Proverbs 1 (UDB)

1These are the sayings that compare one example with another, to teach moral lessons and to make people wise, from Solomon the king of Israel, who was son of David.These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,

2The purpose of these sayings is to teach the meaning of wisdom and give examples of moral instruction, so wise teaching can guide you.for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,

3These sayings offer correction so you may live wisely, by the measures of what is right, what is just, and what is fair.and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.

4They give wise teaching to those who have no experience and instruct those who do not know how to live a moral life, and give young people what they need to know and teach them what they do not understand—To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

5so wise people may listen to these sayings and increase in their learning, and those who already have insight will gain more ways to live according to the lessons of wisdom.let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

6They seek to understand the lessons of the proverbs and the meaning of the parables. These are the words of the wise and their difficult riddles.by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7You must begin your search for knowledge by honoring Yahweh and respecting him; a fool who dishonors himself hates wisdom and fights against the one who corrects him.The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

8My son, listen when your father teaches you and do not disobey the rules your mother set down.Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

9Their teaching is a wreath upon your head, and beautiful necklaces around your neck; they are priceless gifts from your parents.For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

10My son, as sinners try to draw you into their sin with smooth talk and flattery, do not listen to what they say and do not follow them.My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

11They may say, "Come with us! Join us! We will hide in wait and we will take the life of one who passes by. We will hide ourselves and we will rise up and attack a person who has done us no wrong—that will be our sport.If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

12Like the grave has power to take even a healthy person and drag them to the place of the dead, we will take their life from them. We will make them like those who fall into the place where there is no hope of escape.let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

13We will find many valuable and expensive items, and we will fill our houses with what we steal from them!We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

14So, come, be part of our team! Let us all share equally the things we steal."Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—

15My son, do not walk that road with them! Do not put your foot down on the same path on which they walk!my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.

16They run to the places where they do terrible things; they hurry so they can commit murder.For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

17It is useless to put out a net to trap a bird while the bird is watching you.How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!

18These men make plans that turn around and kill them. They set a trap and the trap catches them.But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.

19These are the ways of all who gain their riches through theft and deceit; the things they stole destroy the lives of the thieves who cling to them.Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

20Wisdom is like a woman who cries out in the streets. Wisdom calls out to people in the plazas.Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

21At the intersection of busy streets she cries out and at the entrance of city gates she says:in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:

22"You who have not been taught, how long will you love being enticed to do what will harm you? You who think you know more than the wise, how long will you have so much joy in the little you know? How long will you fools refuse to learn?“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

23If you pay attention to me when I correct you, I will tell you all I am thinking. I will help you understand what I am saying to you.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.

24But when I called to you, you refused to listen. I beckoned you and stretched out my hands to you, but no one paid any attention.Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,

25You refused to listen to my advice and you did not listen when I corrected you.because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

26I will laugh at you, when you are experiencing troubles; when you are terribly afraid, I will have contempt for you and not compassion.in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,

27When troubles strike you like a powerful storm and disasters hit you like a violent wind, when you experience distress and you go through difficulties, I will have contempt for you.when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.

28Then people will call to me to help them, but I will not answer them. They will be desperate for my help and search everywhere for me, but they will not find me.Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

29They rejected what I say and they hated what I know, and they made a choice not to show respect to Yahweh.For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.

30They would not obey what I told them to do, and they did not pay attention when I tried to correct them.They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

31So they will experience the consequences of their actions when they carry out their evil plans.So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32Those who have not been taught wisdom are foolish. Fools choose to make no decision about anything, but be sure of this: Their failure to make a decision will destroy their lives.For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33But those who pay attention to me will live in peace and safety, and they will rest and not be afraid of any disaster that may come."But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

Proverbs 1

The Beginning of Knowledge

The Enticement of Sin

Wisdom Calls Aloud

You’ve read Proverbs 1

Go Deeper

Proverbs 1

The Beginning of Knowledge

The Enticement of Sin

Wisdom Calls Aloud

You’ve read Proverbs 1

Go Deeper