Proverbs 1

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:	1 The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,
2 for learning what wisdom and discipline are, for understanding words of deep meaning,	2 in order to know wisdom and discipline,
3 for acquiring a disciplined insight, uprightness, justice and fair dealing;	3 to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,
4 for teaching sound judgement to the simple, and knowledge and reflection to the young;	4 so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.
5 Let the wise listen and learn yet more, and a person of discernment wil acquire the art of guidance.	5 By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.
6 for perceiving the meaning of proverbs and obscure sayings, the sayings of the sages and their riddles.	6 He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.
7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; fools spurn wisdom and discipline.	7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.
8 Listen, my child, to your father's instruction, do not reject your mother's teaching:	8 Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,
9 they wil be a crown of grace for your head, a circlet for your neck.	9 so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.
10 My child, if sinners try to seduce you, do not go with them.	10 My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.
11 If they say, 'Come with us: let us lie in ambush to shed blood; if we plan an ambush for the innocentwithout provocation,	11 If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.
12 we can swal ow them alive, like Sheol, and whole, like those who sink into oblivion.	12 Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit.
13 We shal find treasures of every sort, we shall fil our houses with plunder;	13 We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.
14 throw in your lot with us: one purse between us al .'	14 Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”
15 My child, do not fol ow them in their way, keep your steps out of their path	15 My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.
16 for their feet hasten to evil, they are quick to shed blood;	16 For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 for the net is spread in vain if any winged creature can see it.	17 But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.
18 It is for their own blood such people lie in wait, their ambush is against their own selves!	18 Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.
19 Such are the paths of al who seek dishonest gain: which robs of their lives al who take it for their own.	19 Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.
20 Wisdom cal s aloud in the streets, she raises her voice in the public squares;	20 Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.
21 she cal s out at the street corners, she delivers her message at the city gates.	21 She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:
22 'You simple people, how much longer will you cling to your simple ways? How much longer willmockers revel in their mocking and fools go on hating knowledge?	22 “Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent hate knowledge?
23 Pay attention to my warning. To you I wil pour out my heart and tel you what I have to say.	23 Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.
24 Since I have cal ed and you have refused me, since I have beckoned and no one has taken notice,	24 For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.
25 since you have ignored al my advice and rejected al my warnings,	25 You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.
26 I, for my part, shall laugh at your distress, I shal jeer when terror befal s you,	26 Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.
27 when terror befal s you, like a storm, when your distress arrives, like a whirlwind, when ordeal andanguish bear down on you.	27 When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,
28 Then they will cal me, but I shal not answer, they wil look eagerly for me and will not find me.	28 then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.
29 They have hated knowledge, they have not chosen the fear of Yahweh,	29 For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;
30 they have taken no notice of my advice, they have spurned al my warnings:	30 they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.
31 so they wil have to eat the fruits of their own ways of life, and choke themselves with their ownscheming.	31 Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.
32 For the errors of the simple lead to their death, the complacency of fools works their own ruin;	32 The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.
33 but whoever listens to me may live secure, will have quiet, fearing no mischance.'	33 But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”