The Beginning of Knowledge (Proverbs 9:1–12)
1 UEB The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. BSB BSB: These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 UEB These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight, BSB BSB: for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 UEB that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair. BSB BSB: and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 UEB These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people. BSB BSB: To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 UEB Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance, BSB BSB: let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 UEB to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles. BSB BSB: by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 UEB The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction. BSB BSB: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
The Enticement of Sin 8 UEB My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother; BSB BSB: Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 UEB they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck. BSB BSB: For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 UEB My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them. BSB BSB: My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
11 UEB If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason. BSB BSB: If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
12 UEB Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit. BSB BSB: let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.
13 UEB We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others. BSB BSB: We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 UEB Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together." BSB BSB: Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 UEB My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk; BSB BSB: my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 UEB their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood. BSB BSB: For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 UEB For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird. BSB BSB: How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 UEB These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush for their own lives. BSB BSB: But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
19 UEB So are the ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it. BSB BSB: Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
Wisdom Calls Aloud 20 UEB Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places; BSB BSB: Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 UEB at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks, BSB BSB: in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22 UEB "How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge? BSB BSB: “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
23 UEB Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you. BSB BSB: 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.
24 UEB I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention. BSB BSB: Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 UEB But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction. BSB BSB: because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 UEB I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes— BSB BSB: in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
27 UEB when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. BSB BSB: when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
28 UEB Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me. BSB BSB: Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
29 UEB Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh, BSB BSB: For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 UEB they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction. BSB BSB: They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
31 UEB They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled. BSB BSB: So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 UEB For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them. BSB BSB: For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 UEB But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster." BSB BSB: But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.