He inquired(A) of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams(B) or Urim(C) or prophets.(D)

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37 So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer(A) him that day.

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he said, “Listen to my words:

“When there is a prophet among you,
    I, the Lord, reveal(A) myself to them in visions,(B)
    I speak to them in dreams.(C)

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21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring(A) of the Urim(B) before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

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When you ask, you do not receive,(A) because you ask with wrong motives,(B) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

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Her gates(A) have sunk into the ground;
    their bars(B) he has broken and destroyed.
Her king and her princes are exiled(C) among the nations,
    the law(D) is no more,
and her prophets(E) no longer find
    visions(F) from the Lord.

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31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.(A)

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20 But after he had considered this, an angel(A) of the Lord appeared to him in a dream(B) and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

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Rebellious Israel Purged

20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire(A) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.(B)

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to the elders(C) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire(D) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.(E)

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28 Let the prophet who has a dream(A) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word(B) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord.

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About Levi(A) he said:

“Your Thummim and Urim(B) belong
    to your faithful servant.(C)
You tested(D) him at Massah;
    you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.(E)

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30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim(A) in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

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27 Do not boast(A) about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.(B)

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
    an outsider, and not your own lips.(C)

Stone is heavy and sand(D) a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
    but who can stand before jealousy?(E)

Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses.(F)

One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
    but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

Like a bird that flees its nest(G)
    is anyone who flees from home.

Perfume(H) and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster(I) strikes you—
    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;(J)
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.(K)

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(L)

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.(M)

14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
    it will be taken as a curse.

15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping(N)
    of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
    or grasping oil with the hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,(O)
    and whoever protects their master will be honored.(P)

19 As water reflects the face,
    so one’s life reflects the heart.[a]

20 Death and Destruction[b] are never satisfied,(Q)
    and neither are human eyes.(R)

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(S)
    but people are tested by their praise.

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
    grinding them like grain with a pestle,
    you will not remove their folly from them.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,(T)
    give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,(U)
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

28 The wicked flee(V) though no one pursues,(W)
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.(X)

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

A ruler[c] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
    but those who heed it resist them.

Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.(Y)

A discerning son heeds instruction,
    but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(Z)

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(AA) or profit from the poor
    amasses it for another,(AB) who will be kind to the poor.(AC)

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
    even their prayers are detestable.(AD)

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,(AE)
    but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
    one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;(AF)
    but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.(AG)

13 Whoever conceals their sins(AH) does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses(AI) and renounces them finds mercy.(AJ)

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
    will seek refuge(AK) in the grave;
    let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,(AL)
    but the one whose ways are perverse will fall(AM) into the pit.[d]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.(AN)

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
    but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(AO)

21 To show partiality(AP) is not good(AQ)
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.(AR)

22 The stingy are eager to get rich
    and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(AS)

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
    rather than one who has a flattering tongue.(AT)

24 Whoever robs their father or mother(AU)
    and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is partner to one who destroys.(AV)

25 The greedy stir up conflict,(AW)
    but those who trust in the Lord(AX) will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,(AY)
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.(AZ)

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,(BA)
    but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.(BB)

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;(BC)
    but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:19 Or so others reflect your heart back to you
  2. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon
  3. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person
  4. Proverbs 28:18 Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew into one

Purpose and Theme

The proverbs(A) of Solomon(B) son of David, king of Israel:(C)

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

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

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(M) to your father’s(N) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(O)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(P)

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)

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(AE)
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[d] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
  2. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
  3. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.
  4. Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners

We are given no signs from God;(A)
    no prophets(B) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.

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20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper.[a] Mount them in gold filigree settings.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 28:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.

And God spoke to Israel(A) in a vision at night(B) and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”

“Here I am,”(C) he replied.

“I am God, the God of your father,”(D) he said. “Do not be afraid(E) to go down to Egypt,(F) for I will make you into a great nation(G) there.(H) I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.(I) And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.(J)

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12 He had a dream(A) in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.(B) 13 There above it[a] stood the Lord,(C) and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.(D) I will give you and your descendants the land(E) on which you are lying.(F) 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you(G) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.(H) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[b](I) 15 I am with you(J) and will watch over you(K) wherever you go,(L) and I will bring you back to this land.(M) I will not leave you(N) until I have done what I have promised you.(O)(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 28:13 Or There beside him
  2. Genesis 28:14 Or will use your name and the name of your offspring in blessings (see 48:20)

14 For God does speak(A)—now one way, now another(B)
    though no one perceives it.(C)
15 In a dream,(D) in a vision(E) of the night,(F)
    when deep sleep(G) falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak(H) in their ears
    and terrify them(I) with warnings,(J)

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13 Saul died(A) because he was unfaithful(B) to the Lord; he did not keep(C) the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium(D) for guidance, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned(E) the kingdom(F) over to David son of Jesse.

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