Proverbs 1

The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand sayings of understanding; 3 to receive instruction of insight, righteousness and justice and integrity; \* 4 to give to naive ones prudence, to a young man knowledge and discretion 5 (may a wise one hear and increase learning, and an understanding one acquire guidance), 6 to understand a proverb and a parable, the words of the wise ones and their riddles. \* 7 The fear of God {is} the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. \* 8 Hear, my son, the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother, 9 for they {are} a garland of grace for your head and pendants 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 hide to ambush the innocent one without cause. \* 12 Let us swallow them, the living ones, like Sheol, and the whole ones like those going down to a pit. 13 We will find all precious wealth. We will fill our houses {with} spoil. 14 You must cause your lot to fall in our midst; one purse will be for all of us.” \* 15 My son, do not walk on the road with them; restrain your foot from their path, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to pour out blood. 17 Surely in vain {is} the net spread out in the eyes of any owner of wing, \* 18 but they lie in wait for their blood; they hide in ambush for their lives. 19 So {are} the paths of all who unjustly gain unjust gain; it takes the life of its owner. \* 20 Wisdom calls out outside; she gives her voice in the open areas. 21 At the head of the tumultuous places she calls out; at the opening of the gates in the city, she says her sayings, 22 “Until when will naive ones love naiveté and mockers delight {in} mockery for themselves and stupid ones hate knowledge? \* 23 Turn to my rebuke. Behold, I shall allow my spirit to gush forth to you, I shall cause you to know my words. 24 Because I have called and you have refused, I have stretched out my hand, and there was no one listening attentively, 25 and you have ignored all my counsel, and my rebuke you did not accept, \* 26 I too shall laugh at your calamity, I shall mock when your dread comes, 27 when your dread comes like a storm and your calamity happens like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. \* 28 Then they will call out to me, but I will not answer. They will diligently seek me, but they will not find me, 29 for the reason that they hate knowledge and the fear of God they did not choose, 30 they did not want my counsel, and they despised my every rebuke. \* 31 And they will eat from the fruit of their way, and from their plans they will be satisfied. 32 For the turning away of the naive ones will slay them and {false} security will lead stupid ones to ruin. 33 But the one who listens to me will dwell securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil.” \*