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Proverbs 1

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: For learning wisdom and instruction, and understanding words of insight; for receiving wise instruction in justice, judgment and fairness; for giving good sense to the simple, and knowledge and discretion to the young;

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The point of the proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: For learning wisdom and instruction, and understanding words of insight; for receiving wise instruction in justice, judgment and fairness; for giving good sense to the simple, and knowledge and discretion to the young; let the wise listen and grow wiser, and let a person of understanding gain sound counsel; for understanding proverbs and their meaning, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel — to know wisdom and teaching, to take in the words of understanding, to take on the teaching of wisdom, and justice and judgment and fairness, to give sense to the simple, and to the young man knowledge and good thinking. A wise man will hear and grow in learning, and a man of understanding will get good counsel — to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge, but fools sneer at wisdom and teaching.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1

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

Plain English

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel —

King James Version, 1611

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2

For learning wisdom and instruction, and understanding words of insight;

Plain English

to know wisdom and teaching, to take in the words of understanding,

King James Version, 1611

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3

for receiving wise instruction in justice, judgment and fairness;

Plain English

to take on the teaching of wisdom, and justice and judgment and fairness,

King James Version, 1611

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4

for giving good sense to the simple, and knowledge and discretion to the young;

Plain English

to give sense to the simple, and to the young man knowledge and good thinking.

King James Version, 1611

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5

let the wise listen and grow wiser, and let a person of understanding gain sound counsel;

Plain English

A wise man will hear and grow in learning, and a man of understanding will get good counsel —

King James Version, 1611

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6

for understanding proverbs and their meaning, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Plain English

to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

King James Version, 1611

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Plain English

The fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge, but fools sneer at wisdom and teaching.

King James Version, 1611

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Don't go along with them

My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't abandon your mother's teaching. They'll be a graceful crown on your head and a chain of honour around your neck. My son, if sinners try to lure you in, don't go along with them. If they say, ‘Come with us. Let's lie in wait for blood; let's ambush the innocent for no reason.’ ‘Let's swallow them alive like the grave, whole like those who go down into the pit.’ ‘We'll find all sorts of valuable loot and fill our houses with plunder.’ ‘Throw in your lot with us; we'll all share one purse.’ My son, don't go down that road with them. Keep your feet off their path. Their feet run towards evil, and they're quick to shed blood. There's no point spreading a net where the bird can see it. But these men are really setting an ambush for their own blood; they're lying in wait for their own lives. That's where greed for gain leads: it takes the life of the one who lives by it.

My son, listen to the teaching of your father, and don't leave the law of your mother. Because they'll be a graceful crown for your head and chains round your neck. My son, if sinners try to talk you round, don't go along with them. If they say, Come with us, let's lie in wait for blood, let's hide and wait for the innocent for no reason — let's swallow them up alive like the grave, and whole, like the ones who go down into the pit — we'll find all sorts of precious goods, we'll fill our houses with plunder — throw in your lot with us, we'll all have one purse — my son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot back from their path. Because their feet run to evil and hurry to spill blood. Because it's no use spreading the net in the sight of any bird. And they lie in wait for their own blood. They hide and wait for their own lives. That's how the ways of everyone greedy for gain go. It takes away the life of the ones who have it.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

8

My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't abandon your mother's teaching.

Plain English

My son, listen to the teaching of your father, and don't leave the law of your mother.

King James Version, 1611

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9

They'll be a graceful crown on your head and a chain of honour around your neck.

Plain English

Because they'll be a graceful crown for your head and chains round your neck.

King James Version, 1611

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

10

My son, if sinners try to lure you in, don't go along with them.

Plain English

My son, if sinners try to talk you round, don't go along with them.

King James Version, 1611

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11

If they say, ‘Come with us. Let's lie in wait for blood; let's ambush the innocent for no reason.’

Plain English

If they say, Come with us, let's lie in wait for blood, let's hide and wait for the innocent for no reason —

King James Version, 1611

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12

‘Let's swallow them alive like the grave, whole like those who go down into the pit.’

Plain English

let's swallow them up alive like the grave, and whole, like the ones who go down into the pit —

King James Version, 1611

Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13

‘We'll find all sorts of valuable loot and fill our houses with plunder.’

Plain English

we'll find all sorts of precious goods, we'll fill our houses with plunder —

King James Version, 1611

We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14

‘Throw in your lot with us; we'll all share one purse.’

Plain English

throw in your lot with us, we'll all have one purse —

King James Version, 1611

Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15

My son, don't go down that road with them. Keep your feet off their path.

Plain English

my son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot back from their path.

King James Version, 1611

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16

Their feet run towards evil, and they're quick to shed blood.

Plain English

Because their feet run to evil and hurry to spill blood.

King James Version, 1611

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17

There's no point spreading a net where the bird can see it.

Plain English

Because it's no use spreading the net in the sight of any bird.

King James Version, 1611

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18

But these men are really setting an ambush for their own blood; they're lying in wait for their own lives.

Plain English

And they lie in wait for their own blood. They hide and wait for their own lives.

King James Version, 1611

And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

19

That's where greed for gain leads: it takes the life of the one who lives by it.

Plain English

That's how the ways of everyone greedy for gain go. It takes away the life of the ones who have it.

King James Version, 1611

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Wisdom calls out in the street

Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the streets. She cries out in the busiest places and at the city gates. In the city she speaks: ‘How long will you simple ones love being simple? How long will mockers enjoy mocking and fools hate knowledge?’ ‘Turn when I correct you. I'll pour out my spirit to you and make my words known to you.’ ‘I called, but you refused. I held out my hand, and nobody took notice.’ ‘You ignored all my counsel and wanted none of my correction.’ ‘So I'll laugh when disaster hits you; I'll mock when the thing you dread arrives—’ ‘when your fear comes like desolation, your destruction like a whirlwind, and distress and anguish close in on you.’ ‘Then they'll call to me, but I won't answer. They'll seek me early, but they won't find me,’ ‘because they hated knowledge and refused to choose the fear of the LORD.’ ‘They wanted none of my counsel and despised all my correction.’ ‘So they'll eat the fruit of their own way and have their fill of their own schemes.’ The simple are killed by turning away, and fools are destroyed by their own prosperity. But whoever listens to me will live safely, at ease and without fear of evil.

Wisdom calls out outside. She lets out her voice in the streets. She calls out in the chief place of the crowds, in the openings of the gates. In the town she says her words: How long, you simple ones, will you love being simple? And the mockers take delight in mocking, and fools hate knowledge? Turn back at my telling-off. Look — I'll pour out my spirit on you. I'll make my words known to you. Because I've called and you refused. I've stretched out my hand and nobody took any notice. But you've made nothing of all my counsel, and you wouldn't have any of my telling-off. So I'll laugh at your disaster too. I'll mock when your fear comes — when your fear comes like a waste, and your ruin comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and hard pressing come on you. Then they'll call on me, and I won't answer. They'll look for me early, and they won't find me — because they hated knowledge and didn't choose the fear of the Lord. They'd have none of my counsel. They sneered at all my telling-off. So they'll eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own plans. Because the turning away of the simple will kill them, and the easy life of fools will wreck them. But whoever listens to me will live safely and be quiet from the fear of evil.

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

20

Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the streets.

Plain English

Wisdom calls out outside. She lets out her voice in the streets.

King James Version, 1611

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21

She cries out in the busiest places and at the city gates. In the city she speaks:

Plain English

She calls out in the chief place of the crowds, in the openings of the gates. In the town she says her words:

King James Version, 1611

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22

‘How long will you simple ones love being simple? How long will mockers enjoy mocking and fools hate knowledge?’

Plain English

How long, you simple ones, will you love being simple? And the mockers take delight in mocking, and fools hate knowledge?

King James Version, 1611

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23

‘Turn when I correct you. I'll pour out my spirit to you and make my words known to you.’

Plain English

Turn back at my telling-off. Look — I'll pour out my spirit on you. I'll make my words known to you.

King James Version, 1611

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24

‘I called, but you refused. I held out my hand, and nobody took notice.’

Plain English

Because I've called and you refused. I've stretched out my hand and nobody took any notice.

King James Version, 1611

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25

‘You ignored all my counsel and wanted none of my correction.’

Plain English

But you've made nothing of all my counsel, and you wouldn't have any of my telling-off.

King James Version, 1611

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26

‘So I'll laugh when disaster hits you; I'll mock when the thing you dread arrives—’

Plain English

So I'll laugh at your disaster too. I'll mock when your fear comes —

King James Version, 1611

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27

‘when your fear comes like desolation, your destruction like a whirlwind, and distress and anguish close in on you.’

Plain English

when your fear comes like a waste, and your ruin comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and hard pressing come on you.

King James Version, 1611

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28

‘Then they'll call to me, but I won't answer. They'll seek me early, but they won't find me,’

Plain English

Then they'll call on me, and I won't answer. They'll look for me early, and they won't find me —

King James Version, 1611

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29

‘because they hated knowledge and refused to choose the fear of the LORD.’

Plain English

because they hated knowledge and didn't choose the fear of the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30

‘They wanted none of my counsel and despised all my correction.’

Plain English

They'd have none of my counsel. They sneered at all my telling-off.

King James Version, 1611

They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31

‘So they'll eat the fruit of their own way and have their fill of their own schemes.’

Plain English

So they'll eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own plans.

King James Version, 1611

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32

The simple are killed by turning away, and fools are destroyed by their own prosperity.

Plain English

Because the turning away of the simple will kill them, and the easy life of fools will wreck them.

King James Version, 1611

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33

But whoever listens to me will live safely, at ease and without fear of evil.

Plain English

But whoever listens to me will live safely and be quiet from the fear of evil.

King James Version, 1611

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.