Provérbios 1

The Beginning of Knowledge

1 The *1 Kin. 4:32; Prov. 10:1; 25:1; Eccl. 12:9proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

To perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,

Justice, judgment, and equity;

4 To give prudence to the *Prov. 9:4simple,

To the young man knowledge and discretion—

5 *Prov. 9:9A wise man will hear and increase learning,

And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,

The words of the wise and their *Num. 12:8; Ps. 78:2; Dan. 8:23riddles.

7 *Job 28:28; Ps. 111:10; Prov. 9:10; 15:33; (Eccl. 12:13)The fear of the Lordis the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Shun Evil Counsel

8 *Prov. 4:1My son, hear the instruction of your father,

And do not forsake the law of your mother;

9 For they willbe a *Prov. 3:22graceful ornament on your head,

And chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,

*Gen. 39:7–10; Deut. 13:8; Ps. 50:18; (Eph. 5:11)Do not consent.

11 If they say, "Come with us,

Let us *Prov. 12:6; Jer. 5:26lie in wait to shed blood;

Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,

And whole, *Ps. 28:1like those who go down to the Pit;

13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,

We shall fill our houses with spoil;

14 Cast in your lot among us,

Let us all have one purse"—

15 My son, *Ps. 1:1; Prov. 4:14do not walk in the way with them,

*Ps. 119:101Keep your foot from their path;

16 *Prov. 6:17, 18; (Is. 59:7); Rom. 3:15For their feet run to evil,

And they make haste to shed blood.

17 Surely, in vain the net is spread

In the sight of any bird;

18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,

They lurk secretly for their own lives.

19 *Prov. 15:27; (1 Tim. 6:10)So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;

It takes away the life of its owners.

The Call of Wisdom

20 *Prov. 8:1; 9:3; (John 7:37)Wisdom calls aloud outside;

She raises her voice in the open squares.

21 She cries out in the chief concourses,

At the openings of the gates in the city

She speaks her words:

22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

For scorners delight in their scorning,

And fools hate knowledge.

23 Turn at my rebuke;

Surely *Is. 32:15; Joel 2:28; (John 7:39)I will pour out my spirit on you;

I will make my words known to you.

24 *Is. 65:12; 66:4; Jer. 7:13; Zech. 7:11Because I have called and you refused,

I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

25 Because you *Ps. 107:11; Luke 7:30disdained all my counsel,

And would have none of my rebuke,

26 *Ps. 2:4I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when your terror comes,

27 When *(Prov. 10:24, 25)your terror comes like a storm,

And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,

When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 "Then*1 Sam. 8:18; Job 27:9; 35:12; Ps. 18:41; Is. 1:15; Jer. 11:11; 14:12; Ezek. 8:18; Mic. 3:4; Zech. 7:13; (James 4:3) they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

29 Because they *Job 21:14; Prov. 1:22hated knowledge

And did not *Ps. 119:173choose the fear of the Lord,

30 *Ps. 81:11; Prov. 1:25They would have none of my counsel

And despised my every rebuke.

31 Therefore *Job 4:8; Prov. 5:22, 23; 22:8; Is. 3:11; Jer. 6:19they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,

And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 But whoever listens to me will dwell *Prov. 3:24–26safely,

And *Ps. 112:7will be secure, without fear of evil."