| 1:1 | These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king-- |
| 1:2 | Written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it's going; |
| 1:3 | A manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair; |
| 1:4 | To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. |
| 1:5 | There's something here also for seasoned men and women, |
| 1:6 | still a thing or two for the experienced to learn--Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women. |
| 1:7 | Start with GOD--the first step in learning is bowing down to GOD; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. |
| 1:8 | Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother's knee. |
| 1:9 | Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair, like rings on your fingers. |
| 1:10 | Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don't go along with them. |
| 1:11 | If they say--"Let's go out and raise some hell. Let's beat up some old man, mug some old woman. |
| 1:12 | Let's pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals. |
| 1:13 | We'll load up on top-quality loot. We'll haul it home by the truckload. |
| 1:14 | Join us for the time of your life! With us, it's share and share alike!"-- |
| 1:15 | Oh, friend, don't give them a second look; don't listen to them for a minute. |
| 1:16 | They're racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on. |
| 1:17 | Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, |
| 1:18 | Yet that's what these people are doing--they're doing themselves in. |
| 1:19 | When you grab all you can get, that's what happens: the more you get, the less you are. |
| 1:20 | Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. |
| 1:21 | In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out: |
| 1:22 | "Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn? |
| 1:23 | About face! I can revise your life. Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you; I'm ready to tell you all I know. |
| 1:24 | As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear; I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me. |
| 1:25 | "Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice, |
| 1:26 | How can I take you seriously? I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles! |
| 1:27 | What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces? What if catastrophe strikes and there's nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes? |
| 1:28 | You'll need me then. You'll call for me, but don't expect an answer. No matter how hard you look, you won't find me. |
| 1:29 | "Because you hated Knowledge and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-GOD, |
| 1:30 | Because you wouldn't take my advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you, |
| 1:31 | Well, you've made your bed--now lie in it; you wanted your own way--now, how do you like it? |
| 1:32 | Don't you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. |
| 1:33 | First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy--you're in good hands." |
Amsal 1 - The Message Bible
