Proverbs 1:1-19

Purpose and Theme 1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;

3for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;

4for giving prudence to those who are simple, The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil. knowledge and discretion to the young—

5let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—

6for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient. despise wisdom and instruction.

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men 8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

9They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

10My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.

11If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;

12let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;

14cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”—

15my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

16for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.

17How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!

18These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!

19Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.