1 ¶ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2 To give wisdom and instruction; for understanding the words of enlightenment;

3 To receive wise instruction, in righteousness, and justice, and equity;

4 To give insight to the simple, and knowledge and discretion to the young.

5 A wise man will listen, and will add to his learning; and a man of understanding will obtain guidance:

6 For understanding a proverb, and its interpretation; the words of the wise, and their difficult sayings.

7 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and correction.

8 My son, listen to your father’s criticism, and do not ignore your mother’s teaching:

9 For they will be an ornament of grace to your head, and an ornament around your neck.

10 ¶ My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us set an ambush to kill, let us lay in wait for the innocent just for fun:

12 Let us swallow them alive like the grave; and whole, as those who go down into the pit:

13 We will get all kinds of valuable things, we will fill our houses with spoil:

14 Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse:

15 My son, do not go with them; keep your foot away from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and hurry to shed blood.

17 It is useless to spread a net where a bird can see it.

18 But they set an ambush to kill themselves; they lay in wait for their own lives.

19 Such are the paths of every one who is greedy for gain; it takes the life of those who profit from it.

20 ¶ Wisdom shouts in the streets; she is calling in the market places:

21 She calls out at the noisy intersections: she utters her words at the entrance of the city gates, saying,

22 How long will you thoughtless people love ignorance? you skeptics delight in mocking, and you fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn at my rebuke: behold, I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make my words known to you.

24 Because I called, and you refused to listen; because I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention;

25 And you have ignored all my advice, and did not accept my correction:

26 I will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when you are struck with panic;

27 When terror strikes you like a storm, and calamity comes on you like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish comes upon you.

28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me early, but they will not find me:

29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose to fear the LORD:

30 They did not want any of my advice: they rejected all my correction.

31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be fed with their own schemes.

32 For the thoughtless die because they turn away, and the prosperity of fools destroys them.