The Value of Proverbs
1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.
2 Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning. 3 They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. 4 They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. 5 These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated, 6 so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.
Advice to the Young
7 To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.
8 My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you. 9 Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.
10 My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in. 11 Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it! 12 They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them! 13 We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot! 14 Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”
15 My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them. 16 They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill. 17 It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching, 18 but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die. 19 Robbery always claims the life of the robber—this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.
Wisdom Calls
20 Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces, 21 calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:
22 “Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn? 23 Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you. 24 I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. 25 You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you. 26 So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes— 27 when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery. 28 Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me. 29 You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord. 30 You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. 31 So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick. 32 Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern. 33 But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”
Prologs
1 Sālamana, Dāvida dēla, Israēla ķēniņa, sakāmvārdi,
2 kur izzināt gudrību, smelt pamācību,
kur uzzināt gudro izteicienus,
3 kur skoloties prātā, taisnībā,
tiesā un krietnumā,
4 kur vientiešiem atjautu gūt
un jauneklim zinības un izmanību.
5 Klausīsies gudrais un pieņemsies zināšanā,
un sapratējs padomu dabūs,
6 kā iztulkot sakāmvārdu un līdzību,
gudro runas un viņu mīklas.
7 Bijāt Kungu – zinību pamats!
Gan gudrību, gan pamācību muļķi nīst!
Brīdinājums no ļauniem biedriem
8 Ieklausies, dēls, sava tēva pamācībās,
neatmet, ko māte tev māca,
9 tas jauks vainags tavai galvai
un rota tavam kaklam!
10 Dēls, ja grēcinieki tevi vilina,
tu neļaujies!
11 Kad tie saka:
nāc mums līdzi, uzglūnēsim asinis izliet,
uzklupsim šķīstajiem, kas bez vainas,
12 kā šeols aprīsim tos dzīvus,
veselus aizrausim bedrē,
13 dārgas mantas sev gūsim,
pildīsim namus ar laupījumu,
14 tu metīsi lozi kopā ar mums,
viens maks būs mums visiem! –
15 Dēls, neej vienu ceļu ar tiem,
nesper kāju uz viņu takas,
16 jo viņu kājas uz nelaimi skrien,
kad tie steidz asinis izliet!
17 Ko dod, ka tīkls plests
ik putnam acu priekšā –
18 tie paši savām asinīm uzglūn,
uzklūp paši savai dzīvībai!
19 Tā iziet visiem, kas grābtin grābj, –
viņu dzīvība izput!
Gudrības saukšana
20 Gudrība ielās kliedz,
laukumos ceļ balsi,
21 kņadas vidū sauc,
pie pilsētas vārtiem teic savas runas:
22 vientieši, cik ilgi mīlēsiet vientiesību,
un jūs, mēdītāji, tīkosiet izsmiet,
un, muļķi, nīdīsiet zināšanu?
23 Uzklausiet, kad jūs rāju, –
redzi, pār jums izliešu savu garu,
sacīšu jums, ko gribu teikt!
24 Es saucu – bet jūs novērsāties,
es izstiepu roku – neviens nepalūkojās!
25 Jūs atmetāt visus manus padomus,
kad jūs rāju, jums vienalga,
26 tad arī es –
par jūsu nelaimēm smiešos,
jūs izzobošu, kad jums būs bail,
27 kad kā vētra jums uznāks bailes
un nelaime kā viesulis uzbruks,
kad pār jums nāks posts un mokas.
28 Tad tie sauks mani, bet es neatsaukšos,
tie meklēs mani, bet neatradīs,
29 jo tie ienīda zināšanu
un bijāt Kunga nevēlējās,
30 mans padoms tiem – vienaldzīgs,
kad vien tos rāju, tie ņirdza par mani!
31 Nu tie ēdīs, ko izaudzējuši,
no pašu viltībām būs sāti –
32 jo vientiešu aušība tos nokauj
un muļķus bezrūpība pazudina!
33 Bet, kas mani klausa, tas dzīvos drošs
un savā rimtumā nebīsies ļauna!
