Proverbs 1:8–19

Think and Live Wisely

A Warning Against a Life of Crime

⁸My son, listen to your father’s advice.

Don’t turn away from your mother’s teaching.

⁹What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head.

It will be like a chain to decorate your neck.

¹⁰My son, if sinners tempt you,

don’t give in to them.

¹¹They might say, “Come along with us.

Let’s hide and wait to spill someone’s blood.

Let’s catch some harmless people in our trap.

¹²Let’s swallow them alive, as the grave does.

Let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³We’ll get all kinds of valuable things.

We’ll fill our houses with what we steal.

¹⁴Come and join our gang.

We’ll share everything we have.”

¹⁵My son, don’t go along with them.

Don’t even set your feet on their paths.

¹⁶They are always in a hurry to sin.

They are quick to spill someone’s blood.

¹⁷How useless it is to spread a net

while all the birds are watching!

¹⁸Those who hide and wait will spill their own blood.

They will be caught in their own trap.

¹⁹That’s what happens to everyone

who goes after money in the wrong way.

That kind of money takes away

the lives of those who get it.