Pro1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
Pro1:2 That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,
Pro1:3 receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;
Pro1:4 that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth --
Pro1:5 the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,
Pro1:6 to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Pro1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro1:8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching;
Pro1:9 for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.
Pro1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
Pro1:11 If they say, 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
Pro1:12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
Pro1:13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;
Pro1:14 throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse' --
Pro1:15 my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;
Pro1:16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
Pro1:17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;
Pro1:18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives.
Pro1:19 Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence;it takes away the life of its possessors.
Pro1:20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street;in the markets she raises her voice;
Pro1:21 on the top of the walls she cries out;at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
Pro1:22 'How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
Pro1:23 Give heed to my reproof;behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you;I will make my words known to you.
Pro1:24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
Pro1:25 and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
Pro1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity;I will mock when panic strikes you,
Pro1:27 when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
Pro1:28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Pro1:29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
Pro1:30 would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,
Pro1:31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.
Pro1:32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;
Pro1:33 but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil.'