² for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple,^[a](D)
    knowledge and discretion^(E) to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,^(F)
    and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,^(G)
    the sayings and riddles^(H) of the wise.^[b](I)

⁷ The fear of the Lord^(J) is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools^[c] despise wisdom^(K) and instruction.^(L)

¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice^(Q) you,
    do not give in^(R) to them.^(S)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait^(T) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
¹² let’s swallow^(U) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;^(V)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot^(W)”—
¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot^(X) on their paths;^(Y)
16 for their feet rush into evil,^(Z)
    they are swift to shed blood.^(AA)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
¹⁸ These men lie in wait^(AB) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!^(AC)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.^(AD)

²² “How long will you who are simple^(AF) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate^(AG) knowledge?
²³ Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
²⁴ But since you refuse^(AH) to listen when I call^(AI)
    and no one pays attention^(AJ) when I stretch out my hand,
²⁵ since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
²⁶ I in turn will laugh^(AK) when disaster^(AL) strikes you;
    I will mock^(AM) when calamity overtakes you^(AN)—
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster^(AO) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸ “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;^(AP)
    they will look for me but will not find me,^(AQ)
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.^(AR)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,^(AS)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.^(AT)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;^(AU)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety^(AV)
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”^(AW)

⁹ Then you will understand^(BH) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,^(BI)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.^(BJ)

¹² Wisdom will save^(BK) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
¹³ who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,^(BL)
14 who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,^(BM)
15 whose paths are crooked^(BN)
    and who are devious in their ways.^(BO)

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,^(BP)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[e](BQ)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.^(BR)
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.^(BS)

²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
²¹ For the upright will live in the land,^(BT)
    and the blameless will remain in it;
²² but the wicked^(BU) will be cut off from the land,^(BV)
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.^(BW)