Proverbs 1–4: The Purpose, the Gangs, and Wisdom in the Street
Scripture: Berean Standard Bible
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David,king of Israel,for gaining wisdom and discipline,for comprehending words of insight,and for receiving instruction in wise livingand in righteousness, justice, and equity.To impart prudence to the simpleand knowledge and discretion to the young,let the wise listen and gain instruction,and the discerning acquire wise counselby understanding the proverbs and parables,the sayings and riddles of the wise.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.For they are a garland of grace on your headand a pendant around your neck.
My son, if sinners entice you,do not yield to them.If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood,let us ambush the innocent without cause,let us swallow them alive like Sheol,and whole like those descending into the Pit.We will find all manner of precious goods;we will fill our houses with plunder.Throw in your lot with us;let us all share one purse”—my son, do not walk the road with themor set foot upon their path.For their feet run to evil,and they are swift to shed blood.How futile it is to spread the netwhere any bird can see it!But they lie in wait for their own blood;they ambush their own lives.Such is the fate of all who are greedy,whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
Wisdom calls out in the street,she lifts her voice in the square;in the main concourse she cries aloud,at the city gates she makes her speech:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways?How long will scoffers delight in their scornand fools hate knowledge?If you had repented at my rebuke,then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you;I would have made my words known to you.Because you refused my call,and no one took my outstretched hand,because you neglected all my counsel,and wanted none of my correction,in turn I will mock your calamity;I will sneer when terror strikes you,when your dread comes like a storm,and your destruction like a whirlwind,when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.For they hated knowledgeand chose not to fear the LORD.They accepted none of my counsel;they despised all my reproof.So they will eat the fruit of their own way,and be filled with their own devices.For the waywardness of the simple will slay them,and the complacency of fools will destroy them.But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety,secure from the fear of evil.”My son, if you accept my wordsand hide my commandments within you,if you incline your ear to wisdomand direct your heart to understanding,if you truly call out to insightand lift your voice to understanding,if you seek it like silverand search it out like hidden treasure,then you will discern the fear of the LORDand discover the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;he is a shield to those who walk with integrity,to guard the paths of justiceand protect the way of his saints.
Then you will discern righteousnessand justice and equity—every good path.For wisdom will enter your heart,and knowledge will delight your soul.Discretion will watch over you,and understanding will guard you,to deliver you from the way of evil,from the man who speaks perversity,from those who leave the straight pathsto walk in the ways of darkness,from those who enjoy doing eviland rejoice in the twistedness of evil,whose paths are crookedand whose ways are devious.
It will rescue you from the forbidden woman,from the stranger with seductive wordswho abandons the partner of her youthand forgets the covenant of her God.For her house sinks down to death,and her tracks to the departed spirits.None who go to her returnor negotiate the paths of life.
So you will follow in the ways of the good,and keep to the paths of the righteous.For the upright will inhabit the land,and the blameless will remain in it;but the wicked will be cut off from the land,and the unfaithful will be uprooted.My son, do not forget my teaching,but let your heart keep my commandments;for they will add length to your days,years and peace to your life.Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you;bind them around your neck,write them on the tablet of your heart.Then you will find favor and high regardin the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight.Be not wise in your own eyes;fear the LORD and turn away from evil.This will bring healing to your bodyand refreshment to your bones.
Honor the LORD with your wealthand with the firstfruits of all your harvest;then your barns will be filled with plenty,and your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD,and do not loathe his rebuke;for the LORD disciplines the one he loves,as does a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,the man who acquires understanding,for she is more profitable than silver,and her gain is better than fine gold.She is more precious than rubies;nothing you desire compares with her.Long life is in her right hand;in her left hand are riches and honor.All her ways are pleasant,and all her paths are peaceful.She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
The LORD founded the earth by wisdomand established the heavens by understanding.By his knowledge the watery depths were broken open,and the clouds dripped with dew.
My son, do not lose sight of this:Preserve sound judgment and discernment.They will be life to your souland adornment to your neck.Then you will go on your way in safety,and your foot will not stumble.When you lie down, you will not be afraid;when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.Do not fear sudden dangeror the ruin that overtakes the wicked,for the LORD will be your confidenceand will keep your foot from the snare.
Do not withhold good from the deservingwhen it is within your power to act.Do not tell your neighbor,“Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means.Do not devise evil against your neighbor,for he trustfully dwells beside you.Do not accuse a man without cause,when he has done you no harm.
Do not envy a violent manor choose any of his ways;for the LORD detests the perverse,but he is a friend to the upright.The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,but he blesses the home of the righteous.He mocks the mockers,but gives grace to the humble.The wise will inherit honor,but fools are held up to shame.Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;pay attention and gain understanding.For I give you sound teaching;do not abandon my directive.When I was a son to my father,tender and the only child of my mother,he taught me and said,“Let your heart lay hold of my words;keep my commands and you will live.Get wisdom, get understanding;do not forget my words or turn from them.Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you;love her, and she will guard you.Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom.And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.Prize her, and she will exalt you;if you embrace her, she will honor you.She will set a garland of grace on your head;she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
Listen, my son, and receive my words,and the years of your life will be many.I will guide you in the way of wisdom;I will lead you on straight paths.When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;when you run, you will not stumble.Hold on to instruction; do not let go.Guard it, for it is your life.Do not set foot on the path of the wickedor walk in the way of evildoers.Avoid it; do not travel on it.Turn from it and pass on by.For they cannot sleepunless they do evil;they are deprived of slumberuntil they make someone fall.For they eat the bread of wickednessand drink the wine of violence.The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,shining brighter and brighter until midday.But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;they do not know what makes them stumble.
My son, pay attention to my words;incline your ear to my sayings.Do not lose sight of them;keep them within your heart.For they are life to those who find them,and health to the whole body.Guard your heart with all diligence,for from it flow springs of life.Put away deception from your mouth;keep your lips from perverse speech.Let your eyes look forward;fix your gaze straight ahead.Make a level path for your feet,and all your ways will be sure.Do not swerve to the right or to the left;turn your feet away from evil.