nkjv Proverbs:1-3 SEEK
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The proverbs of Solomon the son of David ,
king of Israel :
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To know wisdom and instruction ,
To perceive the words of understanding ,
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To receive the instruction of wisdom ,
Justice ,
judgment ,
and equity ;
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To give prudence to the simple ,
To the young man knowledge and discretion --
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A wise man will hear and increase learning ,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel ,
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To understand a proverb and an enigma ,
The words of the wise and their riddles .
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge ,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction .
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My son ,
hear the instruction of your father ,
And do not forsake the law of your mother ;
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For they will be a graceful ornament on your head ,
And chains about your neck .
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My son ,
if sinners entice you ,
Do not consent .
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If they say , "
Come with us ,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood ;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause ;
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Let us swallow them alive like Sheol ,
And whole ,
like those who go down to the Pit ;
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We shall find all kinds of precious possessions ,
We shall fill our houses with spoil ;
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Cast in your lot among us ,
Let us all have one purse "--
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My son ,
do not walk in the way with them ,
Keep your foot from their path ;
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For their feet run to evil ,
And they make haste to shed blood .
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Surely ,
in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird ;
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But they lie in wait for their own blood ,
They lurk secretly for their own lives .
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So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain ;
It takes away the life of its owners .
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Wisdom calls aloud outside ;
She raises her voice in the open squares .
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She cries out in the chief concourses ,
At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words :
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How long ,
you simple ones ,
will you love simplicity ?
For scorners delight in their scorning ,
And fools hate knowledge .
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Turn at my rebuke ;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you ;
I will make my words known to you .
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Because I have called and you refused ,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded ,
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Because you disdained all my counsel ,
And would have none of my rebuke ,
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I also will laugh at your calamity ;
I will mock when your terror comes ,
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When your terror comes like a storm ,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind ,
When distress and anguish come upon you .
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Then they will call on me ,
but I will not answer ;
They will seek me diligently ,
but they will not find me .
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Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD ,
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They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke .
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Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way ,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies .
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For the turning away of the simple will slay them ,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them ;
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But whoever listens to me will dwell safely ,
And will be secure ,
without fear of evil ."
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My son ,
if you receive my words ,
And treasure my commands within you ,
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So that you incline your ear to wisdom ,
And apply your heart to understanding ;
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Yes ,
if you cry out for discernment ,
And lift up your voice for understanding ,
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If you seek her as silver ,
And search for her as for hidden treasures ;
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Then you will understand the fear of the LORD ,
And find the knowledge of God .
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For the LORD gives wisdom ;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding ;
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He stores up sound wisdom for the upright ;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly ;
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He guards the paths of justice ,
And preserves the way of His saints .
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Then you will understand righteousness and justice ,
Equity and every good path .
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When wisdom enters your heart ,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul ,
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Discretion will preserve you ;
Understanding will keep you ,
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To deliver you from the way of evil ,
From the man who speaks perverse things ,
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From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness ;
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Who rejoice in doing evil ,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked ;
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Whose ways are crooked ,
And who are devious in their paths ;
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To deliver you from the immoral woman ,
From the seductress who flatters with her words ,
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Who forsakes the companion of her youth ,
And forgets the covenant of her God .
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For her house leads down to death ,
And her paths to the dead ;
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None who go to her return ,
Nor do they regain the paths of life --
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So you may walk in the way of goodness ,
And keep to the paths of righteousness .
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For the upright will dwell in the land ,
And the blameless will remain in it ;
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But the wicked will be cut off from the earth ,
And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it .
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My son ,
do not forget my law ,
But let your heart keep my commands ;
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For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you .
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Let not mercy and truth forsake you ;
Bind them around your neck ,
Write them on the tablet of your heart ,
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And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man .
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Trust in the LORD with all your heart ,
And lean not on your own understanding ;
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In all your ways acknowledge Him ,
And He shall direct your paths .
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Do not be wise in your own eyes ;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil .
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It will be health to your flesh ,
And strength to your bones .
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Honor the LORD with your possessions ,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase ;
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So your barns will be filled with plenty ,
And your vats will overflow with new wine .
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My son ,
do not despise the chastening of the LORD ,
Nor detest His correction ;
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For whom the LORD loves He corrects ,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights .
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Happy is the man who finds wisdom ,
And the man who gains understanding ;
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For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver ,
And her gain than fine gold .
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She is more precious than rubies ,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her .
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Length of days is in her right hand ,
In her left hand riches and honor .
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Her ways are ways of pleasantness ,
And all her paths are peace .
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She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her ,
And happy are all who retain her .
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The LORD by wisdom founded the earth ;
By understanding He established the heavens ;
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By His knowledge the depths were broken up ,
And clouds drop down the dew .
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My son ,
let them not depart from your eyes --
Keep sound wisdom and discretion ;
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So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck .
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Then you will walk safely in your way ,
And your foot will not stumble .
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When you lie down ,
you will not be afraid ;
Yes ,
you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet .
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Do not be afraid of sudden terror ,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes ;
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For the LORD will be your confidence ,
And will keep your foot from being caught .
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Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due ,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so .
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Do not say to your neighbor , "
Go ,
and come back ,
And tomorrow I will give it ,"
When you have it with you .
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Do not devise evil against your neighbor ,
For he dwells by you for safety '
s sake .
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Do not strive with a man without cause ,
If he has done you no harm .
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Do not envy the oppressor ,
And choose none of his ways ;
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For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD ,
But His secret counsel is with the upright .
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The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked ,
But He blesses the home of the just .
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Surely He scorns the scornful ,
But gives grace to the humble .
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The wise shall inherit glory ,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools .
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Hear ,
my children ,
the instruction of a father ,
And give attention to know understanding ;