother's teaching:

001:009 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains

001:010 My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent.

001:011 If they say, "Come with us, Let's lay in wait for blood;

let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

001:012 let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those

who go down into the pit.

001:013 We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with spoil.

001:014 You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse."

001:015 My son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot

001:016 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

001:017 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:

001:018 but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly

001:019 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.

It takes away the life of its owners.

001:020 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice

in the public squares.

001:021 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance

of the city gates, she utters her words:

001:022 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,

and fools hate knowledge?

001:023 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you.

I will make known my words to you.

001:024 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched

out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

001:025 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

001:026 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when

calamity overtakes you;

001:027 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes

on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.

001:028 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer.

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;

001:029 because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh.

001:030 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.

001:031 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,

and be filled with their own schemes.

001:032 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.

The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

001:033 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease,

without fear of harm."

002:001 My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my

commandments within you;

002:002 So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your

heart to understanding;

002:003 Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your

voice for understanding;

002:004 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as

for hidden treasures:

002:005 then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find

the knowledge of God.

002:006 For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes

knowledge and understanding.

002:007 He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield

to those who walk in integrity;

002:008 that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way

002:009 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and

002:010 For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be

pleasant to your soul.

002:011 Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,

002:012 to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who

speak perverse things;

002:013 who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

002:014 who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil;

002:015 who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths:

002:016 To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner

who flatters with her words;

002:017 who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant

002:018 for her house leads down to death, her paths to the dead.

002:019 None who go to her return again, neither do they attain

to the paths of life:

002:020 that you may walk