1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 1:3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 1:4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth-- 1:5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 1:6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. 1:8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, 1:9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 1:11 If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; 1:12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 1:13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; 1:14 throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse"-- 1:15 my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 1:16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. 1:17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, 1:18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. 1:19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. 1:20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 1:21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 1:22 "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge 1:23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 1:24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 1:25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 1:27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 1:28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 1:29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, 1:30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 1:31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 1:32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 1:33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."