1The proverbs* of Solomon,a the son of David,

king of Israel:

2That people may know wisdom and discipline,*

may understand intelligent sayings;

3May receive instruction in wise conduct,

in what is right, just and fair;

4That resourcefulness may be imparted to the naive,*

knowledge and discretion to the young.

5The wise by hearing them will advance in learning,

the intelligent will gain sound guidance,

6To comprehend proverb and byword,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

7Fear of the Lord* is the beginning of knowledge;b

fools despise wisdom and discipline.

8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,

and reject not your mother’s teaching;

9A graceful diadem will they be for your head;

a pendant for your neck.

10My son, should sinners entice you,

11do not go if they say, “Come along with us!

Let us lie in wait for blood,

unprovoked, let us trap the innocent;

12Let us swallow them alive, like Sheol,

whole, like those who go down to the pit!

13All kinds of precious wealth shall we gain,

we shall fill our houses with booty;

14Cast in your lot with us,

we shall all have one purse!”

15My son, do not walk in the way with them,

hold back your foot from their path!

16[For their feet run to evil,

they hasten to shed blood.c]

17In vain a net is spread*

right under the eyes of any bird—

18They lie in wait for their own blood,

they set a trap for their own lives.

19This is the way of everyone greedy for loot:

it takes away their lives.

20Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the open squares she raises her voice;d

21Down the crowded ways she calls out,

at the city gates she utters her words:

22* “How long, you naive ones, will you love naivete,

23How long will you turn away at my reproof?

[The arrogant delight in their arrogance,

and fools hate knowledge.]

Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit,

I will acquaint you with my words:

24‘Because I called and you refused,

extended my hand and no one took notice;e

25Because you disdained all my counsel,

and my reproof you ignored—

26I, in my turn, will laugh at your doom;

will mock when terror overtakes you;

27When terror comes upon you like a storm,

and your doom approaches like a whirlwind;

when distress and anguish befall you.’

28Then they will call me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me, but will not find me,

29Because they hated knowledge,

and the fear of the Lord they did not choose.

30They ignored my counsel,

they spurned all my reproof;

31Well, then, they shall eat the fruit* of their own way,

and with their own devices be glutted.

32For the straying of the naive kills them,

the smugness of fools destroys them.

33But whoever obeys me dwells in security,

in peace, without fear of harm.”f