The Beginning of Knowledge (Proverbs 9:1–12)
1 UST { These are} the wise sayings said by Solomon.{ He was} David’ s son and Israel’ s king. BSB BSB: These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 UST { These wise sayings are} for knowing what is wise and instructive.{ They are} for understanding insightful things that people say. BSB BSB: for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 UST { These wise sayings are} for instructing someone about what is insightful, righteous, just, and honest. BSB BSB: and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 UST { They are} for making naive people prudent, and{ for making} young people knowledgeable and discreet. BSB BSB: To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 UST (Let wise people listen{ to these wise sayings} and learn more. Indeed,{ let these sayings} guide understanding people so that they know what to do.) BSB BSB: let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 UST { These wise sayings are} for understanding wise sayings and parables.{ Indeed, they are for understanding} what wise people say and the riddles they tell. BSB BSB: by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 UST In order to become knowledgeable, a person must begin by deeply respecting Yahweh.{ But} foolish people detest what is wise or instructive. BSB BSB: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
The Enticement of Sin 8 UST My child, listen carefully to what I, your father, am teaching you. Indeed, obey the rules that your mother has commanded. BSB BSB: Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 UST { Obey your parents’ teaching} because then{ people will admire and respect you;} it will be as if those teachings were an attractive wreath on your head, or beautiful necklaces around your neck. BSB BSB: For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 UST My child, if sinful people tempt you{ to sin with them}, refuse{ to do so}. BSB BSB: My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
11 UST Those sinful people may say,“Join us! We will hide and wait in order to kill someone{ who walks by}. Indeed, we will hide ourselves in order to suddenly attack an innocent person for no good reason. BSB BSB: If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
12 UST We will kill living people completely, as if we were their grave.{ Yes, we will kill} healthy people, as if they could not escape dying. BSB BSB: let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.
13 UST We will discover many valuable treasures! We will fill our houses with what we steal! BSB BSB: We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 UST Join our gang! We will share all the loot between us.” BSB BSB: Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 UST My child, do not associate with those sinful people! Prevent yourself from doing the things that they do! BSB BSB: my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 UST { Avoid those sinners} because they are eager to do wicked things. They even rush to murder people. BSB BSB: For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 UST It is useless{ for a hunter} to put out a net{ to trap a bird} while the bird is watching{ because the bird will avoid the net}. BSB BSB: How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 UST However,{ these sinful people are more foolish than birds.} They hide in wait, but they kill themselves. Indeed, they hide so that they can suddenly attack, but they themselves die. BSB BSB: But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
19 UST That is what happens to anyone who gains wealth in an unjust manner. What they gained unjustly will kill them. BSB BSB: Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
Wisdom Calls Aloud 20 UST Imagine that everything that is wise is a woman who calls out{ to everyone} in public. Imagine that this woman shouts{ to people} in crowded places. BSB BSB: Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 UST Imagine that she calls out{ to people} at the place where busy streets intersect. Imagine that she speaks her{ wise} words at the{ crowded} entrance of the city gates. BSB BSB: in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22 UST She says,“You naive people have loved being naive for too long! You people who ridicule{ others} have enjoyed ridiculing{ others} to benefit yourselves for too long! You foolish people have hated what you should know for too long! 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 UST Turn around{ and listen} to me when I correct you! Listen! I will tell you all that I am thinking. Indeed, I will help you to understand what I have to say 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 UST I called out{ to you}, but you refused{ to listen}. Indeed, I invited you to come to me, but no one paid any attention{ to me}. BSB BSB: Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 UST You ignored everything that I advised you to do. Indeed, you rejected what I said to correct you. BSB BSB: because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 UST Therefore, as for me, I will laugh at you when disastrous things happen to you. Indeed, I will ridicule you when you are terrified. BSB BSB: in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
27 UST { Yes,} when you are terrified as if a violent storm has arrived,{ when} disastrous things happen to you violently,{ and} when you become distressed and anguished{, I will ridicule you}! BSB BSB: when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
28 UST At that time, those foolish people will cry out to me{ to help them}, but I will not reply{ to them}. Indeed, they will desperately look for me, but they will not be able to 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 UST { Those foolish people will not find me} because they refuse to learn. Also, they have decided not to respect Yahweh. BSB BSB: For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 UST Those foolish people rejected what I advised them to do. Indeed, they detested everything I said to correct them. BSB BSB: They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
31 UST Those foolish people will suffer rightly for what they have done. Indeed, they will suffer fully for what they have planned. BSB BSB: So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 UST Ultimately, naive people will die because they refuse{ to be wise}. Indeed, being complacent will destroy foolish people. BSB BSB: For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 UST By contrast, people who listen attentively to what I say will live safely. They will not fear that something evil might happen to them.” 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.