Daily Bible Reading

The Beginning of Knowledge

1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

3to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

6to understand a proverb and a saying,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The Enticement of Sinners

8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,

and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

9for they are a graceful garland for your head

and pendants for your neck.

10My son, if sinners entice you,

do not consent.

11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;

let us ambush the innocent without reason;

12like Sheol let us swallow them alive,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

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,

16for their feet run to evil,

and they make haste to shed blood.

17For in vain is a net spread

in the sight of any bird,

18but these men lie in wait for their own blood;

they set an ambush for their own lives.

19Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;

it takes away the life of its possessors.

The Call of Wisdom

20Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice;

21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

22“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?

23If you turn at my reproof,

behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

24Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

25because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

26I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when terror strikes you,

27when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

28Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

29Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

30would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

31therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

32For the simple are killed by their turning away,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

33but whoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Purpose and Theme

1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2for gaining wisdom and instruction;

for understanding words of insight;

3for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

doing what is right and just and fair;

4for giving prudence to those who are simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young—

5let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

6for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

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

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

9They are a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

10My son, if sinful men entice you,

do not give in to them.

11If they say, “Come along with us;

let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,

let’s ambush some harmless soul;

12let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13we will get all sorts of valuable things

and fill our houses with plunder;

14cast lots with us;

we will all share the loot”—

15my son, do not go along with them,

do not set foot on their paths;

16for their feet rush into evil,

they are swift to shed blood.

17How useless to spread a net

where every bird can see it!

18These men lie in wait for their own blood;

they ambush only themselves!

19Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;

it takes away the life of those who get it.

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,

she raises her voice in the public square;

21on top of the wall she cries out,

at the city gate she makes her speech:

22“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?

How long will mockers delight in mockery

and fools hate knowledge?

23Repent at my rebuke!

Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,

I will make known to you my teachings.

24But since you refuse to listen when I call

and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,

25since you disregard all my advice

and do not accept my rebuke,

26I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;

I will mock when calamity overtakes you—

27when calamity overtakes you like a storm,

when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,

when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;

they will look for me but will not find me,

29since they hated knowledge

and did not choose to fear the Lord.

30Since they would not accept my advice

and spurned my rebuke,

31they will eat the fruit of their ways

and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

32For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33but whoever listens to me will live in safety

and be at ease, without fear of harm.”