1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: (1مل 4:32; أم 10:1; أم 25:1; جا 12:9)2To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; (أم 2:9)4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— (أم 2:11; أم 3:21; أم 8:5; أم 14:15; أم 14:18)5Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, (أم 9:9)6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. (قض 14:12; مز 78:2; أم 22:17)7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (أي 28:28; أم 9:10; أم 15:33)
The Enticement of Sinners
8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, (مز 34:11; أم 6:20; أف 6:1)9for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. (تك 41:42; أم 3:22; أم 4:9; دا 5:29)10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. (أم 16:29)11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; (مز 10:8; مز 64:5; أم 1:18; أم 12:6; إر 5:26)12like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; (عد 16:32; مز 28:1; مز 124:3)13we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;14throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—15my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, (مز 1:1; مز 119:101; أم 4:14; أم 24:1)16for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. (أم 6:18; إش 59:7; رو 3:15)17For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, (أي 40:24)18but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. (أم 1:11)19Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. (أي 8:13; أم 15:27; 1تي 6:10)
The Call of Wisdom
20Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; (أم 8:1; أم 9:3; يو 7:37)21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: (أم 8:3)22“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? (أي 21:14; مز 1:1; أم 1:4; أم 1:29; أم 5:12)23If you turn at my reproof,[1] behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (يؤ 2:28; أع 2:17)24Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, (إش 65:12; إش 66:4; إر 7:13; زك 7:11; رو 10:21)25because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, (مز 81:11; مز 107:11; لو 7:30)26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, (مز 2:4; أم 10:24; إر 48:43; إر 49:5)27when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. (صف 1:15)28Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. (1صم 8:18; أي 27:9)29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, (أي 21:14; أم 1:22)30would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, (أم 1:25)31therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. (أي 4:8; أم 14:14; إش 3:11; إر 6:19)32For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; (مز 73:18; إر 2:19)33but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (مز 25:12; مز 112:7)