Book of Proverbs, Chapter 1
Chapter 1 of Proverbs
understand words of insight,
righteousness, justice, and equity;
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
and the man of understanding acquire skill,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
and reject not your mother’s teaching;
and pendants for your neck.
do not consent.
let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
and whole, like those who go down to the Pit:
we shall fill our houses with spoil;
we will all have one purse”—
hold back your foot from their paths;
and they make haste to shed blood.
in the sight of any bird;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
it takes away the life of its possessors.
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
behold, I will pour out my thoughts[c] to you;
I will make my words known to you.
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
and would have none of my reproof,
I will mock when panic strikes you,
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
and despised all my reproof,
and be sated with their own devices.
and the complacence of fools destroys them;
and will be at ease, without dread of evil.”FOOTNOTES
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