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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He stores up success for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity

For wisdom will enter your mind,
and knowledge will delight your heart.

for her house sinks down to death
and her ways to the land of the departed spirits.

For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those of integrity will remain in it;

for they will bring you
many days, a full life, and well-being.

Don’t consider yourself to be wise;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

This will be healing for your body
and strengthening for your bones.

for the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.

for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.

They will be life for you
and adornment for your neck.

Don’t fear sudden danger
or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,

for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from a snare.

Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,
for he trusts you and lives near you.

for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but He is a friend to the upright.

for I am giving you good instruction.
Don’t abandon my teaching.

Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.
Guard it, for it is your life.

For they can’t sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble.

For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.

Guard your heart above all else,
for it is the source of life.

Carefully consider the path for your feet,
and all your ways will be established.

Her feet go down to death;
her steps head straight for Sheol.

Keep your way far from her.
Don’t go near the door of her house.

They should be for you alone
and not for you to share with strangers.

For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes,
and He considers all his paths.

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor
or entered into an agreement with a stranger,

Do this, then, my son, and free yourself,
for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power:
Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.

For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,
and corrective discipline is the way to life.

Don’t lust in your heart for her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.

For a prostitute’s fee is only a loaf of bread,
but an adulteress goes after a precious life.

Can a man embrace fire
and his clothes not be burned?

For jealousy enrages a husband,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

So I came out to meet you,
to search for you, and I’ve found you.

For she has brought many down to death;
her victims are countless.

Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.

For my mouth tells the truth,
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

For wisdom is better than jewels,
and nothing desirable can compare with it.

To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.

I love those who love me,
and those who search for me find me.

when He set a limit for the sea
so that the waters would not violate His command,
when He laid out the foundations of the earth.

For the one who finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For by Wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;
if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.

The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.

As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,
so wisdom is for a man of understanding.

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.

The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the honorable,
but destruction awaits the malicious.

Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man with understanding keeps silent.

If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

The one who searches for what is good finds favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.

A man is praised for his insight,
but a twisted mind is despised.

From the words of his mouth,
a man will enjoy good things,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

Riches are a ransom for a man’s life,
but a poor man hears no threat.

The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence
and his children have a refuge.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.

Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.

For the discerning the path of life leads upward,
so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

The Lord is far from the wicked,
but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,
and humility comes before honor.

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The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.

Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.

Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger urges him on.

A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.

A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,
and the Lord is the tester of hearts.

Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool in his foolishness.

If anyone returns evil for good,
evil will never depart from his house.

A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a difficult time.

One without sense enters an agreement
and puts up security for his friend.

It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person
or to beat a noble for his honesty.

A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.

The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

A gift opens doors for a man
and brings him before the great.

Luxury is not appropriate for a fool—
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!

The fear of the Lord leads to life;
one will sleep at night without danger.

Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.

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It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.

It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows.

A wicked person desires evil;
he has no consideration for his neighbor.

The wicked are a ransom for the righteous,
and the treacherous, for the upright.