Proverbs 1

1 These are the proverbs [wise sayings, parables] of Solomon [a king of Israel] son [descendant, heir] of David [a king of Israel], king [royal ruler, monarch] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], word study 2 for gaining [acquiring, obtaining] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] and discipline [correction, guidance], for comprehending [perceiving, understanding] words [sayings, teachings] of insight [understanding, discernment], word study 3 and for receiving [gaining, obtaining] instruction [training, discipline] in wise [prudent, circumspect] living [conduct, behavior] and in righteousness [uprightness], justice [judgment, fairness], and equity [straightness, evenness]. word study 4 To impart [give, bestow upon] prudence [good sense, discretion] to the simple [naive, easily influenced] and knowledge [understanding, wisdom] and discretion [good judgment, wise decision-making] to the young [youth, immature one], word study 5 let the wise [intelligent, skilled, cunning] listen [to hear and obey, to heed] and gain instruction [learning, teaching, insight], and the discerning [understanding, perceptive, astute] acquire [buy, attain, possess] wise [sound, prudent, judicious] counsel [guidance, advice, plan] word study 6 by understanding [discerning, perceiving] the proverbs [wise sayings, teachings] and parables, the sayings [words, expressions] and riddles [puzzles, dark sayings] of the wise [intelligent, skilled, prudent]. word study 7 The fear [reverence, respect] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is the beginning [first part, starting point] of knowledge [understanding, wisdom], but fools [foolish people, despisers of wisdom] despise [hold in contempt, treat with disdain] wisdom [skill, prudence, good judgment] and discipline [correction, guidance, instruction]. word study 8 Listen [hear and obey, give attention to], my son [a child of God, a descendant], to your father’s [the paternal figure, the one who guides] instruction [discipline, correction, guidance], and do not [refuse, reject] forsake [leave, abandon, permit to go astray] the teaching [law, commandment, wisdom] of your mother [the maternal figure, the one who nurtures]. word study 9 For [because of this reason] they are a garland [wreath, crown] of grace [favor, kindness, unmerited blessing] on your head [the seat of wisdom] and a pendant [chain, necklace, ornament] around your neck. word study 10 My [beloved] son [descendant, child of God], if [whether or when] sinners [those who have committed a crime or sin, lawless ones] entice [deceive, tempt] you [to do what is wrong], do not [refuse, let not be] yield [consent, be willing] to them [evil people, those who would lead you astray]. word study 11 If [on the condition that, in case] they say, “Come along [with us, join us], let us lie in wait [ambush, lurk secretly] for blood [the life-giving fluid], let us ambush [lay wait, hide] the innocent [morally clean, guiltless] without cause [for no reason, without justification], word study 12 let us swallow [devour, consume] them alive [while they are still living, in their strength] like Sheol [the underworld, a place of no return], and whole [unblemished, perfect] like those descending [going down, falling] into the Pit [a cistern, a deep hole]. word study 13 We will find [discover, attain] all manner of precious [valuable, highly esteemed] goods [substance, wealth]; we will fill [make full, complete] our houses [dwelling places, homes] with plunder [spoil, booty, spoils of war]. word study 14 Throw [cast, toss] in your lot [portion, allotted share] with us; let us all [together, as one] share [have a part in, participate in] one [single, united] purse [money-bag, container for wealth]”— word study 15 my son [beloved child, descendant], do not [refrain from, let not be] walk [to go, journey, live] the road [way, path, manner of life] with them [in their company, near them] or set [place, put] foot [step, tread] upon their path [road, track, direction to follow]. word study 16 For their feet [running swiftly to wrongdoing] run to evil [bad or morally harmful], and they are swift [hurrying, making haste] to shed [pour out, spill] blood [the liquid essential for life]. word study 17 How [utterly, completely] futile [in vain, without purpose] it is to spread [to scatter, toss out] the net [a snare, a trap] where [in the sight of, before] any [all, every] bird [creature with wings] can see [perceive, discern] it [the net, the trap]! word study 18 But they [these evil people, laying in wait] lie in wait [ambush, lurk privily] for their own [life-giving] blood; they [secretly, to their own demise] ambush [lurk, lay wait] their own [precious, eternal] lives [souls, living beings]. word study 19 Such is the fate [result, outcome] of all who are greedy [covetous, extremely desirous of wealth], whose unjust gain [ill-gotten profit, dishonest wealth] takes [destroys, cuts off] the lives [souls, very existence] of its possessors [owners, masters]. word study 20 Wisdom [divine insight, good judgment] calls out [cries aloud, shouts] in the street [public square, marketplace], she lifts [utters, gives] her voice [sound, utterance] in the square [broad places, plazas]; word study 21 in the main concourse [at the head of multitudes, in busy corners] she cries aloud [cries, calls out], at the city gates [entrances of the gates, town gates] she makes her speech [utters her words, explains her message]: word study 22 “How long, O simple ones [naive, easily influenced], will you love [have affection for, be devoted to] your simple [foolish, uninformed] ways? How long will scoffers [mockers, scorners] delight [take pleasure, desire] in their scorn [contempt, disdain] and fools [stupid, silly] hate [reject, despise, feel intense dislike for] knowledge [understanding, wisdom]? word study 23 If you had repented [turned back, changed your mind] at my rebuke [correction, reproof], then surely I would have poured out [uttered, gushed forth] my spirit [breath of life, mind and emotions] on you; I would have made my words [thoughts, teachings] known [clear, understood] to you. word study 24 Because [for this reason, therefore] you refused [rejected, said no to] my call [cry, invitation], and no one took [accepted, regarded] my outstretched [stretched out, extended] hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share], word study 25 because you neglected [ignored, set at naught] all my counsel [advice, guidance], and wanted [would have, were willing to accept] none [not any, no part] of my correction [rebuke, reproof, verbal chastisement], word study 26 in turn [also, even] I [the speaker, emphasizing personal involvement] will mock [laugh in contempt, scorn] your calamity [disaster, misfortune]; I will sneer [deride, scoff] when terror [dread, fear] strikes you [overtakes, comes upon], word study 27 when your dread [fear, terror] comes like a storm [desolation, devastation], and your destruction [calamity, disaster] like a whirlwind [hurricane, tempest], when distress [anguish, trouble] and anguish [sorrow, pain] overwhelm [come upon, overtake] you. word study 28 Then [at that time, in the future] they will call [cry out to, seek help from] on me, but I will not [absolutely not, under no circumstances] answer; they will earnestly [diligently, with all their heart] seek [search for, look diligently] me, but will not [never, under no conditions] find [discover, attain] me. word study 29 For [because of this reason] they hated [intensely disliked, rejected] knowledge [understanding, wisdom] and chose [selected, preferred] not [absolutely not, lo] to fear [reverence, respect] the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty]. word study 30 They accepted [would have] none of my [divine, wise] counsel [advice, guidance]; they despised [rejected, scorned] all [every, the entirety of] my reproof [correction, rebuke, verbal chastisement]. word study 31 So they will eat [devour, consume] the fruit [results, consequences] of their own way [path, manner of life], and be filled [satisfied, made full] with their own devices [counsels, plans, schemes]. word study 32 For the waywardness [faithlessness, turning away] of the simple [naive, easily influenced] will slay [kill, destroy with intent] them, and the complacency [ease, false sense of security] of fools [stupid, silly, rejecting God] will destroy [perish, be lost] them. word study 33 But whoever [pays attention to, heeds] listens to me [obeys, gives ear to] will dwell [live, stay, reside] in safety [security, confidence], secure [at ease, without worry] from the fear [dread, terror] of evil [bad, harm, adversity].” word study