The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and discipline.

for receiving wise instruction
in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,
knowledge and discretion to a young man—

for understanding a proverb or a parable,
the words of the wise, and their riddles.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.
Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol,
still healthy as they go down to the Pit.

We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder.

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

my son, don’t travel that road with them
or set foot on their path,

Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share our money”—

but they set an ambush to kill themselves;
they attack their own lives.

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

because their feet run toward trouble
and they hurry to commit murder.

“How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?

If you respond to my warning,
then I will pour out my spirit on you
and teach you my words.

She cries out above the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;
it takes the lives of those who receive it.

Since I called out and you refused,
extended my hand and no one paid attention,

Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.

since you neglected all my counsel
and did not accept my correction,

I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.
I will mock when terror strikes you,

they will eat the fruit of their way
and be glutted with their own schemes.

Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,

when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.

were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,

But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be free from the fear of danger.”

For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

for they will be a garland of grace on your head
and a gold chain around your neck.

Wisdom calls out in the street;
she raises her voice in the public squares.

For learning what wisdom and discipline are;
for understanding insightful sayings;

My son, if sinners entice you,
don’t be persuaded.

a wise man will listen and increase his learning,
and a discerning man will obtain guidance—