1The proverbs of David's son Solomon, king of Israel.H4912H8010H1121H1732H4428H34782These proverbs are for gaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;H3045H2451H4148H995H561H9983for acquiring the discipline that produces wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and upright living;H3947H4148H7919H6664H4941H43394for giving prudence to the na?ve, knowledge and discretion to the young.H5414H6195H6612H5288H1847H42095Let the wise listen and increase their learning; let the person of understanding receive guidanceH2450H8085H3254H3948H995H7069H84586in understanding proverbs, clever sayings, words of the wise, and their riddles.H995H4912H4426H1697H2450H2420
The Major Theme
7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.H3374H3068H7225H1847H191H936H2451H4148
The Minor Theme
8My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not let go of your mother's teaching.H1121H8085H4148H1H5203H8451H5179They will be a graceful wreath for your head and a chain for your neck.H3880H2580H7218H6060H1621
Avoid Evil Counsel
10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.H1121H2400H6601H1411If they say, "Come with us! Let's lie in wait for blood; let's ambush some innocent person for no reason at all.H559H3212H693H1818H6845H5355H260012Let's swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those who go down into the Pit,H1104H2416H7585H8549H3381H95313We'll find all kinds of valuable wealth, and we'll fill our houses with spoil.H4672H3368H1952H4390H1004H799814Throw your lot in with us, and all of us will have one purse."H5307H1486H8432H259H359915My son, do not go along with them, and keep your feet away from their paths!H1121H3212H1870H4513H7272H541016For they run toward evil; these enticers shed blood without hesitation.H7272H7323H7451H4116H8210H181817Look, it is useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds,H2600H7568H2219H5869H1167H367118but these people lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush only themselves.H693H1818H6845H531519Such is the way of all those who seek illicit gain? it takes away the lives of those who possess it.H734H1214H1215H3947H5315H1167
The Benefits of Choosing Wisdom
20Wisdom cries out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares.H2454H7442H2351H5414H6963H733921She calls out at the busiest part of the noisy streets, and at the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words:H7121H7218H1993H6607H8179H5892H559H56122"You na?ve ones, how long will you love naivet? And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing or fools hate knowledge?H6612H157H6612H3887H2530H3944H3684H8130H184723Return to my correction! Look, I will pour out my spirit on you, and I will make my words known to you.H7725H8433H5042H7307H3045H1697
The Consequences of Refusing Wisdom
24"Because I called out to you and you refused to respond? I appealed, but no one paid attention?H7121H3985H5186H3027H718125because you neglected all my advice and did not want my correction,H6544H6098H14H843326I will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when what you fear comes,H7832H343H3932H6343H93527when what you dread comes like a storm, and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.H6343H935H7722H7584H343H857H5492H6869H6695H93528Then they will call out to me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.H7121H6030H7836H467229Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord;H8130H1847H977H3374H306830they did not want my advice, and they rejected all my correction.H14H6098H5006H843331They will eat the fruit of their way, and they will be filled with their own devices.H398H6529H1870H7646H415632Indeed, the waywardness of the na?ve will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.H4878H6612H2026H7962H3684H633But the person who listens to me will live safely and will be secure from the fear of evil.H8085H7931H983H7599H6343H7451