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

2 For learning wisdom and discipline;

for understanding insightful sayings;

3 for receiving prudent instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity;  *

4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,  *,*

knowledge and discretion  * to a young man —

5 let a wise person listen and increase learning,  *

and let a discerning person obtain guidance —

6 for understanding a proverb or a parable,  *

the words of the wise, and their riddles.  *

7 The fear of the  Lord

is the beginning of knowledge;  *

fools despise wisdom and discipline.  *

8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,  *

9 for they will be a garland  * of favor on your head

and pendants  * around your neck.  *

10 My son, if sinners entice you,  *

don’t be persuaded.  *

11 If they say — "Come with us!

Let’s set an ambush  * and kill someone.  *

Let’s attack some innocent person  * just for fun!  *

12 Let’s swallow them alive,  * like Sheol,

whole, like those who go down to the Pit.  *

13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder.  *

14 Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share the loot"  *  —

15 my son, don’t travel that road with them  *

or set foot on their path,  *

16 because their feet run toward evil

and they hurry to shed blood.  *

17 It is useless to spread a net

where any bird can see it,

18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves;  *

they attack their own lives.

19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;  *

it takes the lives of those who receive it.  *

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;

she makes her voice heard in the public squares.  *

21 She cries out above  * the commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

22 "How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers  * enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?  *

23 If you respond to my warning,  *,*

then I will pour out my spirit on you  *

and teach you my words.

24 Since I called out and you refused,  *

extended my hand and no one paid attention,  *

25 since you neglected all my counsel  *

and did not accept my correction,

26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.  *

I will mock when terror strikes you,

27 when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when trouble and stress overcome you.

28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will search for me, but won’t find me.  *

29 Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear the  Lord,  *

30 were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction,  *

31 they will eat the fruit of their way  *

and be glutted with their own schemes.  *

32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,  *

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33 But whoever listens to me will live securely

and be undisturbed by the dread of danger."  *