The Purpose of Proverbs

1The proverbs of Solomona son of David, king of Israel:

2For learning wisdom and discipline;

for understanding insightful sayings;

3for receiving prudent instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity;a

4for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,a a

knowledge and discretionb to a young man —

5let a wise person listen and increase learning,a

and let a discerning person obtain guidance —

6for understanding a proverb or a parable,A

the words of the wise, and their riddles.a

7The fear of the Lord

is the beginning of knowledge;a

fools despise wisdom and discipline.b

Avoid the Path of the Violent

8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,a

9for they will be a garlanda of favor on your head

and pendantsA around your neck.b

10My son, if sinners entice you,a

don’t be persuaded.b

11If they say — “Come with us!

Let’s set an ambusha and kill someone.A

Let’s attack some innocent personb just for fun!B

12Let’s swallow them alive,a like Sheol,

whole, like those who go down to the Pit.b

13We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder.a

14Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share the loot”A —

15my son, don’t travel that road with thema

or set foot on their path,b

16because their feet run toward evil

and they hurry to shed blood.a

17It is useless to spread a net

where any bird can see it,

18but they set an ambush to kill themselves;A

they attack their own lives.

19Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;a

it takes the lives of those who receive it.A

Wisdom’s Plea

20Wisdom calls out in the street;

she makes her voice heard in the public squares.a

21She cries out aboveA the commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

22“How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockersa enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?b

23If you respond to my warning,a a

then I will pour out my spirit on youb

and teach you my words.

24Since I called out and you refused,a

extended my hand and no one paid attention,b

25since you neglected all my counsela

and did not accept my correction,

26I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.a

I will mock when terror strikes you,

27when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when trouble and stress overcome you.

28Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will search for me, but won’t find me.a

29Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear the Lord,a

30were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction,a

31they will eat the fruit of their waya

and be glutted with their own schemes.b

32For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,a

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will live securely

and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”a