The Beginning of Knowledge

(Ezra 4:6-16; Esther 1:1-9; Proverbs 9:1-12)

1{2}To know wisdom, and instruction:

2{3}To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity:

3{4}To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding.

4{5}A wise man shall hear, and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth shall possess governments.

5{6}He shall understand a parable and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.

6{7}The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

7{8}My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

The Enticement of Sin

8{9}That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.

9{10}My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.

10{11}If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause:

11{12}Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit.

12{13}We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.

13{14}Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.

14{15}My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.

15{16}For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

16{17}But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.

17{18}And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.

18{19}So the ways of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.

19{20}Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:

Wisdom Calls Aloud

20{21}At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:

21{22}O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?

22{23}Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.

23{24}Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.

24{25}You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.

25{26}I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.

26{27}When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you:

27{28}Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning, and shall not find me:

28{29}Because they have hated instruction, and received not the fear of the Lord,

29{30}Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.

30{31}Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.

31{32}The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

32{33}But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.

33{2:1}My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,