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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 1 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" 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href="../psalms/150.htm" title="Psalm 150">◄</a> Proverbs 1 <a href="../proverbs/2.htm" title="Proverbs 2">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/proverbs/1.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="proverbsmajorsection">Purpose and Theme</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:</p> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>for gaining wisdom and instruction;</p><p class="line2">for understanding words of insight;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,</p><p class="line2">doing what is right and just and fair;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>for giving prudence to those who are simple, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.">a</a></sup></span> </p><p class="line2">knowledge and discretion to the young—</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>let the wise listen and add to their learning,</p><p class="line2">and let the discerning get guidance—</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>for understanding proverbs and parables,</p><p class="line2">the sayings and riddles of the wise. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, and the sayings of the wise, their riddles">b</a></sup></span> </p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>The fear of the <span class="name">Lord</span> is the beginning of knowledge,</p><p class="line2">but fools <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.">c</a></sup></span> despise wisdom and instruction.</p></div> <p class="proverbsmajorsection">Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom</p><p class="sectionhead">Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction</p><p class="line2">and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>They are a garland to grace your head</p><p class="line2">and a chain to adorn your neck.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>My son, if sinful men entice you,</p><p class="line2">do not give in to them.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>If they say, “Come along with us;</p><p class="line2">let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,</p><p class="line2">let’s ambush some harmless soul;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,</p><p class="line2">and whole, like those who go down to the pit;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>we will get all sorts of valuable things</p><p class="line2">and fill our houses with plunder;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>cast lots with us;</p><p class="line2">we will all share the loot”—</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>my son, do not go along with them,</p><p class="line2">do not set foot on their paths;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>for their feet rush into evil,</p><p class="line2">they are swift to shed blood.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>How useless to spread a net</p><p class="line2">where every bird can see it!</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>These men lie in wait for their own blood;</p><p class="line2">they ambush only themselves!</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;</p><p class="line2">it takes away the life of those who get it.</p></div> <p class="sectionhead">Wisdom’s Rebuke</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,</p><p class="line2">she raises her voice in the public square;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>on top of the wall <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners">d</a></sup></span> she cries out,</p><p class="line2">at the city gate she makes her speech:</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?</p><p class="line2">How long will mockers delight in mockery</p><p class="line2">and fools hate knowledge?</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Repent at my rebuke!</p><p class="line2">Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,</p><p class="line2">I will make known to you my teachings.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>But since you refuse to listen when I call</p><p class="line2">and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>since you disregard all my advice</p><p class="line2">and do not accept my rebuke,</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;</p><p class="line2">I will mock when calamity overtakes you—</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>when calamity overtakes you like a storm,</p><p class="line2">when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,</p><p class="line2">when distress and trouble overwhelm you.</p></div> <div class="stanza"><p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;</p><p class="line2">they will look for me but will not find me,</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>since they hated knowledge</p><p class="line2">and did not choose to fear the <span class="name">Lord</span>.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Since they would not accept my advice</p><p class="line2">and spurned my rebuke,</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>they will eat the fruit of their ways</p><p class="line2">and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,</p><p class="line2">and the complacency of fools will destroy them;</p> <p class="line1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/1-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>but whoever listens to me will live in safety</p><p class="line2">and be at ease, without fear of harm.”</p></div><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">4</span> <span class="footnotebot">The Hebrew word rendered <i>simple</i> in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">6</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>understanding a proverb, namely, a parable,<br />     and the sayings of the wise, their riddles</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">7</span> <span class="footnotebot">The Hebrew words rendered <i>fool</i> in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">21</span> <span class="footnotebot">Septuagint; Hebrew <i>/ at noisy street corners</i></span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a 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