Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.⋮

2 These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,⋮

3 that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.⋮

4 These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.⋮

5 Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,⋮

6 to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.⋮

7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.⋮

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;⋮

9 they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.⋮

10 My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.⋮

11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason.⋮

12 Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit.⋮

13 We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.⋮

14 Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”⋮

15 My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;⋮

16 their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.⋮

17 For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.⋮

18 These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush for their own lives.⋮

19 So are the ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.⋮

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;⋮

21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,⋮

22 “How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?⋮

23 Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.⋮

24 I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.⋮

25 But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.⋮

26 I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—⋮

27 when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.⋮

28 Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me.⋮

29 Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,⋮

30 they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.⋮

31 They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.⋮

32 For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.⋮

33 But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”⋮