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