| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, | 1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: |
| 2for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight, | 2For learning what wisdom and discipline are; for understanding insightful sayings; |
| 3and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity. | 3for receiving wise instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; |
| 4To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young, | 4for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man-- |
| 5let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel | 5a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance-- |
| 6by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. | 6for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles. |
| 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. | 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline. |
| 8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. | 8Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching, |
| 9For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck. | 9for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck. |
| 10My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. | 10My son, if sinners entice you, don't be persuaded. |
| 11If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, | 11If they say--"Come with us! Let's set an ambush and kill someone. Let's attack some innocent person just for fun! |
| 12let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. | 12Let's swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit. |
| 13We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder. | 13We'll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. |
| 14Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”— | 14Throw in your lot with us, and we'll all share our money"-- |
| 15my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path. | 15my son, don't travel that road with them or set foot on their path, |
| 16For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood. | 16because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder. |
| 17How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it! | 17It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it, |
| 18But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives. | 18but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives. |
| 19Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors. | 19Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it. |
| 20Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; | 20Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares. |
| 21in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech: | 21She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:" |
| 22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge? | 22How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? |
| 23If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you. | 23If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words. |
| 24Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, | 24Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, |
| 25because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction, | 25since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, |
| 26in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you, | 26I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, |
| 27when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you. | 27when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you. |
| 28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me. | 28Then they will call me, but I won't answer; they will search for me, but won't find me. |
| 29For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. | 29Because they hated knowledge, didn't choose to fear the LORD, |
| 30They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof. | 30were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, |
| 31So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. | 31they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. |
| 32For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. | 32For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. |
| 33But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.” | 33But whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger." |
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