Proverbs 1

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 lie 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 amongst 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 the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸but these lay in 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 they will 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.”