RSV Proverbs 1 Chapter
1:1
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
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That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,
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receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;
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that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth --
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the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,
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to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;fools despise wisdom and instruction.
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Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching;
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for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.
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My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
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If they say, 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
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like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
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we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
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throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse' --
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my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;
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for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
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For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;
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but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives.
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Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence;it takes away the life of its possessors.
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Wisdom cries aloud in the street;in the markets she raises her voice;
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on the top of the walls she cries out;at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
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'How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
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Give heed to my reproof;behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you;I will make my words known to you.
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Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
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and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
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I also will laugh at your calamity;I will mock when panic strikes you,
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when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
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Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
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Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
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would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,
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therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.
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For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;
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but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil.'