If they say, "Come with us, Let's lay in wait for blood; let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;

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

But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm."

Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;

For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.

But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be rooted out of it.

for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.

Don't be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Don't say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you," when you have it by you.

Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

Avoid it, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don't know what they stumble over.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.

You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

A loving doe and a graceful deer -- let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.

He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.

For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.

Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.

Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.

For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.

He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."

Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn't know that it will cost his life.

Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?

Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:

For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.

"I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth;

Hear instruction, and be wise. Don't refuse it.

Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:

"Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

Yahweh's blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.

What the wicked fear, will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.

By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.

People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.

The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.

He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

An abundance of food is in poor people's fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.

A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.

There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!

Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow's borders intact.

The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.

The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.

When a man's ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

The king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way.

A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.