Proverbs 1-4

New International Version

² for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple,^[a](D)
    knowledge and discretion^(E) to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,^(F)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,^(G)
    the sayings and riddles^(H) of the wise.^[b](I)

⁷ The fear of the Lord^(J) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools^[c] despise wisdom^(K) and instruction.^(L)

¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice^(Q) you,
    do not give in^(R) to them.^(S)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait^(T) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
¹² let’s swallow^(U) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;^(V)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot^(W)”—
¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot^(X) on their paths;^(Y)
16 for their feet rush into evil,^(Z)
    they are swift to shed blood.^(AA)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
¹⁸ These men lie in wait^(AB) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!^(AC)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.^(AD)

²² “How long will you who are simple^(AF) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate^(AG) knowledge?
²³ Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
²⁴ But since you refuse^(AH) to listen when I call^(AI)
    and no one pays attention^(AJ) when I stretch out my hand,
²⁵ since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
²⁶ I in turn will laugh^(AK) when disaster^(AL) strikes you;
    I will mock^(AM) when calamity overtakes you^(AN)—
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster^(AO) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸ “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;^(AP)
    they will look for me but will not find me,^(AQ)
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.^(AR)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,^(AS)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.^(AT)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;^(AU)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety^(AV)
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”^(AW)

⁹ Then you will understand^(BH) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,^(BI)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.^(BJ)

¹² Wisdom will save^(BK) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
¹³ who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,^(BL)
14 who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,^(BM)
15 whose paths are crooked^(BN)
    and who are devious in their ways.^(BO)

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,^(BP)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[e](BQ)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.^(BR)
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.^(BS)

²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
²¹ For the upright will live in the land,^(BT)
    and the blameless will remain in it;
²² but the wicked^(BU) will be cut off from the land,^(BV)
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.^(BW)

³ Let love and faithfulness^(CB) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.^(CC)
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.^(CD)

⁵ Trust in the Lord^(CE) with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths^(CF) straight.^[f](CG)

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;^(CH)
    fear the Lord^(CI) and shun evil.^(CJ)
8 This will bring health to your body^(CK)
    and nourishment to your bones.^(CL)

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits^(CM) of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled^(CN) to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.^(CO)

¹¹ My son,^(CP) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,^(CQ)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,^(CR)
    as a father the son he delights in.^[g](CS)

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.^(CT)
15 She is more precious than rubies;^(CU)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.^(CV)
16 Long life is in her right hand;^(CW)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.^(CX)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.^(CY)
18 She is a tree of life^(CZ) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.^(DA)

¹⁹ By wisdom^(DB) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^(DC)
    by understanding he set the heavens^(DD) in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son,^(DE) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,^(DF)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,^(DG)
    an ornament to grace your neck.^(DH)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,^(DI)
    and your foot will not stumble.^(DJ)
24 When you lie down,^(DK) you will not be afraid;^(DL)
    when you lie down, your sleep^(DM) will be sweet.
²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶ for the Lord will be at your side^(DN)
    and will keep your foot^(DO) from being snared.^(DP)

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.^(DQ)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.^(DR)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy^(DS) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

³² For the Lord detests the perverse^(DT)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.^(DU)
33 The Lord’s curse^(DV) is on the house of the wicked,^(DW)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.^(DX)
34 He mocks^(DY) proud mockers^(DZ)
    but shows favor to the humble^(EA) and oppressed.
³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

¹⁰ Listen, my son,^(EN) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.^(EO)
11 I instruct^(EP) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.^(EQ)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.^(ER)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.^(ES)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.^(ET)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil;^(EU)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.^(EV)

¹⁸ The path of the righteous^(EW) is like the morning sun,^(EX)
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.^(EY)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;^(EZ)
    they do not know what makes them stumble.^(FA)

²⁰ My son,^(FB) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.^(FC)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,^(FD)
    keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.^(FE)
23 Above all else, guard^(FF) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.^(FG)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes^(FH) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the^[j] paths for your feet^(FI)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;^(FJ)
    keep your foot from evil.