Proverbs 1

1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2to know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

3to receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity.

4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man.

5Let the wise man hear and increase in learning, and the discerning man acquire guidance.

6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

8Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

9for they are a graceful wreath for your head and necklaces for your neck.

10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without cause,”

12Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those who go down to the pit;

13We will find all precious wealth; we will fill our houses with plunder.

14Cast your lot among us; we will all have one purse.

15My son, do not walk in the way with them; keep your foot from their path.

16For their feet run to do evil, and they hurry to shed blood.

17For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird.

18But they lie in wait for their own blood; they lie concealed for their own lives.

19Such are the paths of everyone greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

20Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.

21At the head of the bustling streets she cries out; at the entrances of the city gates she speaks:

22How long, you simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

23Turn at my rebuke; behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

24Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention,

25but you ignored all my counsel, and you were unwilling to accept my reproof—

26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,

27when your dread comes like a storm, and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon 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 did not choose to fear Yahweh,

30They would not accept my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

31So they will eat the fruit of their way and have their fill of their own plans.

32For the turning away of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely and be at ease, without fear of disaster.