Proverbs 1
Wise Sayings For Good Use
1These are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2They show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding.
3They help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair.
4They give wisdom to the child, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young.
5A wise man will hear and grow in learning. A man of understanding will become able
6to understand a saying and a picture, the words of the wise and what they mean.
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of much learning. Fools hate wisdom and teaching.
8Hear your father's teaching, my son, and do not turn away from your mother's teaching.
9For they are a glory to your head and a chain of beauty around your neck.
10My son, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not go with them.
11If they say, 'Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us set a trap for those who are without blame.
12Let us swallow them alive like death, as those who go down to the grave.
13We will find all kinds of things of great worth. We will fill our houses with the stolen riches.
14Throw in your share with us. We will all have one money bag.'
15My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path.
16For their feet run to sin and hurry to kill.
17Yes, the net is spread for nothing if the bird is watching.
18They set traps for their own lives and wait to die.
19Such are the ways of all who get things by hurting others. Their desire for stolen riches takes away their own lives.
20Wisdom calls out in the street. She lifts her voice in the center of town.
21There she cries out in the noisy streets. At the open gates of the city she speaks:
22'O foolish ones, how long will you love being foolish? How long will those who laugh at others be happy in their laughing? How long will fools hate much learning?
23Listen to my strong words! See, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.
24I called but you would not listen. I put out my hand and no one gave it a thought.
25You did not listen when I told you what you should do, and you would not hear any of my strong words.
26So I will laugh at your trouble. I will laugh when you are afraid.
27Fear will come to you like a storm. Hard times will come like a strong wind. When trouble and suffering come upon you,
28then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me.
29Because they hated much learning, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30They would not listen when I told them what they should do. They laughed at all my strong words.
31So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own plans.
32For the foolish will be killed by their turning away. The trust that fools put in themselves will destroy them.
33But he who listens to me will live free from danger, and he will rest easy from the fear of what is sinful.'
Proverbs 2
Wisdom Brings Safety
1My son, if you receive my sayings and store up my teachings within you,
2make your ear open to wisdom. Turn your heart to understanding.
3If you cry out to know right from wrong, and lift your voice for understanding;
4if you look for her as silver, and look for her as hidden riches;
5then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find what is known of God.
6For the Lord gives wisdom. Much learning and understanding come from His mouth.
7He stores up perfect wisdom for those who are right with Him. He is a safe-covering to those who are right in their walk.
8He watches over the right way, and He keeps safe the way of those who belong to Him.
9Then you will understand what is right and good, and right from wrong, and you will know what you should do.
10For wisdom will come into your heart. And much learning will be pleasing to your soul.
11Good thinking will keep you safe. Understanding will watch over you.
12You will be kept from the sinful man, and from the man who causes much trouble by what he says.
13You will be kept from the man who leaves the right way to walk in the ways of darkness,
14from the one who is happy doing wrong, and who finds joy in the way of sin.
15His ways are not straight and are not good.
16You will be saved from the strange woman, from the sinful woman with her smooth words.
17She leaves the husband she had when she was young, and forgets the agreement with her God.
18For her house goes down to death, and her steps lead to the dead.
19None who go to her return again, and they do not find the paths of life.
20So may you walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of those who are right and good.
21For those who are right with God will live in the land. The men without blame will stay in it,
22but the sinful will be destroyed from the land, and those who are not faithful will be taken away from it.
Proverbs 3
The Pay That Comes From Following Wisdom
1My son, do not forget my teaching. Let your heart keep my words.
2For they will add to you many days and years of life and peace.
3Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them upon your heart.
4So you will find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding.
6Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.
7Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from what is sinful.
8It will be healing to your body and medicine to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your riches, and with the first of all you grow.
10Then your store will be filled with many good things and your barrels will flow over with new wine.
11My son, listen when the Lord punishes you. Do not give up when He tells you what you must do.
12The Lord punishes everyone He loves. He whips every son He receives.
13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding.
14For it is better than getting silver and fine gold.
15She is worth more than stones of great worth. Nothing you can wish for compares with her.
16Long life is in her right hand. Riches and honor are in her left hand.
17Her ways are pleasing, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Happy are all who hold her near.
19The Lord built the earth by wisdom. He built the heavens by understanding.
20By what He knows, the seas were broken up and water falls from the sky.
21My son, do not allow them to leave your eyes. Keep perfect wisdom and careful thinking.
22And they will be life to your soul and a chain of beauty to your neck.
23Then you will be safe as you walk on your way, and your foot will not trip.
24You will not be afraid when you lie down. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25Do not be afraid of fear that comes all at once. And do not be afraid of the storm of the sinful when it comes.
26For the Lord will be your trust. He will keep your foot from being caught.
27Do not keep good from those who should have it, when it is in your power to do it.
28Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and return tomorrow, and I will give it,' when you have it with you.
29Do not plan for your neighbor to be hurt, while he trusts you enough to live beside you.
30Do not fight with a man for no reason, when he has done you no wrong.
31Do not be jealous of a man who hurts others, and do not choose any of his ways.
32For the bad man is hated by the Lord, but He is near to those who are right with Him.
33The punishment of the Lord is on the house of the sinful, but He makes good come to the house of those who are right with Him.
34God makes fun of those who make fun of the truth but gives loving to those who have no pride.
35Honor will be given to the wise, but shame will be given to fools.
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