The Beginning of Knowledge

1 The aproverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

To 1perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,

Justice, judgment, and equity;

4 To give prudence to the bsimple,

To the young man knowledge and discretion—

5 cA wise man will hear and increase learning,

And a man of understanding will 2attain wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,

The words of the wise and their driddles.

7 eThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Shun Evil Counsel

8 fMy son, hear the instruction of your father,

And do not forsake the law of your mother;

9 For they will be a ggraceful ornament on your head,

And chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,

hDo not consent.

11 If they say, “Come with us,

Let us ilie in wait to shed blood;

Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

12 Let us swallow them alive like 3Sheol,

And whole, jlike those who go down to the Pit;

13 We shall find all kinds of precious 4possessions,

We shall fill our houses with 5spoil;

14 Cast in your lot among us,

Let us all have one purse”—

15 My son, kdo not walk in the way with them,

lKeep your foot from their path;

16 mFor their feet run to evil,

And they make haste to shed blood.

17 Surely, in 6vain the net is spread

In the sight of any 7bird;

18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,

They lurk secretly for their own lives.

19 nSo are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;

It takes away the life of its owners.