The Beginning of Knowledge (Proverbs 9:1–12)
1 ULT The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel: BSB BSB: These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 ULT To know wisdom and instruction, to understand sayings of understanding; BSB BSB: for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 ULT to receive instruction of insight, righteousness and justice and integrity; BSB BSB: and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 ULT to give to naive ones prudence, to a young man knowledge and discretion BSB BSB: To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 ULT (may a wise one hear and increase learning, and an understanding one acquire guidance), BSB BSB: let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 ULT to understand a proverb and a parable, the words of the wise ones and their riddles. BSB BSB: by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 ULT 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 ULT Hear, my son, the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother, BSB BSB: Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 ULT for they{ are} a garland of grace for your head and pendants for your neck. BSB BSB: For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 ULT My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. BSB BSB: My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
11 ULT If they say,“Come with us! Let us lie in wait for blood. Let us hide to ambush the innocent one without cause. BSB BSB: If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
12 ULT Let us swallow them, the living ones, like Sheol, and the whole ones like those going down to a pit. BSB BSB: let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.
13 ULT We will find all precious wealth. We will fill our houses{ with} spoil. BSB BSB: We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 ULT You must cause your lot to fall in our midst; one purse will be for all of us.” BSB BSB: Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 ULT My son, do not walk on the road with them; restrain your foot from their path, BSB BSB: my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 ULT for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to pour out blood. BSB BSB: For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 ULT Surely in vain{ is} the net spread out in the eyes of any owner of wing, BSB BSB: How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 ULT but they lie in wait for their blood; they hide in ambush for their lives. BSB BSB: But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
19 ULT So{ are} the paths of all who unjustly gain unjust gain; it takes the life of its owner. BSB BSB: Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
Wisdom Calls Aloud 20 ULT Wisdom calls out outside; she gives her voice in the open areas. BSB BSB: Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 ULT At the head of the tumultuous places she calls out; at the opening of the gates in the city, she says her sayings, BSB BSB: in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22 ULT “Until when will naive ones love naiveté and mockers delight{ in} mockery for themselves and stupid ones 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 ULT Turn to my rebuke. Behold, I shall allow my spirit to gush forth to you, I shall cause you to know my words. 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 ULT Because I have called and you have refused, I have stretched out my hand, and there was no one listening attentively, BSB BSB: Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 ULT and you have ignored all my counsel, and my rebuke you did not accept, BSB BSB: because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 ULT I too shall laugh at your calamity, I shall mock when your dread comes, BSB BSB: in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
27 ULT when your dread comes like a storm and your calamity happens 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 ULT Then they will call out to me, but I will not answer. They will diligently seek 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 ULT for the reason that they hate knowledge and the fear of Yahweh they did not choose, BSB BSB: For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 ULT they did not want my counsel, and they despised my every rebuke. BSB BSB: They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
31 ULT And they will eat from the fruit of their way, and from their plans they will be satisfied. BSB BSB: So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 ULT For the turning away of the naive ones will slay them and{ false} security will lead stupid ones to ruin. BSB BSB: For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 ULT But the one who listens to me will dwell securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.” 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.