Proverbs 1:1-19 ▼

1 The prouerbes of Solomon the sonne of Dauid, kyng of Israel:

2 To learne wisdome and instruction, & to perceaue the wordes of vnderstandyng,

3 To receaue the instruction of wisdome, iustice, iudgement, and equitie:

4 To geue wyt vnto the simple, and that the young men myght haue knowledge and vnderstandyng.

5 The wise man wyll geue eare, and wyll come by more wisdome, and he that is endued with vnderstanding shal attayne vnto wise counsayles.

6 To vnderstande a parable, and the interpretation therof, the wordes of the wise, and their darke speaches.

7 The feare of the Lorde is the begynnyng of knowledge: but fooles dispise wisdome and instruction.

8 My sonne, heare thy fathers doctrine, & forsake not the lawe of thy mother:

9 For they shalbe an encrease of grace vnto thy head, and as a chayne about thy necke.

10 My sonne, if sinners entice thee, consent not vnto them.

11 If they say, come with vs, let vs lay wayte for blood, and lurke priuily for the innocent without a cause:

12 Let vs swallowe them vp lyke the graue quicke and whole, as those that go downe into the pit:

13 So shall we finde all maner of costly riches, and fill our houses with spoyles:

14 Cast in thy lot among vs, and let vs all haue one purse.

15 My sonne, walke not thou with them, refrayne thy foote from their wayes.

16 For their feete runne to euyll, and are hasty to shed blood.

17 But as in vayne, the nette is layde foorth before the birdes eyes:

18 So these lay wayte for the blood of them, and lye priuily for their liues.

19 Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedie of gayne, who taketh away the life of the owner therof.