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1:1  The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
1:2  for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;
1:3  for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
1:4  for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--
1:5  let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--
1:6  for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
1:8  Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
1:9  They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
1:10  My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
1:11  If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for innocent blood, let's ambush some harmless soul;
1:12  let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
1:13  we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
1:14  cast lots with us; we will all share the loot"--
1:15  my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
1:16  for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.
1:17  How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
1:18  These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!
1:19  Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
1:20  Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;
1:21  on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:
1:22  "How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
1:23  Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.
1:24  But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
1:25  since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke,
1:26  I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you--
1:27  when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
1:28  "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,
1:29  since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD.
1:30  Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
1:31  they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
1:32  For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
1:33  but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."