Proverbs 1

1

The Prouerbes of Solomon the sonne of Dauid, King of Israel,

2

To knowe wisedome and instruction, to perceiue the words of vnderstanding,

3

To receiue the instruction of wisdome, iustice, and iudgement & equitie,

4

To giue subtiltie to the simple, to the yong man knowledge and discretion.

5

A wise man wil heare, and wil increase learning: and a man of vnderstanding shall attaine vnto wise counsels:

6

To vnderstand a prouerbe, and the interpretation; the wordes of the wise, and their darke sayings.

7

¶ The feare of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.

8

My sonne, heare the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.

9

For they shall be an ornament of grace vnto thy head, and chaines about thy necke.

10

¶ My sonne, if sinners entise thee, consent thou not.

11

If they say, Come with vs, let vs lay wait for blood, let vs lurke priuily for the innocent without cause:

12

Let vs swallow them vp aliue, as the graue, and whole, as those that goe downe into the pit:

13

Wee shall finde all precious substance, wee shall fill our houses with spoile:

14

Cast in thy lot among vs, let vs all haue one purse:

15

My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them; refraine thy foot from their path:

16

For their feete runne to euil, and make haste to shed blood.

17

Surely in vaine the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18

And they lay wait for their owne blood, they lurke priuily for their owne liues.

19

So are the waies of euery one that is greedie of gaine: which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20

¶ Wisedome crieth without, she vttereth her voice in the streets:

21

Shee crieth in the chiefe place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she vttereth her words, saying,

22

How long, ye simple ones, will ye loue simplicitie? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fooles hate knowledge?

23

Turne you at my reproofe: behold, I will powre out my spirit vnto you, I will make knowen my wordes vnto you.

24

¶ Because I haue called, and yee refused, I haue stretched out my hand, and no man regarded:

25

But ye haue set at nought all my counsell, & would none of my reproofe:

26

I also will laugh at your calamitie, I wil mocke when your feare commeth.

27

When your feare commeth as desolation, and your destruction commeth as a whirlewinde; when distresse and anguish commeth vpon you:

28

Then shall they call vpon mee, but I will not answere; they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me:

29

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the feare of the LORD.

30

They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproofe.

31

Therefore shall they eate of the fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuices.

32

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fooles shall destroy them.

33

But who so hearkneth vnto mee, shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from feare of euill.