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1:1  These are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
1:2  They show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding.
1:3  They help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair.
1:4  They give wisdom to the child-like, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young.
1:5  A wise man will hear and grow in learning. A man of understanding will become able
1:6  to understand a saying and a picture-story, the words of the wise and what they mean.
1:7  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of much learning. Fools hate wisdom and teaching.
1:8  Hear your father’s teaching, my son, and do not turn away from your mother’s teaching.
1:9  For they are a glory to your head and a chain of beauty around your neck.
1:10  My son, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not go with them.
1:11  If they say, “Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us set a trap for those who are without blame.
1:12  Let us swallow them alive like death, as those who go down to the grave.
1:13  We will find all kinds of things of great worth. We will fill our houses with the stolen riches.
1:14  Throw in your share with us. We will all have one money bag.”
1:15  My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path.
1:16  For their feet run to sin and hurry to kill.
1:17  Yes, the net is spread for nothing if the bird is watching.
1:18  They set traps for their own lives and wait to die.
1:19  Such are the ways of all who get things by hurting others. Their desire for stolen riches takes away their own lives.
1:20  Wisdom calls out in the street. She lifts her voice in the center of town.
1:21  There she cries out in the noisy streets. At the open gates of the city she speaks:
1:22  “O foolish ones, how long will you love being foolish? How long will those who laugh at others be happy in their laughing? How long will fools hate much learning?
1:23  Listen to my strong words! See, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.
1:24  I called but you would not listen. I put out my hand and no one gave it a thought.
1:25  You did not listen when I told you what you should do, and you would not hear any of my strong words.
1:26  So I will laugh at your trouble. I will laugh when you are afraid.
1:27  Fear will come to you like a storm. Hard times will come like a strong wind. When trouble and suffering come upon you,
1:28  then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me.
1:29  Because they hated much learning, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.
1:30  They would not listen when I told them what they should do. They laughed at all my strong words.
1:31  So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own plans.
1:32  For the foolish will be killed by their turning away. The trust that fools put in themselves will destroy them.
1:33  But he who listens to me will live free from danger, and he will rest easy from the fear of what is sinful.”