Proverbs 1

{These are} the wise sayings said by Solomon. {He was} David’s son and Israel’s king. 2 {These wise sayings are} for knowing what is wise and instructive. {They are} for understanding insightful things that people say. 3 {These wise sayings are} for instructing someone about what is insightful, righteous, just, and honest. \* 4 {They are} for making naive people prudent, and {for making} young people knowledgeable and discreet. 5 (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.) 6 {These wise sayings are} for understanding wise sayings and parables. {Indeed, they are for understanding} what wise people say and the riddles they tell. \* 7 In order to become knowledgeable, a person must begin by deeply respecting God. {But} foolish people detest what is wise or instructive. 8 My child, listen carefully to what I, your father, am teaching you. Indeed, obey the rules that your mother has commanded. 9 {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. \* 10 My child, if sinful people tempt you {to sin with them}, refuse {to do so}. 11 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. \* 12 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. 13 We will discover many valuable treasures! We will fill our houses with what we steal! 14 Join our gang! We will share all the loot between us.” \* 15 My child, do not associate with those sinful people! Prevent yourself from doing the things that they do! 16 {Avoid those sinners} because they are eager to do wicked things. They even rush to murder people. 17 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}. \* 18 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. 19 That is what happens to anyone who gains wealth in an unjust manner. What they gained unjustly will kill them. \* 20 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. 21 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. 22 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! \* 23 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. 24 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}. 25 You ignored everything that I advised you to do. Indeed, you rejected what I said to correct you. \* 26 Therefore, as for me, I will laugh at you when disastrous things happen to you. Indeed, I will ridicule you when you are terrified. 27 {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}! \* 28 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. 29 {Those foolish people will not find me} because they refuse to learn. Also, they have decided not to respect God. 30 Those foolish people rejected what I advised them to do. Indeed, they detested everything I said to correct them. \* 31 Those foolish people will suffer rightly for what they have done. Indeed, they will suffer fully for what they have planned. 32 Ultimately, naive people will die because they refuse {to be wise}. Indeed, being complacent will destroy foolish people. 33 By contrast, people who listen attentively to what I say will live safely. They will not fear that something evil might happen to them.” \*