The Beginning of Knowledge
(Proverbs 9:1–12)

1The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,

2To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,

3To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,

4To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.

5A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,

6To vnderstand a parable, & the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.

7The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.

The Enticement of Sin

8My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.

9For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.

10My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.

11If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:

12We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit:

13We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:

14Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:

15My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.

16For their feete runne to euill, & make haste to shed blood.

17Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:

18So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.

19Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.

Wisdom Calls Aloud

20Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.

21She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,

22O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?

23(Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)

24Because I haue called, & ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, & none woulde regarde.

25But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.

26I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.

27Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, & your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction & anguish shal come vpo you,

28Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,

29Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.

30They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.

31Therefore shal they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.

32For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.

33But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.