Fear of Yahweh [is the] beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

for they [are] a garland of favor for your head, and pendants for your neck.

If they say, "Come with us! We shall lie in wait for blood; we shall ambush the innocent without cause.

you shall throw your lot in our midst, there will be one purse for all of us."

for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood,

for "in vain is the net scattered, in the sight of any {winged bird}."

They lie in wait for their [own] blood. They ambush their [own] lives.

Thus are the ways of all who are greedy [for] gain-- it will take the life of its possessors.

Since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,

for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

For if you cry out for understanding, [if] you lift your voice for insight,

then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and the knowledge of God you will find.

For Yahweh will give wisdom; from his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.

For the upright, he stores sound judgment, a shield for those who walk uprightly,

for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasing to your soul.

those who are happy to do evil, [for] they delight in [the] deviousness of evil,

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

For those who are upright will dwell [in the] land, and those who are blameless will remain in it.

For length of days, years of life, and peace they shall add to you.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.

There shall be healing for your {flesh}, and refreshment for your body.

For her income is better than the income of silver, and her revenue than [that of] gold.

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

They shall be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.

for he who is perverse [is] an abomination of Yahweh, but those who are upright [are] his confidence.

For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.

She will give a garland for your head; she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you."

Seize the instruction! Do not let go! Guard her, for she is your life.

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

For they ate the bread of wickedness, and they drank the wine of violence.

For they are life to those who find them and healing {to the entire body}.

With all vigilance, keep your heart, for from it [comes] the source of life.

For the lips of the strange woman will drip honey, and smoother than oil is her mouth.

Keep your paths far from her, and do not go near to the door of her house,

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

For before the eyes of Yahweh [are] {human ways}, and all his paths he examines.

He shall die {for lack of} discipline, and in the greatness of his folly he shall be lost.

do this, then, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into {the palm of your neighbor's hand}: Go, humble yourself, plead with your neighbor.

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands for rest--

For [like] a lamp [is] a commandment, and instruction [is] light, and the way of life [is the] reproof of discipline,

For [the] price of a woman, a prostitute, [is the] price of a loaf of bread, but the {woman belonging to a man} hunts precious life.

Can a man carry fire in his lap, and his clothes not burn?

For jealousy [is the] fury of a husband, and he will not show restraint on the day of revenge.

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

For there is no man in his home; he has gone on a {long journey}.

The bag of money he took in his hand, for [on] the day of the full moon he will come home."

For many slain she has laid low, and countless [are] all of her killings.

Listen! For noble things I will speak, and upright things from the opening of my lips.

For wisdom is better than jewels, and all desires shall not compare with her.

The fear of Yahweh [is] hatred of evil, pride, and arrogance and an evil way. And I hate a mouth of perversity.

For he who finds me [is] he who finds life, and he obtains favor from Yahweh.

"Whoever [is] simple, let him turn here." As for the one who lacks {sense}, she says to him,

He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself, and he who rebukes the wicked {gets hurt}.

The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh, and knowledge of the Holy One, insight.

For by me your days shall increase, and years of life shall multiply for you.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and [if] you scoff, alone you shall bear [it].

"Whoever is simple, may he turn here!" As for he who lacks {sense}, she says to him,

On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod [is] for the back of one who lacks {sense}.

Lips of righteousness feed many, but fools {die for lack of sense}.

[It is] like a sport for a fool to do wrong, wisdom for a person of understanding.

The fear of Yahweh adds life, but the years of the wicked are shortened.

A stronghold for the upright is the way of Yahweh, but ruin [belongs] to {evildoers}.

He who withholds grain, the people curse him, but a blessing [is] for the head of him who sells.

For his mouth of good sense, a man will be recommended, but he who is of perverse {mind} will be despised.

As for a fool, {on that very day} he makes his anger known, but he who ignores an insult [is] prudent.

Walk with the wise and be wise, but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.

He who is good will leave an inheritance to {his grandchildren}, and stored up for the righteous [is] the wealth of a sinner.

Leave {the presence of a foolish man}, [for] you will not [come to] know {words of knowledge}.

In the fear of Yahweh, there is confidence of strength, and for his children, there will be refuge.

The fear of Yahweh [is] a fountain of life, [in order] to turn from the snares of death.

The favor of a king [is] for the servant who deals wisely, but his wrath will be [on] him who acts shamefully.

Better [is] little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure and trouble with it.

The path of life [leads] upward for him who has insight, in order to turn away from Sheol below.

He who makes trouble for his house [is] he who is greedy for unjust gain, but he who hates bribes will live.

Yahweh is far from the wicked, but the prayers of the righteous he will hear.

Fear of Yahweh [is] the instruction of the wise, and before honor [comes] humility.

All Yahweh has made [is] for his purpose, and even the wicked for the day of trouble.

By loyalty and faithfulness, iniquity will be covered over, and by fear of Yahweh {one turns} from evil.

An abomination to kings [is] doing evil, for by righteousness the throne will be established.

A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner, but the instruction of fools is folly.

The life of a worker works for him, for his {hunger} urges him.

A man of wickedness concocts evil, and his lips [are] like a scorching fire.

A crucible [is] for the silver, and a furnace [is] for the gold, but Yahweh will test hearts.

{Fine speech} [is] not becoming a fool, {still less} [is] {false speech} for a ruler.

[For] he who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

The friend loves at all times, but a brother is born for adversity.

He who begets a fool, [there is] trouble for him; the father of a fool will not rejoice.

Also, imposing a fine on the righteous is not good, [nor] to flog nobles for uprightness.

The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging.

The gift of a person will open doors for him, and before the great, it gives him access.

From the fruit of a man's mouth, his stomach will be satisfied, as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.

As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin, and against Yahweh his heart will rage.

For a fool living in luxury is not fitting, [any] more [than it is] for a slave to rule over princes.

Discipline your child, for there is hope, but on his destruction do not set your desire.

Listen [to] advice and accept instruction so that you will gain wisdom for your {future}.

Fear of Yahweh [leads] to life; he who is filled [with it] will rest--he will not suffer harm.

Judgments are prepared for the scoffers, and flogging for the back of fools.

[It is] honorable for the man to refrain from strife, but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

Many a person will proclaim his loyalty [for] himself, but a man [who is] trustworthy, who can find?

Take his garment, for he has given security [to] a stranger, and on behalf of a foreigner--take it as pledge.