✧The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: ✧2to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; ✧3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; ✧4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man— ✧5that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel; ✧6to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise. ✧7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. ✧8My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching; ✧9for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. ✧10My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent. ✧11If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. ✧12Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. ✧13We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder. ✧14You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”— ✧15my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path, ✧16for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood. ✧17For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird; ✧18but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. ✧19So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners. ✧20Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. ✧21She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: ✧22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? ✧23Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. ✧24Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; ✧25but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; ✧26I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you, ✧27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you. ✧28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, ✧29because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD. ✧30They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. ✧31Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. ✧32For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. ✧33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”