1 Proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for knowing wisdom and discipline, for grasping words of discernment,
3 for taking in the discipline of insight: righteousness, justice and equity,
4 for giving shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and good sense to the young.
5 A wise man will listen and grow in learning, and one who understands will gain direction,
6 for understanding proverb and parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and discipline fools hold in contempt.
8 Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and do not abandon the teaching of your mother;
9 for they are a graceful wreath on your head and a necklace about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners try to lure you, do not give in.
11 If they say, "Come along with us; let us lie in ambush for blood; let us waylay the innocent for no reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, as those who go down into the pit;
13 we will find every precious treasure; we will fill our houses with spoil;
14 throw in your lot with us; we will all share one purse,"
15 my son, do not go along the road with them; keep your foot from their path;
16 for their feet rush to evil, and they hasten to spill blood.
17 For it is useless to spread the net in the eyes of any winged creature;
18 but these lie in ambush for their own blood; they lurk for their own lives.
19 So are the paths of all who grab at unjust gain; it takes the life of those who possess it.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the squares she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the bustling streets she calls; at the openings of the city gates she utters her sayings:
22 "How long, you simple, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn at my rebuke; see, I will let my spirit flow out to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 Since I called and you refused, I held out my hand and no one took notice,
25 since you brushed aside all my counsel and wanted none of my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when what you dread arrives,
27 when what you dread arrives like a tempest, and your disaster sweeps in like a whirlwind, when trouble and distress come upon you.
28 Then they will call me, but I will not answer; they will look for me early, but will not find me.
29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 would not accept my counsel and spurned all my rebuke,
31 they will eat the fruit of their way and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the ease of fools will ruin them;
33 but he who listens to me will dwell secure and be at rest from the dread of harm."