Proverbs 1:1-21 ▼

1 The proverbs of David's son Solomon, king of Israel.

2 These proverbs are for gaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;

3 for acquiring the discipline that produces wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and upright living;

4 for giving prudence to the naïve, and knowledge and discretion to the young.

5 Let the wise listen and increase their learning; let the person of understanding receive guidance

6 in understanding proverbs, clever sayings, words of the wise, and their riddles.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

8 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not let go of your mother's teaching.

9 They will be a graceful wreath for your head and a chain for your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

11 If they say, |Come with us! Let's lie in wait for blood; let's ambush some innocent person for no reason at all.

12 Let's swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those who go down into the Pit.

13 We'll find all kinds of valuable wealth, and we'll fill our houses with spoil.

14 Throw your lot in with us, and all of us will have one purse.|

15 My son, do not go along with them, and keep your feet away from their paths!

16 For they run toward evil; these enticers shed blood without hesitation.

17 Look, it is useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds,

18 but these people lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush only themselves.

19 Such is the way of all those who seek illicit gain— it takes away the lives of those who possess it.

20 Wisdom cries out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.

21 She calls out at the busiest part of the noisy streets, and at the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words: