The Purpose of Proverbs

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

2For learning what wisdom and discipline are;

for understanding insightful sayings;

3for receiving wise instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity;b

4for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,c, d

knowledge and discretione to a young man —

5a wise man will listen and increase his learning,f

and a discerning man will obtain guidance —

6for understanding a proverb or a parable,g

the words of the wise, and their riddles.h

7The •fear of the LORD

is the beginning of knowledge;i

fools despise wisdom and discipline.j

Avoid the Path of the Violent

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

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

9for they will be a garlandl of grace on your head

and a gold chain around your neck.m

10My son, if sinners entice you,n

don’t be persuaded.o

11If they say — “Come with us!

Let’s set an ambushp and kill someone.q

Let’s attack some innocent personr just for fun!s

12Let’s swallow them alive,t like •Sheol,

still healthy as they go down to the •Pit.u

13We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder.v

14Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share our money”w —

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

or set foot on their path,y

16because their feet run toward trouble

and they hurry to commit murder.z, aa

17It is foolish to spread a net

where any bird can see it,

18but they set an ambush to kill themselves;ab

they attack their own lives.

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

it takes the lives of those who receive it.ad

Wisdom’s Plea

20Wisdom calls out in the street;

she raises her voice in the public squares.ae

21She cries out aboveaf the commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city •gates:

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

How long will you mockersag enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?ah

23If you respond to my warning,ai, aj

then I will pour out my spirit on youak

and teach you my words.

24Since I called out and you refused,al

extended my hand and no one paid attention,am

25since you neglected all my counselan

and did not accept my correction,

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

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.ap

29Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear the LORD,aq

30were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction,ar

31they will eat the fruit of their wayas

and be glutted with their own schemes.at

32For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them,au

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33But whoever listens to me will live securely

and be free from the fear of danger.”av