The Purpose of the Proverbs
1 The proverbs of Solomon ⓛ son of David, king of Israel:
2 For learning wisdom and discipline; for understanding insightful sayings;
3 for receiving prudent instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; ⓜ
4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, [1] ⓝ knowledge and discretion ⓐ to a young man —
5 let a wise person listen and increase learning, ⓑ and let a discerning person obtain guidance —
6 for understanding a proverb or a parable, [2] the words of the wise, and their riddles. ⓒ
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; ⓓ fools despise wisdom and discipline. ⓔ
Obey Not to Walk with Sinners
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, ⓕ
9 for they will be a garland ⓖ of favor on your head and pendants [3] around your neck. ⓗ
10 My son, if sinners entice you, ⓘ don’t be persuaded. ⓙ
11 If they say — “Come with us! Let’s set an ambush ⓚ and kill someone. [4] Let’s attack some innocent person ⓛ just for fun! [5]
12 Let’s swallow them alive, ⓜ like Sheol, whole, like those who go down to the Pit. ⓝ
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. ⓐ
14 Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share the loot” [6] —
15 my son, don’t travel that road with them ⓑ or set foot on their path, ⓒ
16 because their feet run toward evil and they hurry to shed blood. ⓓ
17 It is useless to spread a net where any bird can see it,
18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; [7] they attack their own lives.
19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; ⓔ it takes the lives of those who receive it. [8]
20 Wisdom calls out in the street; she makes her voice heard in the public squares. ⓕ
21 She cries out above [9] the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers ⓖ enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? ⓗ
23 If you respond to my warning, [10] ⓘ then I will pour out my spirit on you ⓙ and teach you my words.
24 Since I called out and you refused, ⓚ extended my hand and no one paid attention, ⓛ
25 since you neglected all my counsel ⓜ and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. ⓝ I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will search for me, but won’t find me. ⓐ
29 Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the LORD, ⓑ
30 were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, ⓒ
31 they will eat the fruit of their way ⓓ and be glutted with their own schemes. ⓔ
32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, ⓕ and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.” ⓖ