Proverbs 1 · Clearspring

The Beginning of Knowledge

¹The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:+ ²to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;+ ³to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;+ ⁴to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:+ ⁵that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:+ ⁶to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.+ ⁷The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.+

The Enticement of Sin

⁸My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:+ ⁹for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.+ ¹⁰My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.+ ¹¹If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lay in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.+ ¹²Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.+ ¹³We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.+ ¹⁴You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.” ¹⁵My son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,+ ¹⁶for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.+ ¹⁷For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:+ ¹⁸but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.+ ¹⁹So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.+

Wisdom Calls Aloud

²⁰Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.+ ²¹She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:+ ²²“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?+ ²³Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.+ ²⁴Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;+ ²⁵but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;+ ²⁶I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;+ ²⁷when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.+ ²⁸Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;+ ²⁹because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.+ ³⁰They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.+ ³¹Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.+ ³²For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.+ ³³But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”+

The Beginning of Knowledge

The Enticement of Sin

Wisdom Calls Aloud

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