- 1The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
- 2to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
- 3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
- 4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:
- 5that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
- 6to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
- 7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
- 8My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
- 9for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
- 10My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
- 11If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lay in wait for blood; let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
- 12let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
- 13We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
- 14You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.”
- 15My son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
- 16for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
- 17For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
- 18but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
- 19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
- 20Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
- 21She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
- 22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
- 23Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
- 24Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
- 25but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
- 26I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
- 27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
- 28Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
- 29because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the Lord.
- 30They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
- 31Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
- 32For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
- 33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”