The Geneva Bible
1587 by William Whittingham

Proverbs Chapter 1

Pro 1:1 The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
Pro 1:2 To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
Pro 1:3 To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
Pro 1:4 To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
Pro 1:5 A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
Pro 1:6 To vnderstand a parable, & the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
Pro 1:7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
Pro 1:8 My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
Pro 1:9 For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
Pro 1:10 My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.
Pro 1:11 If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:
Pro 1:12 We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit:
Pro 1:13 We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
Pro 1:14 Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
Pro 1:15 My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
Pro 1:16 For their feete runne to euill, & make haste to shed blood.
Pro 1:17 Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
Pro 1:18 So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
Pro 1:19 Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
Pro 1:20 Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
Pro 1:21 She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
Pro 1:22 O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?
Pro 1:23 (Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
Pro 1:24 Because I haue called, & ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, & none woulde regarde.
Pro 1:25 But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
Pro 1:26 I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
Pro 1:27 Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, & your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction & anguish shal come vpo you,
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,
Pro 1:29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
Pro 1:31 Therefore shal they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
Pro 1:32 For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
Pro 1:33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.