Proverbs 1

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,	1 The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 in order to know wisdom and discipline,	2 That men may appreciate wisdom and discipline, may understand words of intelligence;
3 to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,	3 May receive training in wise conduct, in what is right, just and honest;
4 so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.	4 That resourcefulness may be imparted to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.	5 A wise man by hearing them will advance in learning, an intelligent man will gain sound guidance,
6 He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.	6 That he may comprehend proverb and parable, the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.	7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise.
8 Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,	8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching;
9 so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.	9 A graceful diadem will they be for your head; a torque for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.	10 My son, should sinners entice you,
11 If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.	11 and say, "Come along with us! Let us lie in wait for the honest man, let us, unprovoked, set a trap for the innocent;
12 Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit.	12 Let us swallow them up, as the nether world does, alive, in the prime of life, like those who go down to the pit!
13 We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.	13 All kinds of precious wealth shall we gain, we shall fill our houses with booty;
14 Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”	14 Cast in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse!"--
15 My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.	15 My son, walk not in the way with them, hold back your foot from their path!
16 For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.	16 (For their feet run to evil, they hasten to shed blood.)
17 But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.	17 It is in vain that a net is spread before the eyes of any bird--
18 Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.	18 These men lie in wait for their own blood, they set a trap for their own lives.
19 Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.	19 This is the fate of everyone greedy of loot: unlawful gain takes away the life of him who acquires it.
20 Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.	20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the open squares she raises her voice;
21 She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:	21 Down the crowded ways she calls out, at the city gates she utters her words:
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?	22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love inanity,
23 Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.	23 how long will you turn away at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will acquaint you with my words.
24 For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.	24 "Because I called and you refused, I extended my hand and no one took notice;
25 You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.	25 Because you disdained all my counsel, and my reproof you ignored--
26 Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.	26 I, in my turn, will laugh at your doom; I will mock when terror overtakes you;
27 When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,	27 When terror comes upon you like a storm, and your doom approaches like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish befall you.
28 then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.	28 "Then they call me, but I answer not; they seek me, but find me not;
29 For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;	29 Because they hated knowledge, and chose not the fear of the LORD;
30 they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.	30 They ignored my counsel, they spurned all my reproof; And in their arrogance they preferred arrogance, and like fools they hated knowledge:
31 Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.	31 "Now they must eat the fruit of their own way, and with their own devices be glutted.
32 The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.	32 For the self-will of the simple kills them, the smugness of fools destroys them.
33 But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”	33 But he who obeys me dwells in security, in peace, without fear of harm."