The Purpose of Proverbs
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These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
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Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
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Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
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These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
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Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
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by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
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Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom
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My child, listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
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What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.
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My child, if sinners entice you,
turn your back on them!
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They may say, “Come and join us.
Let’s hide and kill someone!
Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
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Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave;
let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
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Think of the great things we’ll get!
We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
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Come, throw in your lot with us;
we’ll all share the loot.”
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My child, don’t go along with them!
Stay far away from their paths.
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They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder.
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If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away.
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But these people set an ambush for themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed.
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Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
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Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
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She calls to the crowds along the main street,
to those gathered in front of the city gate:
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“How long, you simpletons,
will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
How long will you fools hate knowledge?
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Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
and make you wise.
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“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
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You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.
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So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
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when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,
and anguish and distress overwhelm you.
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“When they cry for help, I will not answer.
Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
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For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the Lord.
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They rejected my advice
and paid no attention when I corrected them.
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Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
choking on their own schemes.
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For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
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But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”
Source: NLT (New Living Translation)
