The Purpose of Proverbs

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

2 For learning what wisdom and discipline are;

for understanding insightful sayings;

3 for receiving wise instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity; b

4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, c d

knowledge and discretion e to a young man—

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

and a discerning man will obtain guidance—

6 for understanding a proverb or a parable, g

the words of the wise, and their riddles. h

7 The * fear of the Lord

is the beginning of knowledge; i

fools despise wisdom and discipline. j

Avoid the Path of the Violent

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

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

9 for they will be a garland l of grace on your head

and a gold chain around your neck. m

10 My son, if sinners entice you, n

don’t be persuaded. o

11 If they say—“Come with us!

Let’s set an ambush p and kill someone. q

Let’s attack some innocent person r just for fun! s

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

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

13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder. v

14 Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share our money” w—

15 my son, don’t travel that road with them x

or set foot on their path, y

16 because their feet run toward trouble

and they hurry to commit murder. z a

17 It is foolish to spread a net

where any bird can see it,

18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; b

they attack their own lives.

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

it takes the lives of those who receive it. d

Wisdom’s Plea

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;

she raises her voice in the public squares. e

21 She cries out above f the commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city * gates:

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

How long will you mockers g enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge? h

23 If you respond to my warning, i j

then I will pour out my spirit on you k

and teach you my words.

24 Since I called out and you refused, l

extended my hand and no one paid attention, m

25 since you neglected all my counsel n

and did not accept my correction,

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

I will mock when terror strikes you,

27 when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when trouble and stress overcome you.

28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will search for me, but won’t find me. p

29 Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear the Lord, q

30 were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction, r

31 they will eat the fruit of their way s

and be glutted with their own schemes. t

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

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33 But whoever listens to me will live securely

and be free from the fear of danger.” v