{Pro 1:1-24:34 **}
1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, King of Israel, 1:2 to know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding, 1:3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and uprightness, 1:4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion, 1:5 that the wise man may hear and increase in learning and that the man of understanding may attain to sound-wisdom, 1:6 to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their dark sayings.
1:7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. The foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
1:8 My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother. 1:9 Because they will be a wreath of charm to your head and chains about your neck.
1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 1:11 If they say, Come with us. Let us lay wait for blood. Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 1:12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol and whole, as those who go down into the pit.1:13 We will find all precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoil. 1:14 You will cast your lot among us. We will all have one bag.
1:15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Restrain your foot from their path. 1:16 Because their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood. 1:17 Because the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird,1:18and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
1:19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of the owners of it.
1:20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places. 1:21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
1:22 How long, you* simple ones, will you* love simplicity? And scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 1:23 Turn back at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you*. I will make my words known to you*.
1:24 Because I have called and you* have refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man has regarded, 1:25 but you* have made all my counsel void and want none of my reproof, 1:26 I also will laugh at your* calamity. I will mock when your* fear comes,1:27 when your* fear comes as a storm and your* calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you*.
1:28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, 1:29 because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
1:30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 1:31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices.
1:32 Because the backsliding of the simple will kill them and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.
1:33 But he who listens to me will dwell securely and will be quiet without fear of evil.