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

²to know wisdom and instruction ;

to discern the words of understanding;

³to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness , justice , and equity ;

⁴to give prudence to the simple ,

knowledge and discretion to the young man —

⁵that the wise man may hear , and increase in learning ;

that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel ;

⁶to understand a proverb and parables ,

the words and riddles of the wise .

⁷The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge ,[#1:7 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “”, usually pronounced Yahweh).]

but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction .

⁸My son , listen to your father ’s instruction ,

and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching ;

⁹for they will be a garland to grace your head ,

and chains around your neck .

¹⁰My son , if sinners entice you,

don’t consent.

¹¹If they say, “Come with us.

Let ’s lie in wait for blood .

Let ’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause .

¹²Let ’s swallow them up alive like Sheol ,[#1:12 Sheol is the place of the dead.]

and whole , like those who go down into the pit .

¹³We ’ll find all valuable wealth .

We ’ll fill our houses with plunder .

¹⁴You shall cast your lot amongst us .

We ’ll all have one purse ”—

¹⁵my son , don’t walk on the path with them .

Keep your foot from their path ,

¹⁶for their feet run to evil .

They hurry to shed blood .

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

¹⁸but these lay in wait for their own blood .

They lurk secretly for their own lives .

¹⁹So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain .

It takes away the life of its owners .

²⁰Wisdom calls aloud in the street .

She utters her voice in the public squares .

²¹She 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 ?

²³Turn at my reproof .

Behold , I will pour out my spirit on you .

I will make known my words to you .

²⁴Because I have called , and you have refused ;

I have stretched out my hand , and no one has paid attention ;

²⁵but you have ignored all my counsel ,

and wanted none of my reproof ;

²⁶I also will laugh at your disaster .

I will mock when calamity overtakes you ,

²⁷when calamity overtakes you like a storm ,

when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind ,

when distress and anguish come on 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 didn’t choose the fear of the LORD .

³⁰They wanted none of my counsel .

They despised all my reproof .

³¹Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way ,

and be filled with their own schemes.

³²For the backsliding of the simple will kill them .

The careless ease of fools will destroy them .

³³But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,

and will be at ease , without fear of harm .”