Proverbs 1 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 1 ▼
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1 The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction; To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight, To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;
3 To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, Righteousness, justice, and integrity; to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
4 That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth, to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 The wise will hear and increase their learning, And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth], Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—
6 To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation, And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection]. to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not reject the teaching of your mother. Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 For they are a garland of grace on your head, And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck. for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
11 If they say, “Come with us; Let us lie in wait to shed blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol (the place of the dead), Even whole, as those who go down to the pit [of death]; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions, We will fill our houses with spoil; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
14 Throw in your lot with us [they insist]; We will all have one money bag [in common],” throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— cast lots with us; we will all share the loot|—
15 My son, do not walk on the road with them; Keep your foot [far] away from their path, my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
16 For their feet run to evil, And they hurry to shed blood. for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.
17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
18 But [when these people set a trap for others] they lie in wait for their own blood; They set an ambush for their own lives [and rush to their destruction]. but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; Greed takes away the lives of its possessors. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She raises her voice in the markets; Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;
21 She calls out at the head of the noisy streets [where large crowds gather]; At the entrance of the city gates she speaks her words: at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:
22 “How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing, How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge? “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23 “If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke, Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.
24 “Because I called and you refused [to answer], I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer]; Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 And you treated all my counsel as nothing And would not accept my reprimand, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when your dread and panic come, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
27 When your dread and panic come like a storm, And your disaster comes like a whirlwind, When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution]. when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28 “Then they will call upon me (Wisdom), but I will not answer; They will seek me eagerly but they will not find me, Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,
29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD [that is, obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect], Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD.
30 They would not accept my counsel, And they spurned all my rebuke. would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
31 “Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own [wicked] way And be satiated with [the penalty of] their own devices. therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32 “For the turning away of the naive will kill them, And the careless ease of [self-righteous] fools will destroy them. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 “But whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live securely and in confident trust And will be at ease, without fear or dread of evil.” but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
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