| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: | 1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: |
| 2To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, | 2For learning what wisdom and discipline are; for understanding insightful sayings; |
| 3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; | 3for receiving wise instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; |
| 4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— | 4for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man-- |
| 5Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, | 5a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance-- |
| 6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. | 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; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline. |
| 8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, | 8Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching, |
| 9for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for 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 consent. | 10My son, if sinners entice you, don't be persuaded. |
| 11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; | 11If they say--"Come with us! Let's set an ambush and kill someone. Let's attack some innocent person just for fun! |
| 12like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; | 12Let's swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit. |
| 13we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; | 13We'll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. |
| 14throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— | 14Throw in your lot with us, and we'll all share our money"-- |
| 15my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, | 15my son, don't travel that road with them or set foot on their path, |
| 16for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. | 16because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder. |
| 17For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, | 17It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it, |
| 18but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. | 18but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives. |
| 19Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. | 19Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it. |
| 20Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; | 20Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares. |
| 21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: | 21She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:" |
| 22“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing 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 turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make 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 I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, | 24Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, |
| 25because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, | 25since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, |
| 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, | 26I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, |
| 27when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon 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 upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently 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. |
| 29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, | 29Because they hated knowledge, didn't choose to fear the LORD, |
| 30would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, | 30were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, |
| 31therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. | 31they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. |
| 32For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys 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 secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” | 33But whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger." |
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