The Purpose of Proverbs
1 The proverbs of Solomon a son of David, king of Israel:
2For learning wisdom and discipline;
for understanding insightful sayings;
3 for receiving prudent instruction
in righteousness, justice, and integrity; b
4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, A,c
knowledge and discretion d to a young man—
5 let a wise person listen and increase learning, e
and let a discerning person obtain guidance—
6 for understanding a proverb or a parable, B
the words of the wise, and their riddles. f
7 The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge; g
fools despise wisdom and discipline. h
Avoid the Path of the Violent
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, i
9 for they will be a garland j of favor on your head
and pendants C around your neck. k
10 My son, if sinners entice you, l
don’t be persuaded. m
Let’s set an ambush n and kill someone. D
Let’s attack some innocent person o just for fun! E
12 Let’s swallow them alive, p like Sheol,
whole, like those who go down to the Pit. q
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder. r
and we’ll all share the loot” F—
15 my son, don’t travel that road with them s
or set foot on their path, t
16 because their feet run toward evil
and they hurry to shed blood. u
17 It is useless to spread a net
where any bird can see it,
18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; G
they attack their own lives.
19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; v
it takes the lives of those who receive it. H
Wisdom’s Plea
20 Wisdom calls out in the street;
she makes her voice heard in the public squares. w
21 She cries out above I 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 x enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge? y
23 If you respond to my warning, J,z
then I will pour out my spirit on you a
and teach you my words.
24 Since I called out and you refused, b
extended my hand and no one paid attention, c
25 since you neglected all my counsel d
and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. e
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. f
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the LORD, g
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction, h
31 they will eat the fruit of their way i
and be glutted with their own schemes. j
32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, k
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.” l