Berean Standard Bible

Proverbs 1

(Proverbs 9:1–12)

1These are the proverbsH4912 of SolomonH8010 sonH1121 of DavidH1732,kingH4428 of IsraelH3478,2for gainingH3045 wisdomH2451 and disciplineH4148,for comprehendingH995 wordsH561 of insightH998,3and for receivingH3947 instructionH4148 in wise livingH7919and in righteousnessH6664, justiceH4941, and equityH4339.4To impartH5414 prudenceH6195 to the simpleH6612 1and knowledgeH1847 and discretionH4209 to the youngH5288,5let the wiseH2450 listenH8085 and gainH3254 instructionH3948,and the discerningH995 acquireH7069 wise counselH84586by understandingH995 the proverbsH4912 and parablesH4426,the sayingsH1697 and riddlesH2420 of the wiseH2450.

7The fearH3374 of the LORDH3068 is the beginningH7225 of knowledgeH1847, but foolsH191 2 despiseH936 wisdomH2451 and disciplineH4148.

8ListenH8085, my sonH1121, to your father’sH1 instructionH4148,and do not forsakeH5203 H408 the teachingH8451 of your motherH517.9ForH3588 theyH1992 are a garlandH3880 of graceH2580 on your headH7218and a pendantH6060 around your neckH1621.

10My sonH1121, ifH518 sinnersH2400 entice youH6601,do notH408 yieldH14 to them.11IfH518 they sayH559, “ComeH1980 alongH854, let us lie in waitH693 for bloodH1818,let us ambushH6845 the innocentH5355 without causeH2600,12let us swallow themH1104 aliveH2416 like SheolH7585,and wholeH8549 like those descendingH3381 into the PitH953.13We will findH4672 all mannerH3605 of preciousH3368 goodsH1952;we will fillH4390 our housesH1004 with plunderH7998.14Throw inH5307 your lotH1486 with usH8432;let us allH3605 shareH1961 oneH259 purseH3599”—15my sonH1121, do notH408 walkH1980 the roadH1870 with themH854or setH4513 footH7272 upon their pathH5410.16ForH3588 their feetH7272 runH7323 to evilH7451,and they are swiftH4116 to shedH8210 bloodH1818.17HowH3588 futileH2600 it is to spreadH2219 the netH7568where anyH3605 birdH1167 H3671 can see itH5869!18But theyH1992 lie in waitH693 for their own bloodH1818;they ambushH6845 their own livesH5315.

19SuchH3651 is the fateH734 of allH3605 who are greedyH1214, whose unjust gainH1215 takesH3947 the livesH5315 of its possessorsH1167.

20WisdomH2451 calls outH7442 in the streetH2351,she liftsH5414 her voiceH6963 in the squareH7339;21in the mainH7218 concourseH1993 3 she cries aloudH7121,at the cityH5892 gatesH6607 H8179 she makesH559 her speechH561:

22“HowH5704 longH4970, O simple onesH6612, will you loveH157 your simpleH6612 ways?How long will scoffersH3887 delightH2530 in their scornH3944and foolsH3684 hateH8130 knowledgeH1847?23If you had repentedH7725 at my rebukeH8433,then surelyH2009 I would have poured outH5042 my spirit on youH7307;I would have madeH3045 my wordsH1697 known to youH853.24BecauseH3282 you refusedH3985 my callH7121,and no oneH369 tookH7181 my outstretchedH5186 handH3027,25because you neglectedH6544 allH3605 my counselH6098,and wantedH14 noneH3808 of my correctionH8433,26in turnH1571 IH589 will mockH7832 your calamityH343;I will sneerH3932 when terrorH6343 strikes youH935,27when your dreadH6343 comesH935 like a stormH7584,and your destructionH343 like a whirlwindH5492,when distressH6869 and anguishH6695 overwhelm youH935 H5921.

28ThenH227 they will call on meH7121, but I will notH3808 answerH6030;they will earnestly seek meH7836, but will notH3808 find meH4672.29ForH8478 H3588 they hatedH8130 knowledgeH1847and choseH977 notH3808 to fearH3374 the LORDH3068.30They acceptedH14 noneH3808 of my counselH6098;they despisedH5006 allH3605 my reproofH8433.31So they will eatH398 the fruitH6529 of their own wayH1870,and be filledH7646 with their own devicesH4156.32ForH3588 the waywardnessH4878 of the simpleH6612 will slay themH2026,and the complacencyH7962 of foolsH3684 will destroy themH6.33But whoever listensH8085 to me will dwellH7931 in safetyH983,secureH7599 from the fearH6343 of evilH7451.”

1. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs refers to one who is naive, without moral direction, or inclined to evil. ↩
2. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered as fool in Proverbs denote one who is morally deficient. ↩
3. Proverbs 1:21 Or from the top of the wall ↩