For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.

If they say, "Come with us! We will lie in wait to shed blood; we will ambush an innocent person capriciously.

We will swallow them alive like Sheol, those full of vigor like those going down to the Pit.

We will seize all kinds of precious wealth; we will fill our houses with plunder.

Join with us! We will all share equally in what we steal."

"How long will you simpletons love naivet?? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

If only you will respond to my rebuke, then I will pour out my thoughts to you and I will make my words known to you.

so I myself will laugh when disaster strikes you, I will mock when what you dread comes,

Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me.

Therefore they will eat from the fruit of their way, and they will be stuffed full of their own counsel.

For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.

But the one who listens to me will live in security, and will be at ease from the dread of harm.

then you will understand how to fear the Lord, and you will discover knowledge about God.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity -- every good way.

For wisdom will enter your heart, and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.

Discretion will protect you, understanding will guard you,

None who go in to her will return, nor will they reach the paths of life.

So you will walk in the way of good people, and will keep on the paths of the righteous.

For the upright will reside in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it,

but the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be torn away from it.

for they will provide a long and full life, and they will add well-being to you.

Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people.

Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self.

then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

She is like a tree of life to those who obtain her, and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed.

So they will give life to you, and grace to adorn your neck.

Then you will walk on your way with security, and you will not stumble.

When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.

You will not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked;

for the Lord will be the source of your confidence, and he will guard your foot from being caught in a trap.

Do not say to your neighbor, "Go! Return tomorrow and I will give it," when you have it with you at the time.

he taught me, and he said to me: "Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you.

Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you."

Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.

I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble.

And at the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are wasted away.

And you will say, "How I hated discipline! My heart spurned reproof!

The wicked will be captured by his own iniquities, and he will be held by the cords of his own sin.

He will die because there was no discipline; because of the greatness of his folly he will reel.

yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat.

How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep?

and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.

Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; in an instant he will be broken, and there will be no remedy.

When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.

So it is with the one who has sex with his neighbor's wife; no one who touches her will escape punishment.

He will be beaten and despised, and his reproach will not be wiped away;

for jealousy kindles a husband's rage, and he will not show mercy when he takes revenge.

He will not consider any compensation; he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation.

He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month."

till an arrow pierces his liver -- like a bird hurrying into a trap, and he does not know that it will cost him his life.

Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.

Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you; reprove a wise person and he will love you.

Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.

For because of me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot.

The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.

The one who winks his eye causes trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks wisdom will be disciplined.

What the wicked fears will come on him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

Fearing the Lord prolongs life, but the life span of the wicked will be shortened.

The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled.

The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.

The righteousness of the blameless will make straight their way, but the wicked person will fall by his own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the faithless will be captured by their own desires.

With his speech the godless person destroys his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

The one who puts up security for a stranger will surely have trouble, but whoever avoids shaking hands will be secure.

Be assured that the evil person will certainly be punished, but the descendants of the righteous will not suffer unjust judgment.

A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.

People will curse the one who withholds grain, but they will praise the one who sells it.

The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil -- it will come to him.

The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person.

The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them.

The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the righteous household will stand.

The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks wisdom.

A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him.

The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.

The diligent person will rule, but the slothful will become a slave.

The one who guards his words guards his life, but whoever is talkative will come to ruin.

The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied.

Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.

The one who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but whoever esteems instruction will be rewarded.

Leave the presence of a foolish person, or you will not understand wise counsel.

The household of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

The backslider will be paid back from his own ways, but a good person will be rewarded for his.

Those who are evil will bow before those who are good, and the wicked will bow at the gates of the righteous.

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children.

The wicked will be thrown down in his trouble, but the righteous have refuge even in the threat of death.

Severe discipline is for the one who abandons the way; the one who hates reproof will die.

The scorner does not love one who corrects him; he will not go to the wise.

The one who is greedy for gain troubles his household, but whoever hates bribes will live.

Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

The Lord abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished.

The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.