Proverbs
1
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and discipline;
to understand words of insight;
3 to receive instruction in wise conduct, in righteousness, justice, and fairness;
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young.
5 Let the wise listen and increase in learning, and let those with understanding gain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a figure of speech, the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and necklaces for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us;
let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause;
12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, whole, like those who go down to the pit.
13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth;
we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 Throw in your lot with us;
we will all share one purse,”
15 my son, do not walk in their way;
keep your foot from their path,
16 for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.
17 For a net is spread in vain in full view of any bird,
18 but they lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who pursues unjust gain;
it takes away the life of those who possess it.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street;
she raises her voice in the squares.
21 At the head of the noisy streets she calls out;
at the entrances to the city gates she speaks her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn at my correction.
Look, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention,
25 and you disregarded all my counsel and would accept none of my correction,
26 I too will laugh at your calamity;
I will scoff when terror comes upon you,
27 when terror comes upon you like a storm and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call to me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me earnestly, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 because they would accept none of my counsel and despised all my correction,
31 they will eat the fruit of their way and be filled with their own schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely and be at ease, without fear of harm.”