My son, do not walk on the road with them;
Keep your foot [far] away from their path,

For their feet are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life.

It is foolish to spread a net
where any bird can see it,

But [when these people set a trap for others] they lie in wait for their own blood;
They set an ambush for their own lives [and rush to their destruction].

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Her words are sounding in the meeting-places, and in the doorways of the town:

"You naive ones, how long will you love naivety And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing or fools hate knowledge?"

Because your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave attention to my out-stretched hand;

You have ignored all my counsel, and my reproof you are not willing [to accept].

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

For they were haters of knowledge, and did not give their hearts to the fear of the Lord:

they were not willing [to accept] my counsel, they despised all my reproof.

And they eat of the fruit of their way, And from their own counsels they are filled.

“But whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live securely and in confident trust
And will be at ease, without fear or dread of evil.”

My son, if you will take my words to your heart, storing up my laws in your mind;

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

Yes, if you cry out for insight,
And lift up your voice for understanding;

If you are looking for her as for silver, and searching for her as for stored-up wealth;

Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome]
And discover the knowledge of God.

He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him];
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],

He keeps watch on the ways which are right, and takes care of those who have the fear of him.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance]
And integrity and every good path.

For [skillful and godly] wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

To keep you from the way of evil and the evil man,
From the man who speaks perverse things;

Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness,

Who are rejoicing to do evil, They delight in frowardness of the wicked,

Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

for her house sinks to death, and to the dead are her paths.

None who go to her return again,
Nor do they regain the paths of life—

So that you will walk on the road of those who are good, and the paths of those who are righteous you shall keep.

For the upright do inhabit the earth, And the perfect are left in it,

And the wicked from the earth are cut off, And treacherous dealers plucked out of it!

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;

For they will add length to your days, years to your life, and abundant peace to you.

Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you];
Bind them [securely] around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

So find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.

It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts]
And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your wealth
And with the first fruits of all your crops (income);

And filled are thy barns with plenty, And with new wine thy presses break forth.

My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the Lord [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline];
Nor despise His rebuke,

For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life for those who seize her; those who take hold of her are considered happy.

By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

My son, let them not escape from your sight,
But keep sound wisdom and discretion,

And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely
And your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless];

For the Lord will be your confidence, firm and strong,
And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap].

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due [its rightful recipients],
When it is in your power to do it.

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
Who lives securely beside you.

Strive not lightly with any man, wher as he hath done thee no harm.

Don’t envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways;

For the devious are repulsive to the Lord;
But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].

With those who scorn, he is scornful, but to those who are humble, he gives favor.

Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!

Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:

For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.

He taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live.

Get wisdom, get understanding;
don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.

The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all [that is in] your possession, gain insight.

Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.

“She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty and glory.”

Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life are multiplied to thee.

I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded [for your path will be clear and open];
And when you run, you will not stumble.

Take hold of instruction; [actively seek it, grip it firmly and] do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.

Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.

Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.

For the wicked cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And they are deprived of sleep unless they make someone stumble and fall.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over.

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Do not let them escape from your sight;
Keep them in the center of your heart.

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.

Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].

Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways are established.

Incline not to the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!

My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

That you may exercise discrimination and discretion (good judgment),
And your lips may reserve knowledge and answer wisely [to temptation].

Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey
and her words are smoother than oil,

Her feet are going down to death, Sheol do her steps take hold of.

Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

Give ear to me then, my sons, and do not put away my words from you.

Let your way [in life] be far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house [avoid even being near the places of temptation],

Or you will give your honor to others,
And your years to the cruel one,

And strangers will be filled with your strength
And your hard-earned wealth will go to the house of a foreigner [who does not know God];

And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

Drink water from your own cistern [of a pure marriage relationship]
And fresh running water from your own well.