Proverbs 1

All 33 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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  1. 1The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
  2. 2To know wisdom and instruction, and to understand words of insight;
  3. 3To receive instruction in wisdom, justice, judgment, and fairness;
  4. 4To give insight to the simple, and knowledge and discretion to the young.
  5. 5A wise person will listen and increase learning, and a person of understanding will gain wise counsel.
  6. 6to understand a proverb and its interpretation, the words of the wise and their riddles.
  7. 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  8. 8My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not abandon your mother's teaching,
  9. 9For they will be an ornament of grace for your head and chains around your neck.
  10. 10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
  11. 11If they say, 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause;
  12. 12let us swallow them alive like the grave, and whole, like those who go down into the pit;
  13. 13we will find all precious substance, we will fill our houses with plunder;
  14. 14Throw in your lot with us, and we will all share one purse.
  15. 15My son, do not walk with them; keep your foot from their path.
  16. 16For their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
  17. 17Surely it is useless to spread a net in full view of any bird.
  18. 18But they lie in wait for their own blood; they secretly ambush their own lives.
  19. 19Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.
  20. 20Wisdom cries out in public; she raises her voice in the streets.
  21. 21She cries out in the main public area, at the entrances of the gates; in the city she speaks her words:
  22. 22How long, you simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scorners delight in their mocking, and fools hate knowledge?
  23. 23Turn at my correction! Look, I will pour out my Spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
  24. 24Because I have called and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention,
  25. 25But you have disregarded all my advice and refused my correction.
  26. 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes;
  27. 27when your fear comes like a desolation, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you.
  28. 28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will search for me early, but they will not find me.
  29. 29because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
  30. 30They refused to accept my advice; they rejected all my correction.
  31. 31Therefore, they will eat the fruit of their own ways and be filled with their own schemes.
  32. 32For the turning away of the simple will kill them, and the prosperity of fools will destroy them.
  33. 33But whoever listens to me will live safely and will be free from fear of evil.
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