The Beginning of Knowledge
(Proverbs 9:1–12)

1The proverbs of Solomon son of David,

king of Israel:

2For knowing wisdom and discipline,

for discerning words of understanding,

3for receiving the instruction of wisdom,

righteousness, and justice, and uprightness,

4for giving to the simple ones† prudence,

to a youth knowledge and discretion.

5Let the wise hear and add to instruction,

and the discerning acquire wise counsel,

6to understand a proverb and a parable,

the words of the wise ones and their riddles.

7The fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge;

wisdom and instruction fools† have despised.

The Enticement of Sin

8Hear, my son, the discipline of your father,

and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

9For a garland of grace they are to your head,

and pendants for your neck.

10My son, if sinners should entice you,

do not be willing.

11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood,

let us hide for the innocent one without cause;

12let us swallow them alive like Sheol,

and whole like those descending into the Pit;

13all precious wealth we will find,

we will fill our houses with plunder;

14let your lot fall among us—

one purse there shall be for all of us!”—

15My son, do not walk in the way with them;

withhold your foot from their path;

16for their feet run to evil,

and they are swift to shed blood.

17For the net is spread in vain

in the eyes of any owner of the wing,

18and they lie in wait for their own blood;

they lurk for their own souls.

19Such are the ways of everyone being greedy for dishonest gain—

the soul of its masters it takes away.

Wisdom Calls Aloud

20Wisdom calls aloud in the street;

in the open squares she gives forth her voice.

21At the head of the clamoring† she cries out;

at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words:

22“Until when, O simple ones, will you⁺ love simplicity,

and those mocking delight themselves in mockery,

and the foolish ones hate knowledge?

23Turn back at my rebuke;

behold, I will pour out on you⁺ my spirit;

I will make known my words to you⁺.

24Because I have called and you⁺ refused,

I have stretched out my hand, and no one is paying attention;

25and you⁺ have neglected all my counsel,

and you⁺ did not consent to my rebuke.

26I also will laugh at your⁺ calamity;

I will mock the coming of your⁺ dread;

27your⁺ dread comes like a storm,

and your calamity like a whirlwind comes,

in the coming upon you⁺ of distress and anguish.

28Then they will call on me, and I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently, and they will not find me,

29upon that they hated knowledge

and they have not choosen the fear of YHWH.

30They did not consent to my counsel;

they have despised all my reproof.

31And they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

and from their own counsels they shall be filled.

32For the turning away of the simple ones slays them,

and the complacency of fools destroys them.

33And the one listening to me will dwell in safety,

and will be at ease from the dread of evil.”