These proverbs are for gaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;

For a graceful wreath are they to thy head, And chains to thy neck.

Let us engulf them, like hades, alive, While in health, like them who are going down to the pit;

We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions,
We will fill our houses with spoil;

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

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

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

Truly, if you are crying out for good sense, and your request is for knowledge;

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

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.

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.

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!

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

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither faint when thou are rebuked of him.

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.

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

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!

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

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

Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil.

For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.

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

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.

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

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.

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

May they be yours alone, and not for strangers [who are] with you.

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

My son, if you are surety for your friend, if you struck your palms with a stranger,

If you have been snared with the words of your lips,
If you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,

deceits are in his heart; he deviseth mischief at all times, he soweth discords.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Eyes that are lofty, a tongue that is false, and hands shedding innocent blood;

A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,

In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you.

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Doth a man take fire into his bosom, And are his garments not burnt?

Doth a man walk on the hot coals, And are his feet not scorched?

He will not take any payment; and he will not make peace with you though your money offerings are increased.

Say to [skillful and godly] wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And regard understanding and intelligent insight as your intimate friends;

So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth.

Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows.

Come, we are filled with loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves.

For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

The ways of Sheol [are] her house, descending to chambers of death.

Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.

Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.

For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me.

{Advice and sound judgment} are mine; I am understanding, {strength is mine}.

Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.

Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

“I, [Wisdom, continuously] walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,

Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights are with the sons of men.

Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.

For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself [for your own benefit];
If you scoff [thoughtlessly ridicule and disdain], you alone will pay the penalty.

To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight on their paths.

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Treasures of wickedness and ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness and moral integrity in daily life rescues from death.

Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

He whose ways are upright will go safely, but he whose ways are twisted will be made low.

Those who wink their eyes are trouble makers, and the mocking fool will be brought down.

Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are covered up by love.

On the lips of the discerning, [skillful and godly] wisdom is found,
But discipline and the rod are for the back of the one who is without common sense and understanding.

Those who are wise lay up knowledge, but [to] the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth, but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.

When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,
but the one who controls his lips is wise.

The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued);
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

The thing that the ungodly are afraid of, shall come upon them; but the righteous shall have their desire.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.

The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy,
But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.