Login Register
(skip to chapter 2)
(skip to chapter 3)
(skip to chapter 4)
of King Solomon of Israel,
the son of David.
2Proverbs will teach you
wisdom and self-control
and how to understand
sayings with deep meanings.
3You will learn what is right
and honest and fair.
4From these, an ordinary person
can learn to be smart,
and young people can gain
knowledge and good sense.
5If you are already wise,
you will become even wiser.
And if you are smart,
you will learn to understand
6proverbs and sayings,
as well as words of wisdom
and all kinds of riddles.
7Respect and obey the LORD!
This is the beginning
of knowledge. Only a fool rejects wisdom
and good advice.
of your parents,
9and wear their teachings
as you would a lovely hat
or a pretty necklace.
10Don't be tempted by sinners
or listen 11when they say,
"Come on! Let's gang up
and kill somebody,
just for the fun of it!
12They're well and healthy now,
but we'll finish them off
once and for all.
13We'll take their valuables
and fill our homes
with stolen goods.
14If you join our gang,
you'll get your share."
15Don't follow anyone like that
or do what they do.
16They are in a big hurry
to commit some crime,
perhaps even murder.
17They are like a bird
that sees the bait,
but ignores the trap. 18They gang up to murder someone,
but they are the victims.
19The wealth you get from crime
robs you of your life.
21She shouts in the marketplaces
and near the city gates
as she says to the people,
22"How much longer
will you enjoy
being stupid fools?
Won't you ever stop sneering
and laughing at knowledge?
23Listen as I correct you
and tell you what I think.
24You completely ignored me
and refused to listen;
25you rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.
26"So when you are struck
by some terrible disaster,
27or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
I will laugh and make fun.
28You will ask for my help,
but I won't listen;
you will search,
but you won't find me.
29No, you would not learn,
and you refused
to respect the LORD.
30You rejected my advice
31"Now you will eat the fruit
of what you have done,
until you are stuffed full
with your own schemes.
32Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
to stupid fools.
33But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
without fear of disaster."
Back to Top
and treasure
my teachings
and my instructions.
2Keep in tune with wisdom
and think what it means
to have common sense.
3Beg as loud as you can
for good common sense.
4Search for wisdom
as you would search for silver
or hidden treasure.
5Then you will understand
what it means to respect
and to know the LORD God.
6All wisdom comes from the LORD,
and so do common sense
and understanding.
7God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him
and protects all of those
who live as they should.
8God sees that justice is done,
and he watches over everyone
who is faithful to him.
9With wisdom you will learn
what is right
10Wisdom will control your mind,
and you will be pleased
with knowledge.
11Sound judgment and good sense
will watch over you.
12Wisdom will protect you
from evil schemes
and from those liars
13who turned from doing good
to live in the darkness.
14Most of all they enjoy
being mean and deceitful.
15They are dishonest themselves,
and all they do is crooked.
from the smooth talk
of a sinful woman,
17who breaks her wedding vows
and leaves the man she married
when she was young.
18The road to her house leads
down
to the dark world
of the dead.
19Visit her, and you will never
find the road to life again.
20Follow the example
of good people
and live an honest life.
21If you are honest and innocent,
you will keep your land;
22if you do wrong
and can never be trusted,
you will be rooted out.
Back to the Top
my teachings and instructions
and obey them completely.
2They will help you live
a long and prosperous life.
3Let love and loyalty
always show like a necklace,
and write them in your mind.
4God and people will like you
and consider you a success.
5With all your heart
you must trust the LORD
and not your own judgment.
6Always let him lead you,
and he will clear the road
for you to follow.
7Don't ever think that you
are wise enough,
but respect the LORD
and stay away from evil.
8This will make you healthy,
and you will feel strong.
9Honor the LORD by giving him
your money
and the first part
of all your crops.
10Then you will have
more grain and grapes
than you will ever need.
11My child, don't turn away
or become bitter
when the LORD corrects you.
12The LORD corrects
everyone he loves,
just as parents correct
their favorite child.
who has wisdom
and common sense.
14Wisdom is worth more
than silver;
it makes you much richer
than gold.
15Wisdom is more valuable
than precious jewels;
nothing you want
compares with her.
16In her right hand
Wisdom holds a long life,
and in her left hand
are wealth and honor.
17Wisdom makes life pleasant
and leads us safely along.
18Wisdom is a life-giving tree,
the source of happiness
for all who hold on to her.
19By his wisdom and knowledge
the LORD created
heaven and earth.
20By his understanding
he let the ocean break loose
and clouds release the rain.
21My child, use common sense
and sound judgment!
Always keep them in mind.
22They will help you to live
a long and beautiful life.
23You will walk safely
and never stumble;
24you will rest without a worry
and sleep soundly.
25So don't be afraid
of sudden disasters
or storms that strike
those who are evil.
26You can be sure
that the LORD
will protect you from harm.
27Do all you can for everyone
who deserves your help.
28Don't tell your neighbor
to come back tomorrow,
if you can help today.
29Don't try to be mean
to neighbors who trust you.
30Don't argue just to be arguing,
when you haven't been hurt.
31Don't be jealous
of cruel people
or follow their example.
32The LORD doesn't like
anyone who is dishonest,
but he lets good people
be his friends.
33He places a curse on the home
of everyone who is evil,
but he blesses the home
of every good person.
34The LORD sneers at those
who sneer at him,
but he is kind to everyone
who is humble.
35You will be praised
if you are wise,
but you will be disgraced
if you are a stubborn fool.
to my teachings
and learn common sense.
2My advice is useful,
so don't turn away.
3When I was still very young
and my mother's favorite child,
my father 4said to me:
"If you follow my teachings
and keep them in mind,
you will live.
5Be wise and learn good sense;
remember my teachings
and do what I say.
6If you love Wisdom
and don't reject her,
she will watch over you.
7The best thing about Wisdom
is Wisdom herself;
good sense is more important
than anything else.
8If you value Wisdom
and hold tightly to her,
great honors will be yours.
9It will be like wearing
a glorious crown
of beautiful flowers.
and obey my teachings,
you will live a long time.
11I have shown you the way
that makes sense;
I have guided you
along the right path.
12Your road won't be blocked,
and you won't stumble
when you run.
13Hold firmly to my teaching
and never let go.
It will mean life for you.
14Don't follow the bad example
of cruel and evil people.
15Turn aside and keep going.
Stay away from them.
16They can't sleep or rest
until they do wrong
or harm
some innocent victim.
17Their food and drink
are violence and cruelty.
18The lifestyle of good people
is like sunlight at dawn
that keeps getting brighter
until broad daylight.
19The lifestyle of the wicked
is like total darkness,
and they will never know
what makes them stumble.
20My child, listen carefully
to everything I say.
21Don't forget a single word,
but think about it all.
22Knowing these teachings
will mean true life
and good health for you.
23Carefully guard your thoughts
because they are the source
of true life.
24Never tell lies or be deceitful
in what you say.
25Keep looking straight ahead,
without turning aside.
26Know where you are headed,
and you will stay
on solid ground.
27Don't make a mistake by turning
to the right or the left.