1 These are the proverbs collected by King Solomon of Yisrael (King David’s son):

2 These will help you to know wisdom and instruction,

≈and to comprehend sayings that give understanding.

3 Also to learn insight

and to understand what’s right and leads to justice and integrity.

4 They give good advice to those who are naive—

≈teaching knowledge and discretion to young people.

5 Let wise people also listen to these sayings to keep learning more,

and discerning people can acquire guidance—

6 understanding proverbs and parables—

the words of wise people plus their challenges.

7 Deciding to obey Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.

Fools despise wisdom and being told what they should do.[ref]

8 My child, listen to your father’s instructions.

≈Don’t reject what your mother has told you to do,

9 because their teaching is like a graceful garland to wear on your head,

≈or like beautiful necklaces to wear around your neck.

10 My child, if evil people tempt you to join them, don’t agree to it. 11 If they say,

“Come with us. We’ll find someone to kill—

≈we’ll hide and ambush an innocent person just for fun.

12 Let’s swallow innocent people just like the grave does,

≈and healthy people just like those going down to the pit.

13 We’ll find lots of valuable loot.

≈We’ll fill our houses with what we take.

14 You need to come and join us—

we share everything equally.”

15 My child, don’t follow their ways.

≈Keep your foot away from their path

16 because their feet run towards evil,

and they rush to pour out blood.

17 Surely it would be a waste of time

to spread out a net while the bird is watching,

18 but they lie in wait for their own blood—

they ambush their own lives.

19 That’s what happens to anyone who gains wealth illegally—

it takes that person’s life.

20 Wisdom calls out loudly on the street—

≈she makes her voice known in the plazas.[ref]

21 She calls out from above the busy streets.

≈She tells her sayings at the meeting place at the city gates.

22 How much longer will naive people love their naivety,

≈and mockers enjoy their mockery,

≈and stupid people despise knowledge?

23 Change your ways when I correct you.

Listen, I’ll pour my spirit out on you all.

Let me declare my messages to you all

24 because I’ve called and you’ve all refused to listen.

≈I held out my hand but no one paid any attention

25 and you all ignored all my advice

and took no notice when I corrected you.

26 So I’ll laugh when calamity hits you all

and I’ll ridicule you when you’re all terrified

27 when panic strikes you all like a storm

and calamity comes like a whirlwind

and when trouble and anguish reach you all.

28 Then they’ll call out to me for help but I won’t answer.

≈They’ll search for me but won’t be able to find me

29 because they hated wisdom

≈and didn’t choose to respect and obey Yahweh.

30 They didn’t listen to my advice.

≈They didn’t want to hear whenever I corrected them,

31 so they’ll eat the fruit of their own chosen path

≈and they’ll be filled with their own schemes.

32 Naive people will get killed as a result of their own turning away,

≈and the fools’ own complacency will destroy them.

33 However, those who listen to me will have secure lives

and be able to relax without worrying about troubles coming.

2 My child, if you accept my sayings

≈and internalise my commands,

2 so you’ll be attentive to wisdom

≈and your mind will look for understanding,

3 if you’ll call out for insight,

≈raising your voice to ask for understanding,

4 if you go after it as if it’s silver

≈and search for it as if it was hidden treasure,

5 then you’ll understand how to respect and obey Yahweh

≈and you’ll learn more about God.

6 That’s because Yahweh gives wisdom—

knowledge and understanding come from his mouth

7 and he gives true wisdom to godly people—

a protective shield for those walking with integrity.

8 to guard the paths of justice,

and he will preserve the way of those who are faithful to him.

9 Then you’ll understand righteousness and justice and integrity—every good path to walk,

10 because wisdom will enter into your mind

≈and knowledge will give you pleasure.

11 Discretion will watch over you.

≈Understanding will guard you

12 to rescue you off the path of wicked people—

from people who speak perversely—

13 the ones who abandon the paths of godliness

to walk in the ways of darkness,

14 the ones who are glad to do evil.

≈They rejoice in perverse things of evil,

15 whose paths are crooked

≈and going astray in their tracks.

16 Being discreet and insightful will rescue you from a strange woman—

≈from a foreign woman who makes her sayings smooth,

17 who’s left her husband from her younger days,

≈and has forgotton her promise to her God.

18 Her house sinks down to death,

≈and her paths to the departed spirits.

19 No one who goes into her place will return,

≈and they won’t find the paths that lead to life.

20 So follow the ways of good people,

≈and stay on the path of those who want to do what’s right,

21 because it’s people who do what is right who’ll live in this land,

≈and those who are blameless will remain in it.

22 However, the wicked people will be taken off the land,

≈and those who are treacherous will be torn away from it.

3 My son, don’t forget my instructions,

≈and keep my commands in your thoughts,

2 →because they’ll give you a longer lifetime

≈and add peace to your life.

3 Don’t let loyal commitment and faithfulness leave you:

tie them around your neck,

≈and inscribe them into your mind.

4 Then you’ll find favour and good insight

in the eyes of God and man.[ref]

5 Trust in Yahweh with everything in you,

^and don’t rely on your own logic.

6 Acknowledge Yahweh’s involvement in everything you do,

and he will show you the best course to follow.

7 Don’t pride yourself on your own wisdom,[ref]

^but ratherobey Yahweh and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing for your stomach,

≈and refreshment for your bones.

9 Honour Yahweh from your wealth

≈and from the first of everything you harvest,

10 →then your barns will be completely filled,

≈and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 My son, don’t reject correction from Yahweh,

≈and don’t resent his rebuke,[ref]

12 because Yahweh disciplines those he loves,[ref]

≈just like a father does to his child that he appreciates.

13 The person who discovers wisdom is blessed,

≈as is the one who obtains understanding,

14 because it’s better than a good income.

≈Being wise is of more value than gold.

15 Wisdom is more valuable than jewelry.

→There’s nothing else you could want that’s worth as much as being wise.

16 On one hand, wisdom leads to a longer life.

≈On the other hand, being wise will enable riches and honour.

17 The ways of wisdom are pleasant,

≈and all its ways are peaceful.

18 Wisdom is a tree of life for those who embrace it.

≈People who are consistently wise are blessed.

19 Yahweh founded the world using wisdom.

≈He established the atmosphere and sky by understanding.

20 As a result of his knowledge, the ocean depths broke open,

≈and the clouds dripped dew.

21 My son, don’t let wisdom, knowledge, or understanding escape from your sight.

Safeguard sound wisdom and discretion

22 and they’ll liven your mind,

and then people will notice it about you.

23 Then you’ll walk in confidence

without tripping or stumbling.

24 When you go to bed, your mind won’t be filled with fear.

≈You’ll lie down and your sleep will be relaxing.

25 Don’t worry about something terrible suddenly happening to you,

or about when you see wicked people facing ruin,

26 because your confidence will be in Yahweh,

and he will protect you on your journey.

27 Don’t hold back when you’re able to do good to someone—

when you have the ability and opportunity to act.

28 Don’t tell your neighbour, “Go home now, but come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you then,”

when you had it there the whole time.

29 Don’t plot how to take advantage of your neighbour,

when he’s living beside you and trusting you.

30 Don’t quarrel with others for no reason—

if they haven’t done anything wrong to you.

31 Don’t envy violent people,

and don’t imitate how they behave,

32 because Yahweh detests crooked people

^but is friendly towards those who are godly.

33 Yahweh’s curse is on the household of wicked people,

^but he blesses the home of those who do what’s right.

34 He mocks those who mock others,[ref]

but he shows favour towards those who are humble.

35 Wise people will inherit honour,

but fools will receive shame.

4 My children, listen to your father’s teachings.

≈Pay attention so you’ll learn well,

2 because I’ll give you good teaching.

Don’t abandon my instructions.

3 When I was a boy in my father’s house,

≈and I was my mother’s tender son,

4 then he taught me and told me,

“Remember what I have told you.

≈Follow my instructions and live.

5 Acquire wisdom and understanding.

Always remember and keep doing what I’ve told you.

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