New Living Translation | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
1These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. | 1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: |
2Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. | 2For learning what wisdom and discipline are; for understanding insightful sayings; |
3Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. | 3for receiving wise instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; |
4These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. | 4for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man-- |
5Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance | 5a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance-- |
6by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. | 6for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles. |
7Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom | 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline. |
8My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. | 8Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching, |
9What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. | 9for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck. |
10My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! | 10My son, if sinners entice you, don't be persuaded. |
11They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! | 11If they say--"Come with us! Let's set an ambush and kill someone. Let's attack some innocent person just for fun! |
12Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave ; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. | 12Let's swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit. |
13Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. | 13We'll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. |
14Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.” | 14Throw in your lot with us, and we'll all share our money"-- |
15My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. | 15my son, don't travel that road with them or set foot on their path, |
16They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder. | 16because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder. |
17If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. | 17It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it, |
18But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. | 18but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives. |
19Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life. Wisdom Shouts in the Streets | 19Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it. |
20Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. | 20Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares. |
21She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: | 21She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:" |
22“How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? | 22How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? |
23Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. | 23If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words. |
24“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. | 24Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, |
25You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. | 25since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, |
26So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you— | 26I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, |
27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. | 27when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you. |
28“When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they 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 rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. | 30were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, |
31Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. | 31they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. |
32For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. | 32For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. |
33But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.” | 33But whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger." |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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