微读圣经

The Purpose of Proverbs

1The proverbs of Solomon 1Kg 4:32; Pr 10:1; 25:1; Ec 12:9 son of David, king of Israel:

2For learning what wisdom and discipline are;

for understanding insightful sayings;

3for receiving wise instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity; Pr 2:9

4for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, Or simple, or gullible Pr 8:5

knowledge and discretion Pr 2:11; 3:21 to a young man —

5a wise man will listen and increase his learning, Pr 9:9; 16:21,23

and a discerning man will obtain guidance —

6for understanding a proverb or a parable, Or an enigma

the words of the wise, and their riddles. Nm 12:8; Jdg 14:12; Ps 49:4; Hab 2:6

7The fear of the Lord

is the beginning of knowledge; Jb 28:28; Ps 111:10; Pr 9:10; 15:33

fools despise wisdom and discipline. Eph 5:17

Avoid the Path of the Violent

8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, Pr 6:20; 31:1

9for they will be a garland Pr 4:9 of grace on your head

and a gold chain around your neck. Gn 41:42; Pr 6:21; Dn 5:29

10My son, if sinners entice you, Pr 16:29

don’t be persuaded. Ps 141:4

11If they say — “Come with us!

Let’s set an ambush Pr 12:6; Jr 5:26 and kill someone. Lit Let’s ambush for blood

Let’s attack some innocent person Ps 10:8 just for fun! Lit person for no reason

12Let’s swallow them alive, Ps 124:3 like Sheol,

still healthy as they go down to the Pit. Ps 28:1

13We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder. Pr 24:4

14Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share our money” Lit us; one bag will be for all of us —

15my son, don’t travel that road with them Ps 1:1; Pr 4:14

or set foot on their path, Ps 119:101; Pr 16:19

16because their feet run toward trouble

and they hurry to commit murder. Lit to shed blood Pr 6:17-18; Is 59:7; Rm 3:15

17It is foolish to spread a net

where any bird can see it,

18but they set an ambush to kill themselves; Lit they ambush for their blood

they attack their own lives.

19Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; Pr 15:27; Ezk 22:27; Hab 2:6-12

it takes the lives of those who receive it. Lit takes the life of its masters

Wisdom’s Plea

20Wisdom calls out in the street;

she raises her voice in the public squares. Pr 8:1-3; 9:3

21She cries out above Lit at the head of the commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

22“How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers Ps 1:1 enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge? Jb 21:14; Pr 1:29; 5:12

23If you respond to my warning, Lit back to my reprimand Pr 3:11; 15:5,31-32

then I will pour out my spirit on you Jl 2:28

and teach you my words.

24Since I called out and you refused, Is 65:12; 66:4; Jr 7:13; Zch 7:11

extended my hand and no one paid attention, Is 65:2; Rm 10:21

25since you neglected all my counsel Ps 107:11; Lk 7:30

and did not accept my correction,

26I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. Ps 2:4

I will mock when terror strikes you,

27when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when trouble and stress overcome you.

28Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will search for me, but won’t find me. 1Sm 8:18

29Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear the Lord, Pr 1:7

30were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction, Pr 5:12; 15:5

31they will eat the fruit of their way Jr 6:19

and be glutted with their own schemes. Pr 14:14; 28:19

32For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them, Jr 2:19

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will live securely

and be free from the fear of danger.” Ps 112:7-8; Pr 3:24-26