1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline; to gain perception and understanding of insightful words; 3To receive the instruction in wisdom, righteousness, justice, and equity; 4To give prudence to those who are naÏve, and knowledge and discretion to young people. 5Let the wise hear these proverbs, and increase their understanding; and may the discerning seek wise counsel, 6To comprehend the proverbs of the wise, and properly interpret the subtle truths of their sayings.

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not reject your mother’s teaching; 9For they shall be a crown of grace for your head, and chains of honor around your neck. 10My son, if godless men goad you into engaging in their misdeeds, do not follow them.

11If they say, “Come on, let’s gang up on some easy target; 12We’ll catch them off guard, rob and kill them without warning, 13We will get all kinds of good stuff to take home. 14Join us and we will all share in the loot.” 15My son, do not go along with them; stay far away from their crooked path; 16For they are quick to do evil, and to shed innocent blood.

17How foolish it is to set a trap that everyone can see and avoid; 18And then hide, waiting to spring the trap; when the only one that will be caught in it will be themselves. 19Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for ill-gotten gain, who rob others of their life and possessions.

20Wisdom shouts out in the open; she raises her voice out in the streets; 21She calls to the crowds along the main thoroughfares. To those gathered outside the city gates she says, 22“How long, you simpletons, will you persist in being simple? And how long will you scorners delight in your mocking, and you fools hate knowledge? 23Turn at My reproof (correction); behold, I will pour out My spirit unto you, I will make known My words to you. 24Because I have called, and you ignored Me; I have reached out to you with My hand, and no man cared; 25But you have disregarded all My counsel, and wanted nothing to do with My corrections, 26I will therefore also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when you finally know fear; 27When your fear comes with your desolation, and when your distress, anguish and destruction come upon you as abruptly as a whirlwind. 28Then shall you call upon Me, but I will not answer; you shall earnestly seek Me, but you shall not find Me; 29Because you despised knowledge, and chose not to fear or respect the LORD. 30You would have none of My counsel; You despised all My reprimands. 31Therefore shall you eat of the fruit of your own ways, and be filled with the fruit of your own schemes. 32For the waywardness of the simple shall bring them death, and the complacency of fools shall destroy them. 33But whoever listens to Me shall live safely, and secure from fear of evil.”