Proverbs 1:1-19 ▼

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

2 For knowing wisdom and discipline, for discerning words of understanding,

3 for receiving the instruction of wisdom, righteousness, and justice, and uprightness,

4 for giving to the simple ones prudence, to a youth knowledge and discretion.

5 Let the wise hear and add to instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel,

6 to understand a proverb and a parable, the words of the wise ones and their riddles.

7 The fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools have despised.

8 Hear, my son, the discipline of your father, and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

9 For a garland of grace they are to your head, and pendants for your neck.

10 My son, if sinners should entice you, do not be willing.

11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide for the innocent one without cause;

12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit;

13 all precious wealth we will find, we will fill our houses with plunder;

14 let your lot fall in our midst—one purse there shall be for all of us!”—

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them; withhold your foot from their path;

16 for their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

17 For the net is spread in vain in the eyes of any owner of the wing,

18 and they lie in wait for their own blood; they lurk for their own souls.

19 Such are the ways of everyone being greedy for dishonest gain—the soul of its masters it takes away.