1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2to know wisdom and instruction; to recognize the words of understanding; 3to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and uprightness; 4to give sense to the simple, knowledge and judgment to the young man; 5the wise hears and increases learning; and understanding ones gets wisdom; 6to understand a proverb and its meaning; the words of the wise, and their acute sayings. 7The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother; 9for they [shall be] an ornament of grace to your head and chains around your neck. 10My son, if sinners lure you, do not be willing. 11If they say, Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, we will watch secretly for the innocent without cause; 12let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those who go down into the pit; 13we shall find all precious goods; we shall fill our houses [with] plunder; 14cast in your lot among us, and let us have one purse. 15My son, do not walk in the way with them! Keep back your foot from their path, 16for their feet run to evil and make haste to shed blood. 17Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird, 18And they lie in wait for their [own] blood; they watch secretly for their own lives. 19So [are] the ways of everyone who gains unjust gain; it takes away its owners' life. 20Wisdom cries outside; she utters her voice in the streets; 21she cries in the chief place of gathering, in the openings of the gates; in the city she utters her words, [saying] , 22How long will you love simplicity, simple ones? And will scorners delight in their scorning? And will fools hate knowledge? 23Turn at my warning; behold, I will pour out my Spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 24Because I called, and you refused; I stretched out my hand, and no one paid attention; 25but you have despised all my advice, and would have none of my warning. 26I also will laugh at your trouble; I will mock when your fear comes; 27when your fear comes as a wasting away, and your ruin comes like a tempest when trouble and pain come upon you. 28Then they shall call upon me, and I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; 29instead they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30They would have none of my counsel; they despised all my correction, 31and they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own desires. 32For the turning away of the simple kills them, and the ease of fools destroys them. 33But whoever listens to me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.