Proverbs 1

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