Proverbs 1:1-23 ▼

1 The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, who reigned in Israel;

2 to know wisdom and instruction, and to perceive words of understanding;

3 to receive also hard saying, and to understand true justice, and how to direct judgement;

4 that he might give subtlety to the simple, and to the young man discernment and understanding.

5 For by the hearing of these a wise man will be wiser, and man of understanding will gain direction;

6 and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the saying of the wise also, and riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.

8 Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and reject not the rules of thy mother.

9 For thou shalt receive for thine head a crown of graces, and a chain of gold round thy neck.

10 My son, let not ungodly men lead thee astray, neither consent thou to them .

11 If they should exhort thee, saying, Come with us, partake in blood, and let us unjustly hide the just man in the earth:

12 and let us swallow him alive, as Hades would , and remove the memorial of him from the earth:

13 let us seize on his valuable property, and let us fill our houses with spoils:

14 but do thou cast in thy lot with us, and let us all provide a common purse, and let us have one pouch:

15 go not in the way with them, but turn aside thy foot from their paths:

16

17 for nets are not without cause spread for birds.

18 For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; and the overthrow of transgressors is evil.

19 These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.

20 Wisdom sings aloud in passages, and in the broad places speaks boldly.

21 And she makes proclamation on the top of the walls, and sits by the gates of princes; and at the gates of the city boldly says,

22 So long as the simple cleave to justice, they shall not be ashamed: but the foolish being lovers of haughtiness, having become ungodly have hated knowledge, and are become subject to reproofs.

23 Behold, I will bring forth to you the utterance of my breath, and I will instruct you in my speech.