Proverbs - Bible Gateway

The Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

to know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;

to give subtlety to the simple, and to the young man knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel

to understand a proverb and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother;

for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

If they say, “Come with us; let us lie in wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those that go down to the pit;

we shall find much precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil;

cast in thy lot among us, let us all have one purse”

my son, walk not thou in the way with them; restrain thy foot from their path;

for their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood.

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird!

And they lie in wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy for gain, which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets.

She crieth in the chief places of concourse, in the openings of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love to be simple, and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you; I will make known my words unto you.

“Because I have called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man heeded,

but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh,

when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me,

because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

They would have none of my counsel, and they despised all my reproof:

therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own ways, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them;

but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall have quiet from fear of evil.”

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;

To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;

To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:

That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.

My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.

If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;

Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:

For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.

For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:

And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.

Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah,

They would none of my counsel, They despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.

For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.

The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction; To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,

To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, Righteousness, justice, and integrity;

That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth,

The wise will hear and increase their learning, And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth],

To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation, And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection].

The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.

My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not reject the teaching of your mother.

For they are a garland of grace on your head, And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us; Let us lie in wait to shed blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them alive like Sheol (the place of the dead), Even whole, as those who go down to the pit [of death];

We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions, We will fill our houses with spoil;

Throw in your lot with us [they insist]; We will all have one money bag [in common],”

My son, do not walk on the road with them; Keep your foot [far] away from their path,

For their feet run to evil, And they hurry to shed blood.

Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;

But [when these people set a trap for others] they lie in wait for their own blood; They set an ambush for their own lives [and rush to their destruction].

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; Greed takes away the lives of its possessors.

Wisdom shouts in the street, She raises her voice in the markets;

She calls out at the head of the noisy streets [where large crowds gather]; At the entrance of the city gates she speaks her words:

“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing, How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?

“If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke, Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

“Because I called and you refused [to answer], I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer];

And you treated all my counsel as nothing And would not accept my reprimand,

I also will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when your dread and panic come,

When your dread and panic come like a storm, And your disaster comes like a whirlwind, When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].

“Then they will call upon me (Wisdom), but I will not answer; They will seek me eagerly but they will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord [that is, obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect],

They would not accept my counsel, And they spurned all my rebuke.

“Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own [wicked] way And be satiated with [the penalty of] their own devices.

“For the turning away of the naive will kill them, And the careless ease of [self-righteous] fools will destroy them.

“But whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live securely and in confident trust And will be at ease, without fear or dread of evil.”

The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

That people may know skillful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,

Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity,

That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth—

The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]—

That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles.

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother.

For they are a [victor’s] chaplet (garland) of grace upon your head and chains and pendants [of gold worn by kings] for your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait [to shed] blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause [and show that his piety is in vain];

Let us swallow them up alive as does Sheol (the place of the dead), and whole, as those who go down into the pit [of the dead];

We shall find and take all kinds of precious goods [when our victims are put out of the way], we shall fill our houses with plunder;

Throw in your lot with us [they insist] and be a sworn brother and comrade; let us all have one purse in common—

My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path;

For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird!

But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets;

She cries at the head of the noisy intersections [in the chief gathering places]; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge?

If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it,

And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic—

When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord,

Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.

For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

¶ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¶ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

¶ Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

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

For learning wisdom and discipline; for understanding insightful sayings;

for receiving prudent instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man—

let a wise person listen and increase learning, and let a discerning person obtain guidance—

for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

for they will be a garland of favor on your head and pendants around your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded.

If they say—“Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol, whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder.

Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share the loot”—

my son, don’t travel that road with them or set foot on their path,

because their feet run toward evil and they hurry to shed blood.

It is useless to spread a net where any bird can see it,

but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives.

Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.

Wisdom calls out in the street; she makes her voice heard in the public squares.

She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

“How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge?

If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words.

Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention,

since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction,

I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you.

Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will search for me, but won’t find me.

Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord,

were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction,

they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes.

For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”

The proverbs of Solomon, King David’s son, from Israel:

Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline, to help one understand wise sayings.

They provide insightful instruction, which is righteous, just, and full of integrity.

They make the naive mature, the young knowledgeable and discreet.

The wise hear them and grow in wisdom; those with understanding gain guidance.

They help one understand proverbs and difficult sayings, the words of the wise, and their puzzles.

Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction; don’t neglect your mother’s teaching;

for they are a graceful wreath on your head, and beads for your neck.

My son, don’t let sinners entice you. Don’t go

when they say: “Come with us. Let’s set up a deadly ambush. Let’s secretly wait for the innocent just for fun.

Let’s swallow up the living like the grave— whole, like those who go down into the pit.

We’ll find all sorts of precious wealth; we’ll fill our houses with plunder.

Throw in your lot with us; we’ll share our money.”

My son, don’t go on the path with them; keep your feet from their way,

because their feet run to evil; they hurry to spill blood.

It’s useless to cast a net in the sight of a bird.

But these sinners set up a deadly ambush; they lie in wait for their own lives.

These are the ways of all who seek unjust gain; it costs them their lives.

Wisdom shouts in the street; in the public square she raises her voice.

Above the noisy crowd, she calls out. At the entrances of the city gates, she has her say:

“How long will you clueless people love your naïveté, mockers hold their mocking dear, and fools hate knowledge?

You should respond when I correct you. Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you. I’ll reveal my words to you.

I invited you, but you rejected me; I stretched out my hand to you, but you paid no attention.

You ignored all my advice, and you didn’t want me to correct you.

So I’ll laugh at your disaster; I’ll make fun of you when dread comes over you,

when terror hits you like a hurricane, and your disaster comes in like a tornado, when distress and oppression overcome you.

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

because they hated knowledge and didn’t choose the fear of the Lord.

They didn’t want my advice; they rejected all my corrections.

They will eat from the fruit of their way, and they’ll be full of their own schemes.

The immature will die because they turn away; smugness will destroy fools.

Those who obey me will dwell securely, untroubled by the dread of harm.”

The proverbs of Shlomo the son of David, king of Isra’el,

are for learning about wisdom and discipline; for understanding words expressing deep insight;

for gaining an intelligently disciplined life, doing what is right, just and fair;

for endowing with caution those who don’t think and the young person with knowledge and discretion.

Someone who is already wise will hear and learn still more; someone who already understands will gain the ability to counsel well;

he will understand proverbs, obscure expressions, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My son, heed the discipline of your father, and do not abandon the teaching of your mother;

they will be a garland to grace your head, a medal of honor for your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t go along with them.

Suppose they say, “Come with us: we’ll ambush somebody and kill him, we’ll waylay some harmless soul, just for fun;

we’ll swallow him alive, like Sh’ol, whole, like those who descend to the pit;

we’ll find everything he has of value, we’ll fill our homes with loot!

Throw in your lot with us; we’ll share a common purse” —

my son, don’t go along with them, don’t set foot on their path;

Their feet run to evil, they rush to shed blood.

For in vain is the net baited if any bird can see it;

rather, they are ambushing themselves to shed their own blood, waylaying themselves.

So are the ways of all greedy for gain — it takes the lives of those who get it.

Wisdom calls aloud in the open air and raises her voice in the public places;

she calls out at streetcorners and speaks out at entrances to city gates:

“How long, you whose lives have no purpose, will you love thoughtless living? How long will scorners find pleasure in mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?

Repent when I reprove — I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make my words known to you.

Because you refused when I called, and no one paid attention when I put out my hand,

but instead you neglected my counsel and would not accept my reproof;

I, in turn, will laugh at your distress, and mock when terror comes over you —

yes, when terror overtakes you like a storm and your disaster approaches like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble assail you.

Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will seek me earnestly, but they won’t find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Adonai,

they refused my counsel and despised my reproof.

So they will bear the consequences of their own way and be overfilled with their own schemes.

For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them, and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them;

but those who pay attention to me will live securely, untroubled by fear of misfortune.”

These are the proverbs of King Solomon of Israel, the son of David.

Proverbs will teach you wisdom and self-control and how to understand sayings with deep meanings.

You will learn what is right and honest and fair.

From these, an ordinary person can learn to be smart, and young people can gain knowledge and good sense.

If you are already wise, you will become even wiser. And if you are smart, you will learn to understand

proverbs and sayings, as well as words of wisdom, and all kinds of riddles.

Respect and obey the Lord! This is the beginning of knowledge. Only a fool rejects wisdom and good advice.

My child, obey the teachings of your parents,

and wear their teachings as you would a pretty hat or a lovely necklace.

Don't be tempted by sinners or listen

when they say, “Come on! Let's gang up and kill somebody, just for the fun of it!

They're well and healthy now, but we'll finish them off once and for all.

We'll take their valuables and fill our homes with stolen goods.

If you join our gang, you'll get your share.”

Don't follow anyone like that or do what they do.

They are in a big hurry to commit some crime, perhaps even murder.

They are like a bird that sees the bait, but ignores the trap.

They gang up to murder someone, but they are the victims.

The wealth you get from crime robs you of your life.

Wisdom shouts in the streets wherever crowds gather.

She shouts in the marketplaces and near the city gates as she says to the people,

“How much longer will you enjoy being stupid fools? Won't you ever stop sneering and laughing at knowledge?

Listen as I correct you and tell you what I think.

You completely ignored me and refused to listen;

you rejected my advice and paid no attention when I warned you.

“So when you are struck by some terrible disaster,

or when trouble and distress surround you like a whirlwind, I will laugh and make fun.

You will ask for my help, but I won't listen; you will search, but you won't find me.

No, you would not learn, and you refused to respect the Lord.

You rejected my advice and paid no attention when I warned you.

“Now you will eat the fruit of what you have done, until you are stuffed full with your own schemes.

Sin and self-satisfaction bring destruction and death to stupid fools.

But if you listen to me, you will be safe and secure without fear of disaster.”

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;

to receive the instruction of wisdom, righteousness and judgment, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

He that is wise will hear, and will increase learning; and the intelligent will gain wise counsels:

to understand a proverb and an allegory, the words of the wise and their enigmas.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge: fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;

for they shall be a garland of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent not.

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, and whole, as those that go down into the pit;

we shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

cast in thy lot among us; we will all have one purse:

—my son, walk not in the way with them, keep back thy foot from their path;

for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

For in vain the net is spread in the sight of anything which hath wings.

And these lay wait for their own blood; they lurk secretly for their own lives.

So are the paths of every one that is greedy of gain: it taketh away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom crieth without; she raiseth her voice in the broadways;

she calleth in the chief [place] of concourse, in the entry of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words:

How long, simple ones, will ye love simpleness, and scorners take pleasure in their scorning, and the foolish hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour forth my spirit unto you, I will make known to you my words.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one regarded;

and ye have rejected all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh in your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;

when your fear cometh as sudden destruction, and your calamity cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you:

—then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me early, and shall not find me.

Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah;

they would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof:

therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their way, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall cause them to perish.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be at rest from fear of evil.

The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.

To know wisdom, and instruction:

To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity:

To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding.

A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.

He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.

My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.

If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause:

Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit.

We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.

Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.

My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.

And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.

So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.

Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:

At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:

O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?

Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.

Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.

You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.

I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.

When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you:

Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me:

Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord,

Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.

The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.

These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel.

They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings.

They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way. You will learn to do what is right and to be honest and fair.

These proverbs will make even those without education smart. They will teach young people what they need to know and how to use what they have learned.

Even the wise could become wiser by listening to these proverbs. They will gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems.

These sayings will help you understand proverbs, stories with hidden meanings, words of the wise, and other difficult sayings.

Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.

My son, listen to your father when he corrects you, and don’t ignore what your mother teaches you.

What you learn from your parents will bring you honor and respect, like a crown or a gold medal.

My son, those who love to do wrong will try to trick you. Don’t listen to them.

They will say, “Come with us. Let’s hide and beat to death anyone who happens to walk by.

We will swallow them whole, as the grave swallows the dying.

We will take everything they have and fill our houses with stolen goods.

So join us, and you can share everything we get.”

My son, don’t follow them. Don’t even take the first step along that path.

They run to do something evil, and they cannot wait to kill someone.

You cannot trap birds with a net if they see you spreading it out.

But evil people cannot see the trap they set for themselves.

This is what happens to those who are greedy. Whatever they get destroys them.

Listen! Wisdom is shouting in the streets. She is crying out in the marketplace.

She is calling out where the noisy crowd gathers:

“Fools, how long will you love being ignorant? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge?

I wanted to tell you everything I knew and give you all my knowledge, but you didn’t listen to my advice and teaching.

“I tried to help, but you refused to listen. I offered my hand, but you turned away from me.

You ignored my advice and refused to be corrected.

So I will laugh at your troubles and make fun of you when what you fear happens.

Disasters will strike you like a storm. Problems will pound you like a strong wind. Trouble and misery will weigh you down.

“Fools will call for me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me.

That is because they hated knowledge. They refused to fear and respect the Lord.

They ignored my advice and refused to be corrected.

They filled their lives with what they wanted. They went their own way, so they will get what they deserve.

“Fools die because they refuse to follow wisdom. They are content to follow their foolish ways, and that will destroy them.

But those who listen to me will live in safety and comfort. They will have nothing to fear.”

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.

These are proverbs that will make you wise. They will help you to learn things and to understand good teaching.

They will help you to understand how to live a good life. They will teach you how to live as a person who is good, honest and fair.

They can cause even silly people to become clever. They teach young people what they should know, so that they can live well.

Wise people should also listen carefully, so that they learn something new. And people with clever minds can learn to live in a good way.

People will learn to understand what proverbs and picture stories mean. They will understand the teaching and clever messages of wise people.

If you want to know how to live in a good way, you must first learn to respect the Lord with fear. Fools refuse to listen to wise teaching.

Listen, my child, when your father shows you what is right. And do not forget what your mother has taught you.

Their teaching will bring you honour, like a beautiful crown or a valuable necklace.

My child, if sinners want you to join with them, do not agree!

They may say, ‘Come with us. We will find someone to murder. We will attack any helpless person that we choose.

We will send them quickly to their graves. They may be strong and healthy, but they will soon be under the earth.

We will take all their valuable things for ourselves. We will fill our houses with lots of good things.

So come and join us! We will share with each other everything that we rob from other people.’

My child, do not go along with people like that. Stay away from them.

They are in a hurry to do evil things. They cannot wait to murder someone!

Think about it! If you put a trap where the birds can see it, you will never catch anything.

These wicked men hide to attack someone. They are ready to kill someone, but they destroy their own lives!

That is what happens to those who cheat other people to become rich themselves. The riches that they have taken from others will destroy their own lives.

Listen! Wisdom is like a woman who shouts in the streets. She speaks loudly in the market places.

She shouts above the noise in the city's streets. She calls aloud at its gates. This is what she says:

‘Listen to me! Will you silly people continue to be so silly? You people who laugh at God, will you always be like that? Will fools always refuse to learn anything?

Listen to me as I warn you of danger! Then I will let you know my thoughts. I will let you hear my message.

I called out to you, but you refused to listen. I reached out to you, but you turned your backs to me.

You would not accept my teaching. When I warned you, you did nothing.

So, when trouble comes to you, I will laugh. I will laugh at you when you are afraid.

Fear may hit you like a strong wind. Trouble may knock you down, like a storm. Your problems may make you very afraid. But I will laugh at you.

Foolish people will call to me for help, but I will not answer. They will look for me everywhere, but they will not find me.

They have refused to learn what is right. They have refused to respect the Lord.

They have not agreed to my advice. When I warned them, they turned away.

So now they will receive the trouble that they deserve. Their own wicked ideas will make them sick.

Silly people have turned away from me, and that will kill them. Fools like an easy life, and that will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me, Wisdom, will live safely. That person will have peace in his mind. He will not be afraid of trouble.’

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.

To learn wisdom and discipline, to understand sayings that give insight,

to acquire discipline to act sensibly, to acquire righteousness, justice, and fairness,

to give good judgment to the inexperienced, to give a young man knowledge and foresight.

A wise person should listen, and he will increase learning. A person with understanding should obtain guidance

so he will understand proverbs, puzzling statements, and the thought-provoking words of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Listen, my son, to your father’s discipline, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching,

because they are a garland of grace for your head. They are jewelry for your neck.

My son, if sinners lure you, do not go along with them.

If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait to shed blood. Let’s hide and ambush an innocent person for no reason.

We will swallow them alive like the grave. We will swallow them whole like those who go down to the pit.

We will find all kinds of wealth and treasure. We will fill our houses with loot.

Cast your lot with us. We will all share one bag of money.”

My son, do not walk along the road with them. Do not set foot on their path,

because their feet run to do evil, and they hurry to shed blood.

How useless to spread a net in the sight of any bird!

Yet they set up an ambush for their own blood. They hide in ambush to take their own lives.

This is where the path leads for everyone who is greedy for stolen property: It takes away the life of those who possess it.

Wisdom calls out loudly in the street. In the public squares she raises her voice.

At the noisy street corners she calls out. At the entrances to the city gates she speaks her words:

“How long will you gullible people love being gullible? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing? How long will fools hate knowledge?

If you respond to my warning, I will pour out my spirit for you. I will make my words known to you.

Because I called, but you refused to listen, because I stretched out my hand, but no one paid attention,

because you ignored all my advice, and you did not accept my warning,

therefore I will laugh at your calamity. I will jeer when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a violent storm, when calamity strikes you like a windstorm, when trouble and distress come upon you.

Then they will call to me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me,

because they hated knowledge, and they did not choose the fear of the Lord.

They would not accept my advice, and they despised all my warnings.

So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and they will be stuffed with their own schemes.

Therefore the wandering ways of the gullible kill them, and the complacency of fools destroys them.

But whoever listens to me will live in safety. He will be secure, without fear of evil.”

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

To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,

for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;

like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;

throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—

my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,

for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,

but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.

Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;

at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

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

To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,

for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;

like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;

throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—

my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,

for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,

but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.

Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;

at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

These are the ·wise words [proverbs] of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.

They teach wisdom and ·self-control [discipline; instruction]; they will help you understand ·wise words [insightful sayings].

They will teach you how to be ·wise [insightful] and ·self-controlled [disciplined] and will teach you to do what is ·honest [righteous] and ·fair [just] and ·right [virtuous].

They make the ·uneducated [simpleminded; immature; naive] ·wise [prudent] and give knowledge and ·sense [discretion] to the young.

Wise people can also listen and ·learn [add/increase teaching]; even ·they [^Lthose with understanding] can find good ·advice in these words [guidance].

Then ·anyone [^Lthey] can understand ·wise words [proverbs] and ·stories [or difficult sayings], the words of the wise and their ·riddles [difficulties].

Knowledge begins with ·respect [fear; awe] for the Lord, but fools ·hate [despise] wisdom and ·discipline [self-control; instruction].

My ·child [^Lson], listen to your father’s ·teaching [instruction; discipline] and do not ·forget [neglect] your mother’s ·advice [instruction].

[^LFor] ·Their teaching [^LIt] will be like ·flowers in your hair [^La gracious garland on your head] or ·a necklace [^Lbeads] around your neck.

My ·child [^Lson], if sinners try to ·lead [seduce; entice] you into sin, do not follow them.

They will say, “Come with us. Let’s ambush and kill someone; let’s attack some innocent people just for fun.

Let’s swallow them alive, ·as death does [like the grave/^LSheol]; let’s swallow them whole, ·as the grave does [^Llike those who go down into the pit].

We will ·take [^Lfind] all kinds of ·valuable things [^Lprecious wealth] and fill our houses with ·stolen goods [plunder].

·Come join us [^LThrow in your lot with us], and we will share ·with you stolen goods [^La single bag (of loot)].”

My ·child [^Lson], do not go ·along with them [^Lon their path]; ·do not do what they do [^Lkeep your foot from their way/path].

·They are eager to do evil [^LFor their feet run toward evil] and are quick to ·kill [^Lshed blood].

It is useless to spread out a net right where the birds can see it.

But sinners will ·fall into their own traps [^Lset up a deadly ambush]; they ·will only catch [^Llie in wait for] themselves!

All greedy people end up this way; ·greed kills selfish people [^Lthey take their own lives].

Wisdom [^Cthe personification of God’s wisdom; 8:1–36; 9:1–6] ·is like a woman shouting [^Lshouts] in the street; she ·raises her voice [yells out] in the city squares [^Cthe hub for business, government, and social interaction].

She cries out ·in the noisy street [^Lat the top of the noisy throng] and shouts at the [^Lentrances of] city gates:

“You ·fools [simpletons; immature ones], how long will you be ·foolish [immature]? How long will you make ·fun of wisdom [mocking so dear to you] and hate knowledge?

If only you had ·listened [responded] when I corrected you, I would have ·told you what’s in my heart [^Lpoured forth my spirit to you]; I would have ·told you what I am thinking [^Lrevealed my words to you].

I called, but you ·refused to listen [rejected me]; I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.

You ·did not follow [ignored] my advice and did not ·listen when I corrected [want me to correct] you.

So I will laugh ·when you are in trouble [^Lat your calamity]. I will ·make fun [ridicule you] when disaster strikes you,

when ·disaster [dread] comes over you like a ·storm [tempest], when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind, when ·pain [distress] and ·trouble [oppression] overwhelm you.

“Then you will call to me, but I will not answer. You will ·look for [seek] me, but you will not find me.

It is because you ·rejected [hated] knowledge and did not choose to ·respect [fear; hold in awe] the Lord.

You did not ·accept [want] my advice, and you rejected my correction.

So you will ·get what you deserve [^Leat from the fruit of your path]; you will ·get what you planned for others [or be satisfied with your own counsel].

·Fools [The simple/immature] will die because they ·refuse to listen [^Lturn away]; ·they [^Lfools] will be destroyed because ·they do not care [of complacency].

But those who ·listen to [obey] me will live in safety ·and be at peace, without fear of injury [untroubled by the dread of harm].”

2 The power and use of the word of God. 7 Of the fear of God and knowledge of his word. 10 We may not consent to the enticings of sinners. 20 Wisdom complaineth that she is contemned. 24 The punishment of them that contemn her. The Parables of Solomon the son of David king of Israel,

To know wisdom, and instruction, to understand the words of knowledge,

To receive instruction to do wisely, by justice and judgment and equity,

To give unto the simple sharpness of wit, and to the child knowledge and discretion.

And wise man shall hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels,

To understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

¶ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear thy father’s instruction, and forsake not thy mother’s teaching.

For they shall be a comely ornament unto thine head, and as chains for thy neck.

¶ My son, if sinners do entice thee, consent thou not.

If they say, Come with us, we will lay wait for blood, and lie privily for the innocent without a cause:

We will swallow them up alive like a grave, even whole, as those that go down into the pit:

We shall find all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoil:

Cast in thy lot among us, we will all have one purse:

My son, walk not thou in the way with them: refrain thy foot from their path.

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Certainly as without cause the net is spread before the eyes of all that hath wing:

So they lay wait for blood, and lie privily for their lives.

Such are the ways of everyone that is greedy of gain: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.

¶ Wisdom crieth without: she uttereth her voice in the streets.

She calleth in the high street, among the prease in the enterings of the gates, and uttereth her words in the city, saying,

O ye foolish, how long will ye love foolishness? and the scornful take their pleasure in scorning? and the fools hate knowledge?

(Turn you at my correction: lo, I will pour out my mind unto you, and make you understand my words.)

Because I have called, and ye refused: I have stretched out mine hand, and none would regard.

But ye have despised all my counsel, and would none of my correction,

I will also laugh at your destruction, and mock when your fear cometh.

When your fear cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirlwind: when affliction and anguish shall come upon you,

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me,

Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

They would none of my counsel, but despised all my correction.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For ease slayeth the foolish, and the prosperity of fools destroyeth them.

But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from fear of evil.

The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, ⌞given⌟

to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts,

to acquire the discipline of wise behavior— righteousness and justice and fairness—

to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young—

a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction—

to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My son, listen to your father’s discipline, and do not neglect your mother’s teachings,

because discipline and teachings are a graceful garland on your head and a ⌞golden⌟ chain around your neck.

My son, if sinners lure you, do not go along.

If they say, “Come with us. Let’s set an ambush to kill someone. Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun.

We’ll swallow them alive like the grave, like those in good health who go into the pit.

We’ll find all kinds of valuable possessions. We’ll fill our homes with stolen goods.

Join us. We’ll split the loot equally.”

My son, do not follow them in their way. Do not even set foot on their path,

because they rush to do evil and hurry to shed blood.

It does no good to spread a net within the sight of any bird.

But these people set an ambush for their own murder. They go into hiding only to lose their lives.

This is what happens to everyone who is greedy for unjust gain. Greed takes away his life.

Wisdom sings her song in the streets. In the public squares she raises her voice.

At the corners of noisy streets she calls out. At the entrances to the city she speaks her words,

“How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?

“Turn to me when I warn you. I will generously pour out my spirit for you. I will make my words known to you.

“I called, and you refused to listen. I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.

You ignored all my advice. You did not want me to warn you.

I will laugh at your calamity. I will make fun of you when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a violent storm, when calamity strikes you like a wind storm, when trouble and anguish come to you.

“They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me,

because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

They refused my advice. They despised my every warning.

They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle. They will be stuffed with their own schemes.

“Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away. Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference.

But whoever listens to me will live without worry and will be free from the dread of disaster.”

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David and king of Israel.

Here are proverbs that will help you recognize wisdom and good advice, and understand sayings with deep meaning.

They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair.

They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful.

These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated,

so that they can understand the hidden meanings of proverbs and the problems that the wise raise.

To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn.

My child, pay attention to what your father and mother tell you.

Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.

My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in.

Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it!

They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them!

We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot!

Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”

My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them.

They can't wait to do something bad. They're always ready to kill.

It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching,

but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die.

Robbery always claims the life of the robber—this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence.

Listen! Wisdom is calling out in the streets and marketplaces,

calling loudly at the city gates and wherever people come together:

“Foolish people! How long do you want to be foolish? How long will you enjoy making fun of knowledge? Will you never learn?

Listen when I reprimand you; I will give you good advice and share my knowledge with you.

I have been calling you, inviting you to come, but you would not listen. You paid no attention to me.

You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you.

So when you get into trouble, I will laugh at you. I will make fun of you when terror strikes—

when it comes on you like a storm, bringing fierce winds of trouble, and you are in pain and misery.

Then you will call for wisdom, but I will not answer. You may look for me everywhere, but you will not find me.

You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord.

You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you.

So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick.

Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern.

But whoever listens to me will have security. He will be safe, with no reason to be afraid.”

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

For learning what wisdom and discipline are; for understanding insightful sayings;

for receiving wise instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man—

a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance—

for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded.

If they say—“Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit.

We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder.

Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share our money”—

my son, don’t travel that road with them or set foot on their path,

because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder.

It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it,

but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives.

Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.

Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.

She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

“How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge?

If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words.

Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention,

since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction,

I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you.

Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will search for me, but won’t find me.

Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord,

were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction,

they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes.

For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger.”

These are the wise words of Solomon son of David. Solomon was king of Israel.

They teach wisdom and self-control. They give understanding.

They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled. They will teach you what is honest and fair and right.

They give the ability to think to those with little knowledge. They give knowledge and good sense to the young.

Wise people should also listen to them and learn even more. Even they can find good advice in these words.

Then they will be able to understand wise words and stories. They will understand the words of wise men and their riddles.

Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and discipline.

My child, listen to your father’s teaching. And do not forget your mother’s advice.

Their teaching will beautify your life. It will be like flowers in your hair or a chain around your neck.

My child, sinners will try to lead you into sin. But do not follow them.

They might say, “Come with us. Let’s ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some harmless person just for fun.

Let’s swallow them alive, as death does. Let’s swallow them whole, as the grave does.

We will take all kinds of valuable things. We will fill our houses with what we steal.

Come join us, and we will share with you what we steal.”

My child, do not go along with them. Do not do what they do.

They run to do evil. They are quick to kill.

It is useless to spread out a net right where the birds can see it!

These men are setting their own trap. They will only catch themselves!

All greedy people end up this way. Greed takes away the life of the greedy person.

Wisdom is like a good woman who shouts in the street. She raises her voice in the city squares.

She cries out in the noisy street. She makes her speech at the city gates:

“You foolish people! How long do you want to stay foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge?

Listen when I correct you. I will tell you what’s in my heart. I will tell you what I am thinking.

I called, but you refused to listen. I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.

You did not follow my advice. You did not want me to correct you.

So I will laugh when you are in trouble. I will make fun when disaster happens to you.

Disaster will come over you like a storm. Trouble will strike you like a whirlwind. Pain and trouble will overwhelm you.

“Then you will call out to me. But I will not answer. You will look for me. But you will not find me.

You rejected knowledge. You did not choose to respect the Lord.

You did not accept my advice. You rejected my correction.

So you will get what you deserve. You will get what you planned for others.

Fools wander away and get killed. They are destroyed because they do not care.

But those who listen to me will live in safety. They will be safe, without fear of being hurt.”

The proverbs of David’s son Solomon, king of Israel.

These proverbs are for gaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;

for acquiring the discipline that produces wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and upright living;

for giving prudence to the naïve, and knowledge and discretion to the young.

Let the wise listen and increase their learning; let the person of understanding receive guidance

in understanding proverbs, clever sayings, words of the wise, and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and do not let go of your mother’s teaching.

They will be a graceful wreath for your head and a chain for your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us! Let’s lie in wait for blood; let’s ambush some innocent person for no reason at all.

Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those who go down into the Pit.

We’ll find all kinds of valuable wealth, and we’ll fill our houses with spoil.

Throw your lot in with us, and all of us will have one purse.”

My son, do not go along with them, and keep your feet away from their paths!

For they run toward evil; these enticers shed blood without hesitation.

Look, it is useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds,

but these people lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush only themselves.

Such is the way of all those who seek illicit gain— it takes away the lives of those who possess it.

Wisdom cries out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.

She calls out at the busiest part of the noisy streets, and at the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words:

“You naïve ones, how long will you love naiveté? And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing or fools hate knowledge?”

Return to my correction! Look, I will pour out my spirit on you, and I will make my words known to you.

“Because I called out to you and you refused to respond— I appealed, but no one paid attention—

because you neglected all my advice and did not want my correction,

I will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when what you fear comes,

when what you dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

“Then they will call out to me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord;

they did not want my advice, and they rejected all my correction.

They will eat the fruit of their way, and they will be filled with their own devices.

Indeed, the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

“But the person who listens to me will live safely and will be secure from the fear of evil.”

¶ The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel;

to know wisdom and chastening; to understand prudent words;

to receive the chastening of prudence, justice, judgment, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple, and to the young men knowledge and council.

If the wise will hear them, doctrine shall increase, and the man of understanding shall acquire wise counsel:

To understand a parable and the interpretation; the words of the wise and their enigmas.

¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and chastening.

My son, hearken unto the chastening of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an increase of grace unto thy head and protection about thy neck.

¶ My son, if sinners entice thee, do not consent.

If they say, Come with us, let us lay in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without cause.

Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol and whole as those that go down into the pit;

We shall find all kinds of riches, we shall fill our houses with spoil.

Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

My son, do not walk in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

For their feet shall run to evil and make haste to shed blood.

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

And they lay in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own souls.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain which takes away the life of those who possess it.

¶ Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets:

She cries in the chief place of concourse, in the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words, saying,

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and the fools hate knowledge?

Return at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one responded;

for because ye have disregarded all my counsel and rejected my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes upon you;

when what you have feared comes as destruction, and your calamity comes as a whirlwind; when tribulation and anguish come upon you.

Then they shall call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

They rejected my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own counsel.

For the rest of the ignorant shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But whosoever hearkens unto me shall dwell safely and shall rest from the fear of evil.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

to know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

to give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

we shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

my son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and discipline, To understand the sayings of understanding,

To receive discipline that leads to insight, Righteousness, justice, and equity,

To give prudence to the simple, To the youth knowledge and discretion;

Let the wise man hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire guidance,

To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Hear, my son, your father’s discipline And do not abandon your mother’s instruction;

For they are a garland of grace for your head And ornaments about your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not be willing.

If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, as those who go down to the pit;

We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil;

Cast in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,”

My son, do not walk in the way with them. Withhold your feet from their pathway,

For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood.

For it is no use that a net is spread In the sight of any bird;

But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.

So are the paths of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom shouts in the street, She gives forth her voice in the square;

At the head of the noisy streets she calls out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?

Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

And you neglected all my counsel And were not willing to accept my reproof;

I will also laugh at your disaster; I will mock when your dread comes,

When your dread comes like a storm And your disaster comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me earnestly but they will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of Yahweh.

They were not willing to accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.

So they shall eat of the fruit of their way And be satisfied with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

But he who listens to me shall dwell securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction, to understand sayings of understanding,

to gain insightful instruction, righteousness and justice and equity,

to give shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and purpose to the young,

may the wise hear and increase learning, and the one who understands gain direction,

to understand a proverb and an expression, words of wisdom and their riddles.

Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

My child, may you keep your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teachings,

for they are a garland of favor for your head, and pendants for your neck.

My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us! We shall lie in wait for blood; we shall ambush the innocent without cause.

Like Sheol, we will swallow them alive and whole, like those who descend to the pit.

We shall find all precious wealth, we shall fill our houses with booty,

you shall throw your lot in our midst, there will be one purse for all of us.”

My child, do not walk in their way. Keep your foot from their paths,

for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood,

for “in vain is the net scattered, in the sight of any winged bird.”

They lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush their own lives.

Thus are the ways of all who are greedy for gain— it will take the life of its possessors.

Wisdom calls out in the streets, in the squares she raises her voice.

On a busy corner she cries out, at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?

May you turn to my argument! Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I called out and you refused me, I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.

You have ignored all my counsel, and my reproof you are not willing to accept.

I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic comes upon you.

When your panic comes like a storm, and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you,

then they will call me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me.

Since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,

they were not willing to accept my counsel, they despised all my reproof.

They shall eat from the fruit of their way, and they shall be sated from their own schemes,

for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Whoever listens to me will dwell in security and rest securely from dread and disaster.”

These are the proverbs of King Solomon of Israel, David’s son:

He wrote them to teach his people how to live—how to act in every circumstance,

for he wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did.

“I want to make the simpleminded wise!” he said. “I want to warn young men about some problems they will face.

I want those already wise to become wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth.”

How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! Only fools refuse to be taught. Listen to your father and mother. What you learn from them will stand you in good stead; it will gain you many honors.

If young toughs tell you, “Come and join us”—turn your back on them!

“We’ll hide and rob and kill,” they say.

“Good or bad, we’ll treat them all alike.

And the loot we’ll get! All kinds of stuff!

Come on, throw in your lot with us; we’ll split with you in equal shares.”

Don’t do it, son! Stay far from men like that,

for crime is their way of life, and murder is their specialty.

When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away,

but not these men; they trap themselves! They lay a booby trap for their own lives.

Such is the fate of all who live by violence and murder. They will die a violent death.

Wisdom shouts in the streets for a hearing.

She calls out to the crowds along Main Street, and to the judges in their courts, and to everyone in all the land:

“You simpletons!” she cries. “How long will you go on being fools? How long will you scoff at wisdom and fight the facts?

Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise.

I have called you so often, but still you won’t come. I have pleaded, but all in vain.

For you have spurned my counsel and reproof.

Some day you’ll be in trouble, and I’ll laugh! Mock me, will you?—I’ll mock you!

When a storm of terror surrounds you, and when you are engulfed by anguish and distress,

then I will not answer your cry for help. It will be too late though you search for me ever so anxiously.

“For you closed your eyes to the facts and did not choose to reverence and trust the Lord,

and you turned your back on me, spurning my advice.

That is why you must eat the bitter fruit of having your own way and experience the full terrors of the pathway you have chosen.

For you turned away from me—to death; your own complacency will kill you. Fools!

But all who listen to me shall live in peace and safety, unafraid.”

These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son, Israel’s king— Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; A manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn— Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother’s knee. Wear their counsel like a winning crown, like rings on your fingers. Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don’t go along with them. If they say—“Let’s go out and raise some hell. Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman. Let’s pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals. We’ll load up on top-quality loot. We’ll haul it home by the truckload. Join us for the time of your life! With us, it’s share and share alike!”— Oh, friend, don’t give them a second look; don’t listen to them for a minute. They’re racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on. Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, Yet that’s what these people are doing— they’re doing themselves in. When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens: the more you get, the less you are.

Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out:

“Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn? About face! I can revise your life. Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you; I’m ready to tell you all I know. As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear; I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

“Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice, How can I take you seriously? I’ll turn the tables and joke about your troubles! What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces? What if catastrophe strikes and there’s nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes? You’ll need me then. You’ll call for me, but don’t expect an answer. No matter how hard you look, you won’t find me.

“Because you hated Knowledge and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God, Because you wouldn’t take my advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you, Well, you’ve made your bed—now lie in it; you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it? Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy—you’re in good hands.”

The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding,

to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;

to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—

a wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

to understand a proverb and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

for they will be a garland of grace on your head, and chains about your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those who go down into the pit;

we will find all kinds of precious possessions; we will fill our houses with spoil;

cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse”—

my son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path;

for their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood.

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

They lie in wait for their own blood; they lurk secretly for their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain, which takes away the life of its owners.

Wisdom cries out in the street; she utters her voice in the markets.

She cries at the corner of the streets, in the openings of the gates; she speaks her words in the city, saying:

“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.

Turn at my reproof; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded,

because you neglected all my counsel, and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes,

when your fear comes as desolation and your destruction comes as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me early, but they will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

they would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof.

Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the prosperity of fools will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure from fear of evil.”

The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, given

to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts,

to acquire the discipline of wise behavior— righteousness and justice and fairness—

to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young—

a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction—

to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles.

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My son, listen to your father’s discipline, and do not neglect your mother’s teachings,

because discipline and teachings are a graceful garland on your head and a golden chain around your neck.

My son, if sinners lure you, do not go along.

If they say, “Come with us. Let’s set an ambush to kill someone. Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun.

We’ll swallow them alive like the grave, like those in good health who go into the pit.

We’ll find all kinds of valuable possessions. We’ll fill our homes with stolen goods.

Join us. We’ll split the loot equally.”

My son, do not follow them in their way. Do not even set foot on their path,

because they rush to do evil and hurry to shed blood.

It does no good to spread a net within the sight of any bird.

But these people set an ambush for their own murder. They go into hiding only to lose their lives.

This is what happens to everyone who is greedy for unjust gain. Greed takes away his life.

Wisdom sings her song in the streets. In the public squares she raises her voice.

At the corners of noisy streets she calls out. At the entrances to the city she speaks her words,

“How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?

“Turn to me when I warn you. I will generously pour out my spirit for you. I will make my words known to you.

“I called, and you refused to listen. I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.

You ignored all my advice. You did not want me to warn you.

I will laugh at your calamity. I will make fun of you when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a violent storm, when calamity strikes you like a wind storm, when trouble and anguish come to you.

“They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me,

because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh.

They refused my advice. They despised my every warning.

They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle. They will be stuffed with their own schemes.

“Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away. Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference.

But whoever listens to me will live without worry and will be free from the dread of disaster.”

The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

That people may know wisdom and discipline, may understand intelligent sayings;

May receive instruction in wise conduct, in what is right, just and fair;

That resourcefulness may be imparted to the naive, knowledge and discretion to the young.

The wise by hearing them will advance in learning, the intelligent will gain sound guidance,

To comprehend proverb and byword, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your mother’s teaching;

A graceful diadem will they be for your head; a pendant for your neck.

My son, should sinners entice you,

do not go if they say, “Come along with us! Let us lie in wait for blood, unprovoked, let us trap the innocent;

Let us swallow them alive, like Sheol, whole, like those who go down to the pit!

All kinds of precious wealth shall we gain, we shall fill our houses with booty;

Cast in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse!”

My son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their path!

[For their feet run to evil, they hasten to shed blood.]

In vain a net is spread right under the eyes of any bird—

They lie in wait for their own blood, they set a trap for their own lives.

This is the way of everyone greedy for loot: it takes away their lives.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the open squares she raises her voice;

Down the crowded ways she calls out, at the city gates she utters her words:

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

How 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:

‘Because I called and you refused, extended my hand and no one took notice;

Because you disdained all my counsel, and my reproof you ignored—

I, in my turn, will laugh at your doom; will mock when terror overtakes you;

When terror comes upon you like a storm, and your doom approaches like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish befall you.’

Then they will call me, but I will not answer; they will seek me, but will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge, and the fear of the Lord they did not choose.

They ignored my counsel, they spurned all my reproof;

Well, then, they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and with their own devices be glutted.

For the straying of the naive kills them, the smugness of fools destroys them.

But whoever obeys me dwells in security, in peace, without fear of harm.”

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,

To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice, and integrity;

To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,

A wise person will hear and increase in learning, And a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

To understand a proverb and a saying, The words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, And do not ignore your mother’s teaching;

For they are a graceful wreath for your head And necklaces for your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lie in wait for blood, Let’s ambush the innocent without cause;

Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, like those who go down to the pit;

We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with plunder;

Throw in your lot with us; We will all have one money bag,”

My son, do not walk on the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,

For their feet run to evil, And they are quick to shed blood.

Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;

But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.

Such are the ways of everyone who makes unjust gain; It takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom shouts in the street, She raises her voice in the public square;

At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she declares her sayings:

“How long, you naive ones, will you love simplistic thinking? And how long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?

Turn to my rebuke, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

And you neglected all my advice And did not want my rebuke;

I will also laugh at your disaster; I will mock when your dread comes,

When your dread comes like a storm And your disaster comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord.

They did not accept my advice, They disdainfully rejected every rebuke from me.

So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own schemes.

For the faithlessness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,

To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity;

To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,

A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;

Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;

We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil;

Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,”

My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,

For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood.

Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;

But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;

At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:

“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?

“Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

“Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;

I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,

When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord.

“They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.

“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.

“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

“But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David king of Israel:

Designed to enable people to appreciate wisdom and discipline and to comprehend words that foster insight,

to acquire instruction in upright conduct, righteousness, justice, and honesty,

so that prudence may be imparted to the simple, and the young may gain knowledge and discretion.

By listening to them the wise will add to their learning, and those gifted with discernment will increase their ability

to perceive the meaning of proverbs and obscure sayings, the words of the sages and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools are those who despise wisdom and instruction.

Give heed, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching.

They will be a crown of grace for your head and a pendant of honor for your neck.

My son, if sinners try to entice you, refuse to join them.

They may say, “Come and join us as we lie in ambush to shed someone’s blood; let us waylay some innocent man;

like the netherworld we can swallow him alive, in his prime like those who go down to the pit.

We will discover riches of every sort with which we can fill our houses;

so throw in your lot with us and share in the common purse.”

My son, do not accompany them! Do not allow your feet to follow their path!

For their feet are rushing headlong to evil; they are hastening to shed blood.

It is useless to spread a net if the bird is watching.

These men lie in wait for their own blood and set an ambush against themselves.

Such is the fate of all who seek ill-gotten gain; such greed takes away the life of those who acquire it.

Wisdom cries out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.

She calls out on the crowded street corners; at the city gates she proclaims her message:

“How long will you simple people continue to be fools? How long will you mockers delight in your mocking? How long will you fools continue to hate knowledge?

If you would seriously consider my reproof, I would pour out my thoughts to you and make my precepts known to you.

“However, because you refused to listen to my call, because no one heeded when I stretched out my hand,

and because you rejected all my counsel and ignored all my warnings,

I in my turn will laugh at your distress and mock you when panic overwhelms you,

when terror suddenly strikes you like a hurricane and your doom approaches like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

“Then they will cry out to me but I will not answer; they will search for me, but not find me.

For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord.

They refused to accept my advice and spurned all my warnings.

“Now they must eat the fruits of their conduct and be glutted with the results of their schemes.

For the stubbornness of the simple kills them; fools come to final ruin by their own complacency.

But whoever listens to me will be secure and live in peace, without fear of disaster.”

These are the wise words of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.

They teach wisdom and self-control; they will help you understand wise words.

They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled and will teach you to do what is honest and fair and right.

They make the uneducated wise and give knowledge and sense to the young.

Wise people can also listen and learn; even they can find good advice in these words.

Then anyone can understand wise words and stories, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord, but fools hate wisdom and discipline.

My child, listen to your father’s teaching and do not forget your mother’s advice.

Their teaching will be like flowers in your hair or a necklace around your neck.

My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not follow them.

They will say, “Come with us. Let’s ambush and kill someone; let’s attack some innocent people just for fun.

Let’s swallow them alive, as death does; let’s swallow them whole, as the grave does.

We will take all kinds of valuable things and fill our houses with stolen goods.

Come join us, and we will share with you stolen goods.”

My child, do not go along with them; do not do what they do.

They are eager to do evil and are quick to kill.

It is useless to spread out a net right where the birds can see it.

But sinners will fall into their own traps; they will only catch themselves!

All greedy people end up this way; greed kills selfish people.

Wisdom is like a woman shouting in the street; she raises her voice in the city squares.

She cries out in the noisy street and shouts at the city gates:

“You fools, how long will you be foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom and hate knowledge?

If only you had listened when I corrected you, I would have told you what’s in my heart; I would have told you what I am thinking.

I called, but you refused to listen; I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.

You did not follow my advice and did not listen when I corrected you.

So I will laugh when you are in trouble. I will make fun when disaster strikes you,

when disaster comes over you like a storm, when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind, when pain and trouble overwhelm you.

“Then you will call to me, but I will not answer. You will look for me, but you will not find me.

It is because you rejected knowledge and did not choose to respect the Lord.

You did not accept my advice, and you rejected my correction.

So you will get what you deserve; you will get what you planned for others.

Fools will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care.

But those who listen to me will live in safety and be at peace, without fear of injury.”

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

To learn wisdom and moral instruction, to discern wise counsel.

To receive moral instruction in skillful living, with righteousness, justice, and equity.

To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, a discerning plan to the young person.

(Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!)

To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.

Fearing the Lord is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction.

Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother.

For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.

My child, if sinners try to entice you, do not consent!

If they say, “Come with us! We will lie in wait to shed blood; we will ambush an innocent person capriciously.

We will swallow them alive like Sheol, those full of vigor like those going down to the Pit.

We will seize all kinds of precious wealth; we will fill our houses with plunder.

Join with us! We will all share equally in what we steal.”

My child, do not go down their way, withhold yourself from their path;

for they are eager to inflict harm, and they hasten to shed blood.

Surely it is futile to spread a net in plain sight of any bird,

but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives!

Such are the ways of all who gain profit unjustly; it takes away the life of those who obtain it!

Wisdom calls out in the street, she shouts loudly in the plazas;

at the head of the noisy streets she calls, in the entrances of the gates in the city she utters her words:

“How long will you simpletons love naiveté? How long have mockers delighted in mockery? And how long will fools hate knowledge?

You should respond to my rebuke. Then I would pour out my thoughts to you; I would make my words known to you.

However, because I called but you refused to listen, because I stretched out my hand but no one was paying attention,

and you neglected all my advice, and did not comply with my rebuke,

so I myself will laugh when disaster strikes you, I will mock when what you dread comes,

when what you dread comes like a whirlwind, and disaster strikes you like a devastating storm, when distressing trouble comes on you.

Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me.

Because they hated moral knowledge, and did not choose to fear the Lord,

they did not comply with my advice, they spurned all my rebuke.

Therefore they will eat from the fruit of their way, and they will be stuffed full of their own counsel.

For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.

But the one who listens to me will live in security, and will be at ease from the dread of harm.”

These are the proverbs of Solomon. He was the son of David and the king of Israel.

Proverbs teach you wisdom and instruct you. They help you understand wise sayings.

They provide you with instruction and help you live wisely. They lead to what is right and honest and fair.

They give understanding to childish people. They give knowledge and good sense to those who are young.

Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned. Let those who understand what is right get guidance.

What I’m teaching also helps you understand proverbs and stories. It helps you understand the sayings and riddles of those who are wise.

If you really want to gain knowledge, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and instruction.

My son, listen to your father’s advice. Don’t turn away from your mother’s teaching.

What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head. It will be like a chain to decorate your neck.

My son, if sinful men tempt you, don’t give in to them.

They might say, “Come along with us. Let’s hide and wait to kill someone who hasn’t done anything wrong. Let’s catch some harmless person in our trap.

Let’s swallow them alive, as the grave does. Let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down into the pit.

We’ll get all kinds of valuable things. We’ll fill our houses with what we steal.

Cast lots with us for what they own. We’ll share everything we take from them.”

My son, don’t go along with them. Don’t even set your feet on their paths.

They are always in a hurry to sin. They are quick to spill someone’s blood.

How useless it is to spread a net where every bird can see it!

Those who hide and wait will spill their own blood. They will be caught in their own trap.

That’s what happens to everyone who goes after money in the wrong way. That kind of money takes away the life of those who get it.

Out in the open wisdom calls out. She raises her voice in a public place.

On top of the city wall she cries out. Here is what she says near the gate of the city.

“How long will you childish people love your childish ways? How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others? How long will you foolish people hate knowledge?

Pay attention to my warning! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you. I will make known to you my teachings.

But you refuse to listen when I call out to you. No one pays attention when I reach out my hand.

You turn away from all my advice. And you do not accept my warning.

So I will laugh at you when you are in danger. I will make fun of you when hard times come.

I will laugh when hard times hit you like a storm. I will laugh when danger comes your way like a windstorm. I will make fun of you when suffering and trouble come.

“Then you will call to me. But I won’t answer. You will look for me. But you won’t find me.

You hated knowledge. You didn’t choose to have respect for the Lord.

You wouldn’t accept my advice. You turned your backs on my warnings.

So you will eat the fruit of the way you have lived. You will choke on the fruit of what you have planned.

“The wrong path that childish people take will kill them. Foolish people will be destroyed by being satisfied with the way they live.

But those who listen to me will live in safety. They will be at ease and have no fear of being harmed.”

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

for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;

for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—

let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—

for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.

If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;

let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;

cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”—

my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.

How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!

These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!

Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;

on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.

But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,

since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke,

I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—

when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,

since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.

Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,

they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

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

for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;

for receiving instruction in prudent behaviour, doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young –

let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance –

for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.

If they say, ‘Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;

let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;

cast lots with us; we will all share the loot’–

my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.

How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!

These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!

Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;

on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

‘How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.

But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,

since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke,

I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you –

when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

‘Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,

since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.

Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,

they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.’

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,

To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;

To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—

A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;

For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil;

Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”—

My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;

For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.

Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;

But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.

She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:

“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.

Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,

When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord,

They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

These are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

They show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding.

They help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair.

They give wisdom to the child-like, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young.

A wise man will hear and grow in learning. A man of understanding will become able

to understand a saying and a picture-story, the words of the wise and what they mean.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of much learning. Fools hate wisdom and teaching.

Hear your father’s teaching, my son, and do not turn away from your mother’s teaching.

For they are a glory to your head and a chain of beauty around your neck.

My son, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not go with them.

If they say, “Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us set a trap for those who are without blame.

Let us swallow them alive like death, as those who go down to the grave.

We will find all kinds of things of great worth. We will fill our houses with the stolen riches.

Throw in your share with us. We will all have one money bag.”

My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path.

For their feet run to sin and hurry to kill.

Yes, the net is spread for nothing if the bird is watching.

They set traps for their own lives and wait to die.

Such are the ways of all who get things by hurting others. Their desire for stolen riches takes away their own lives.

Wisdom calls out in the street. She lifts her voice in the center of town.

There she cries out in the noisy streets. At the open gates of the city she speaks:

“O foolish ones, how long will you love being foolish? How long will those who laugh at others be happy in their laughing? How long will fools hate much learning?

Listen to my strong words! See, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.

I called but you would not listen. I put out my hand and no one gave it a thought.

You did not listen when I told you what you should do, and you would not hear any of my strong words.

So I will laugh at your trouble. I will laugh when you are afraid.

Fear will come to you like a storm. Hard times will come like a strong wind. When trouble and suffering come upon you,

then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me.

Because they hated much learning, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

They would not listen when I told them what they should do. They laughed at all my strong words.

So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own plans.

For the foolish will be killed by their turning away. The trust that fools put in themselves will destroy them.

But he who listens to me will live free from danger, and he will rest easy from the fear of what is sinful.”

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.

Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.

Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.

These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance

by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.

My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!

They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!

Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.

Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.

Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”

My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.

They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.

If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.

But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.

Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.

Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.

She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:

“How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?

Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.

“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.

You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.

So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—

when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

“When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.

For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord.

They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.

Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.

For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.

But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”

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

For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight,

for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young—

let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill,

to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching;

for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, ‘Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty.

Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse’—

my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths;

for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.

For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on;

yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves! and set an ambush—for their own lives!

Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.

At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,

and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.’

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

For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight,

for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young—

let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill,

to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching;

for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, ‘Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty.

Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse’—

my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths;

for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.

For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on;

yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves! and set an ambush—for their own lives!

Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.

At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,

and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.’

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

For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight,

for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young—

let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill,

to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching;

for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty.

Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—

my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths;

for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.

For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on;

yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves! and set an ambush—for their own lives!

Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.

At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,

and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.”

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

For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight,

for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young—

let the wise, too, hear and gain in learning and the discerning acquire skill,

to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction, and do not reject your mother’s teaching,

for they are a fair garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with spoil.

Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—

my child, do not walk in their way; keep your foot from their paths,

for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.

For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on;

yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves! and set an ambush—for their own lives!

Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.

At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,

and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease without dread of disaster.”

Mishlei Sh’lomo Ben Dovid, Melech Yisroel;

To have da’as of chochmah and musar (discipline); to understand the words of binah;

To receive the musar of those with seichel, tzedek and mishpat, and meisharim (equity, uprightness);

To give subtlety to the simple, to the na’ar, da’as and discretion.

A chacham (wise person) will hear, and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a mashal (proverb), and the melitzah (enigma); the divrei chachamim, and their chidot (riddles).

The Yirat Hashem is the reshit da’as, but fools despise chochmah and musar.

Beni (my son), hear the musar Avicha, and forsake not the Torat Immecha.

For they shall be a garland of chen unto thy rosh, and a chain about thy neck.

Beni (my son), if chatt’aim (sinners) entice thee, consent thou not.

If they say, Come with us, let us lie in wait for dahm, let us lurk secretly for the naki (innocent, harmless) chinnom (without cause);

Let us swallow them up chayyim (alive) like She’ol; and whole, as those that go down into the bor (pit);

We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill bateinu (our houses) with plunder;

Throw in thy goral (lot) among us; let all of us have kis echad (one pouch, purse).

Beni (my son), walk not thou in the derech with them; refrain thy regel from their path;

For their raglayim run to rah, and make haste for shefach dahm (shedding of blood).

Surely in vain the reshet (net) is spread in the eyes of kol ba’al kanaf (all the birds, i.e., lit. master of [the] wing);

And they lie in wait for their own dahm; they lurk secretly for their own nafshot.

So are the ways of every one that is greedy for betza (ill-gotten gain); which taketh away the nefesh of the be’alim (owners) thereof.

Chochmot crieth out in the street; she lifts up her voice in the rechovot (city squares);

She crieth out in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the she’arim (gates); in the Ir (city) she uttereth her words, saying,

Ad mosai, ye simple ones, will ye love being simpletons? And the scoffers delight in their mockery, and kesilim (fools) hate da’as?

Turn you at my tokhechah (reproof); hinei, I will pour out my ruach unto you, I will make known my devarim unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my yad, and no man regarded;

But ye have disdained all my etza (counsel), and would have none of my tokhechah (reproof);

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your pachad (terror) cometh;

When your pachad (terror) cometh like a storm, and your calamity cometh like a whirlwind; when tzarah (distress) and oppression cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall look for me diligently, but they shall not find me;

For that they hated da’as, and did not choose the Yirat Hashem;

They would have none of my etza (counsel); they despised all my tokhechah (reproof).

Therefore shall they eat of the p’ri (fruit) of their own derech, and be filled with their own mo’atzot (schemes, devices).

For the waywardness of the simple shall slay them, and the complacent contentment of kesilim (fools) shall destroy them.

But the one who payeth heed unto me [Chochmat Hashem, i.e., the Redemptive Word, not only Hashem’s creative agent (Ps 33:6; Prov 8:30; 30:4) but the one who comes with a healing mission according to Ps 107:20, though Moshiach has to die in the midst of his healing Mission to accomplish our healing from guilt and punitive dread-Isa 53:5] shall dwell safely, and shall be secure from pachad ra’ah (terror of evil).

The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel:

to know wisdom and instruction; to understand the words of knowledge;

to receive instruction; to do wisely by justice and judgment and equity;

to give sharpness of wit to the simple, and knowledge and discretion to the child.

And a wise man shall hear and increase in learning. And a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels;

to understand a parable and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their dark sayings.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, hear your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

For they shall be a comely ornament for your head, and as chains for your neck.

My son, if the wicked entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us. We will lay in wait for blood, and lie secretly for the innocent, without a cause.

“We will swallow them up alive like a grave, even whole, as those who go down into the pit.

“We shall find all precious riches. And fill our houses with spoil:

“Cast in your lot among us. And we will all have one purse.”

My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path.

For their feet run to evil and hurry to shed blood.

Certainly, as without cause, the net is spread before the eyes of all who have wing.

So they lay in wait for blood and lie secretly for their lives.

Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. He would take away the life of the owners thereof.

Wisdom cries outside. She utters her voice in the streets.

She calls in the high street, among the praise in the enterings of the gates, and utters her words in the city, saying,

“O you foolish! How long will you love foolishness, and the scornful take their pleasure in scorning, and the fools hate knowledge?

“Turn at my correction! Lo, I will pour out my mind to you, and make you understand my words!

“Because I have called, and you refused. I have stretched out my hand, and none would regard.

“But you have despised all my counsel. And would have none of my correction.

“I will also laugh at your destruction, and mock when your fear comes,

“when your fear comes like sudden desolation. And your destruction shall come like a whirlwind when affliction and anguish shall come upon you.

“Then shall they call upon me. But I will not answer. They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.

“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.

“They would have none of my counsel; but despised all my correction.

“Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way; and be filled with their own devices.

“For ease slays the foolish, and the prosperity of fools destroys them.

But he who obeys me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from fear of evil.

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

That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,

receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—

the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,

to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your mother’s teaching;

for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit:

we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;

throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse”—

my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;

for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;

but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives.

Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the markets she raises her voice;

on the top of the walls she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Give heed to my reproof; behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;

but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil.”

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

That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,

receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—

the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,

to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your mother’s teaching;

for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;

throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse”—

my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;

for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;

but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives.

Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the markets she raises her voice;

on the top of the walls she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Give heed to my reproof; behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;

but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil.”

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

to acquire wisdom and discipline, to understand the words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and fairness,

to give discernment to the naïve, knowledge and discretion to the youth

(let the wise listen and increase learning and the discerning obtain wise counsel)

to understand a proverb and a puzzle, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

For they are a garland of grace for your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in.

Suppose they say: “Come with us! Let’s lie in wait for blood! Let’s ambush the innocent—for no reason!

Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol— still healthy, as they go down to the Pit!

We’ll find all sorts of valuable things, we’ll fill our homes with loot!

Throw your lot in with us— we’ll all have one wallet.”

My son, do not go along with them, keep your foot from their path—

for their feet run to evil and they are swift to shed blood.

Surely it is useless to spread a net in the eyes of all winged creatures!

But they lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush their own lives.

Such is the fate of all gaining by violence. It takes the life of its possessor.

Wisdom calls aloud in the streets, she raises her voice in public squares.

She cries out above the commotion. At the entrances of the city gates, she utters her speech:

“How long will you naïve ones love simplicity, you scoffers delight in scoffing, and you fools hate knowledge?

You are repulsed at my rebuke. Behold, I pour out my heart to you. I will make my words known to you.

Because you refused when I called, and did not pay attention when I stretched out my hand,

since you ignore all my advice and would not accept my rebuke,

I in turn will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when dread comes on you,

when your terror comes like a storm and your calamity sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when trouble and distress overwhelm you!

Then they will cry out to me, but I will not answer! They will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Adonai,

they would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof,

so they will eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own schemes.

For the backsliding of the naïve will kill them and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

But whoever pays attention to me will live securely, and be free from the fear of evil.”

I, Solomon, David’s son and Israel’s king, pass on to you these proverbs—a treasury of wisdom—

So that you would recognize wisdom and value discipline; that you would understand insightful teaching

And receive wise guidance to live a disciplined life; that you would seek justice and have the ability to choose what is right and fair.

These proverbs teach the naive how to become clever; they instruct the young in how to grow in knowledge and live with discretion.

The wise will pay attention to these words and will grow in learning, and the discerning will receive divine guidance,

And they will be able to interpret the meaning of a proverb and a puzzle, the twists and turns in the words of the wise and their riddles.

Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the one True God, is the first step toward knowledge. Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance.

So, my son, pay attention to your father’s guidance, and do not ignore what your mother taught you—

Wear their wisdom as a badge of honor and maturity, as fine jewelry around your neck.

My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong, you should be strong enough not to go along.

If they should say, Evildoers: Come on! Everyone, hide and let’s wait to see whom we can beat to a pulp. We’re going to jump some unsuspecting chumps for no reason at all.

We’ll have our way with them, and when we’re through, there will be nothing left, as if their bodies were swallowed whole by the grave’s dark pit.

We’ll take whatever we want—all their wealth and their fancy clothes— and when we’re through, we’ll have piles of their treasure for our own.

You have to join us; forget about God. We’re going to rake in the goods, and we’ll share all we take!

My son, do not join them; keep well away from their violent, destructive paths.

For they run right away, every time, to do wrong, and they are thirsty for blood.

You see, it makes no sense to bait the net and set the trap while the bird is watching,

But these hiding in the shadows and waiting to spill innocent blood are really just hastening their own destruction! By giving in to their sinful desires, they set themselves up to be ambushed.

This is what happens to everyone who tries to profit by violence; violence will eventually rob them of their very lives.

There’s another voice in town. It belongs to Lady Wisdom, who calls out in the street. She cries out in the town square,

At the city gates, in the noisy city streets, you can hear her speaking over the racket.

Lady Wisdom: You simple, naive people, how long will you love your feeble ways? You simpletons, how long will you enjoy making fun of what you don’t understand? You fools, how long will you hate learning what truly matters?

Turn to me and receive my gentle correction; Watch and I will pour out my spirit on you; I will share with you my wise words in order to redirect your lives.

You hear, but you have refused to answer my call. My hands reached out, but no one noticed.

All my advice, all my correction, all have been neglected— you wanted nothing of them.

So I will be the laughter you hear when misfortune comes, and it will come. I will be the mocking sound when panic grips you—

When panic comes like a stormy blast, when misfortune sweeps in like a whirlwind, when sorrow and anguish weigh you down.

This is when they will call on me, but I will not respond; they will be frantic to find me, but they won’t be able.

Because they despised knowledge of my ways, and they also refused to respect and honor the Eternal,

Because they rejected my advice and turned down my correction,

They will surely get what’s coming to them: they’ll be forced to eat the fruit of their wicked ways; they’ll gorge themselves on the consequences of their choices.

You see, it’s turning away from me that brings death to the simple, and it’s self-satisfaction that destroys the fools.

But those who listen to me now will live under divine protection; they can rest knowing they are out of harm’s way.

The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:

to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;

to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—

that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—

my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,

because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.

They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.

Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”

The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel; (The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel;)

to know wisdom and knowing (to know wisdom and knowledge); to understand the words of prudence;

and to take the learning of teaching; to take rightfulness, and doom, and equity; (and to receive learning from teaching, or from instruction; to gain righteousness, and judgement, or justice, and fairness;)

that fellness, or wariness, be given to little children, and knowing and understanding to a young waxing man. (so that cleverness, and caution, be given to people of little wit, or of low intelligence, and knowledge and understanding to a young growing man.)

A wise man hearing shall be the wiser; and a man (of) understanding shall hold governance. (A wise person listening shall become wiser; and a person understanding shall gain skills, or abilities.)

He shall perceive a parable, and the expounding; the words of wise men, and the dark figurative speeches of them. (He shall understand a proverb, and its expounding, or its explanation; yea, the words of the wise, and their riddles.)

The dread of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and teaching. (The fear of the Lord/Reverence for the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; but fools despise wisdom and teaching.)

My son, hear thou the teaching of thy father, and forsake thou not the law of thy mother; (My son, listen thou to thy father’s teaching; and do not thou abandon thy mother’s principles;)

(so) that grace be added, either increased, to thine head, and a band to thy neck. (so that favour be added unto thee, and a band of honour be put about thy neck.)

My son, if sinners flatter thee, assent thou not to them.

If they say, Come thou with us, set we ambush to shed (out) blood, hide we snares of deceits against an innocent (person) without cause;

swallow we him, as hell swalloweth a man living; and all-whole, as (those) going down into a pit; (we shall swallow him up, like Sheol swalloweth up the living; yea, all-whole, like those going down into the pit;)

we shall find all precious chattel, (or possessions,) we shall fill our houses with spoils;

put thou lot with us, one purse be there of us all; (put thou thy lot with us, and let there be one purse for us all;)

my son, go thou not with them; forbid thy foot from the paths of them (do not let thy foot go onto their paths).

For the feet of them run to evil; and they hasten to shed out blood.

But a net is laid in vain before the eyes of birds, that have wings.

Also they set ambush against their own blood; and make ready frauds, or guiles, against their (own) souls.

So the paths of each avaricious man ravish, or take away, the souls of them that wield (them).

Wisdom preacheth withoutforth; in streets it giveth his voice. (Wisdom preacheth outside; yea, it raiseth up its voice in the streets.)

It crieth oft in the head of companies; in the leaves of [the] gates of the city it bringeth forth his words, and saith, (It crieth often at the tops of the streets; and at the leaves of the gates of the city, it bringeth forth its words, and saith,)

How long, little men in wit, love young childhood, and fools shall covet those things, that be harmful to themselves, and unprudent men shall hate knowing? (How long, ye of little wit, or of low intelligence, shall ye love foolishness, and shall fools desire those things that be harmful to themselves, and shall the imprudent hate knowledge, or understanding?)

Be ye converted at my reproving (Be ye changed by my rebukes); lo, I shall bring forth to you my spirit, and I shall show (you) my words.

For I called, and ye forsook; I held forth mine hand, and none there was that beheld. (For I called, but you would not listen to me; I held forth my hand, but no one paid any attention to it.)

Ye have despised all my counsel; and charged not my blamings (and would not listen to my rebukes).

And I shall laugh in your perishing; and I shall scorn you, when that, that ye dread, cometh to you. (And so I shall laugh at your misfortune, or at your tribulation; and I shall scorn you, when what ye fear, cometh to you.)

When sudden wretchedness falleth in, and perishing befalleth as (a) tempest; when tribulation and anguish cometh [up]on you.

Then they shall call me, and I shall not hear (but I shall not answer them); they shall rise early, and they shall not find me.

For they hated teaching, and they took not the dread of the Lord, (For they hated instruction, and they chose not to fear the Lord/and they chose not to have reverence for the Lord,)

neither they assented to my counsel, and they depraved all mine amending. (nor would they assent to my advice, and they have spurned all of my correction.)

Therefore they shall eat the fruits of their (own) way; and they shall be filled with their (own) counsels.

The turning away of little men in wit shall slay them; and the prosperity of fools shall lose them. (This turning away by those with little wit, or with low intelligence, shall lead to their own slaughter, yea, the prosperity of fools shall bring about their own destruction.)

But he that heareth me, shall rest without dread; and he shall use abundance, when the dread of evils is taken away. (But he who listeneth to me, shall rest without fear; and he shall enjoy his abundance, when the fear of evil is taken away.)

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

For knowing wisdom and instruction, For understanding sayings of intelligence,

For receiving the instruction of wisdom, Righteousness, judgment, and uprightness,

For giving to simple ones -- prudence, To a youth -- knowledge and discretion.

(The wise doth hear and increaseth learning, And the intelligent doth obtain counsels.)

For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.

Fear of Jehovah [is] a beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and instruction fools have despised!

Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother,

For a graceful wreath [are] they to thy head, And chains to thy neck.

My son, if sinners entice thee be not willing.

If they say, `Come with us, we lay wait for blood, We watch secretly for the innocent without cause,

We swallow them as Sheol -- alive, And whole -- as those going down [to] the pit,

Every precious substance we find, We fill our houses [with] spoil,

Thy lot thou dost cast among us, One purse is -- to all of us.'

My son! go not in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path,

For their feet to evil do run, And they haste to shed blood.

Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.

And they for their own blood lay wait, They watch secretly for their own lives.

So [are] the paths of every gainer of dishonest gain, The life of its owners it taketh.

Wisdom in an out-place crieth aloud, In broad places she giveth forth her voice,

At the head of the multitudes she calleth, In the openings of the gates, In the city her sayings she saith:

`Till when, ye simple, do ye love simplicity? And have scorners their scorning desired? And do fools hate knowledge?

Turn back at my reproof, lo, I pour forth to you my spirit, I make known my words with you.

Because I have called, and ye refuse, I stretched out my hand, and none is attending,

And ye slight all my counsel, And my reproof ye have not desired.

I also in your calamity do laugh, I deride when your fear cometh,

When your fear cometh as destruction, And your calamity as a hurricane doth come, When on you come adversity and distress.

Then they call me, and I do not answer, They seek me earnestly, and find me not.

Because that they have hated knowledge, And the fear of Jehovah have not chosen.

They have not consented to my counsel, They have despised all my reproof,

And they eat of the fruit of their way, And from their own counsels they are filled.

For the turning of the simple slayeth them, And the security of the foolish destroyeth them.