Read the Bible

Introduction

¹ These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. ² They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings. ³ They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way. You will learn to do what is right and to be honest and fair. ⁴ These proverbs will make even those without education smart. They will teach young people what they need to know and how to use what they have learned. ⁵ Even the wise could become wiser by listening to these proverbs. They will gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems. ⁶ These sayings will help you understand proverbs, stories with hidden meanings, words of the wise, and other difficult sayings.

⁷ Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.

Advice to a Son

⁸ My son,^[a] listen to your father when he corrects you, and don't ignore what your mother teaches you. ⁹ What you learn from your parents will bring you honor and respect, like a crown or a gold medal.^[b]

¹⁰ My son, those who love to do wrong will try to trick you. Don't listen to them. ¹¹ They will say, "Come with us. Let's hide and beat to death anyone who happens to walk by. ¹² We will swallow them whole, as the grave swallows the dying. ¹³ We will take everything they have and fill our houses with stolen goods. ¹⁴ So join us, and you can share everything we get."

¹⁵ My son, don't follow them. Don't even take the first step along that path. ¹⁶ They run to do something evil, and they cannot wait to kill someone.

¹⁷ You cannot trap birds with a net if they see you spreading it out. ¹⁸ But evil people cannot see the trap they set for themselves. ¹⁹ This is what happens to those who are greedy. Whatever they get destroys them.

The Good Woman—Wisdom

²⁰ Listen! Wisdom^[c] is shouting in the streets. She is crying out in the marketplace. ²¹ She is calling out where the noisy crowd gathers:

²² "Fools, how long will you love being ignorant? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge? ²³ I wanted to tell you everything I knew and give you all my knowledge, but you didn't listen to my advice and teaching.

²⁴ "I tried to help, but you refused to listen. I offered my hand, but you turned away from me. ²⁵ You ignored my advice and refused to be corrected. ²⁶ So I will laugh at your troubles and make fun of you when what you fear happens. ²⁷ Disasters will strike you like a storm. Problems will pound you like a strong wind. Trouble and misery will weigh you down.

²⁸ "Fools will call for me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me. ²⁹ That is because they hated knowledge. They refused to fear and respect the Lord. ³⁰ They ignored my advice and refused to be corrected. ³¹ They filled their lives with what they wanted. They went their own way, so they will get what they deserve.

³² "Fools die because they refuse to follow wisdom. They are content to follow their foolish ways, and that will destroy them. ³³ But those who listen to me will live in safety and comfort. They will have nothing to fear."