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1:1  The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
1:2  For learning wisdom and discipline; for understanding insightful sayings;
1:3  for receiving prudent instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity;
1:4  for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man—
1:5  let a wise person listen and increase learning, and let a discerning person obtain guidance—
1:6  for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.
1:7  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.
1:8  Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,
1:9  for they will be a garland of favor on your head and pendants around your neck.
1:10  My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded.
1:11  If they say—“Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!
1:12  Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol, whole, like those who go down to the Pit.
1:13  We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder.
1:14  Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share the loot”—
1:15  my son, don’t travel that road with them or set foot on their path,
1:16  because their feet run toward evil and they hurry to shed blood.
1:17  It is useless to spread a net where any bird can see it,
1:18  but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives.
1:19  Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.
1:20  Wisdom calls out in the street; she makes her voice heard in the public squares.
1:21  She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
1:22  “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge?
1:23  If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words.
1:24  Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention,
1:25  since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction,
1:26  I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you,
1:27  when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you.
1:28  Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will search for me, but won’t find me.
1:29  Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord,
1:30  were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction,
1:31  they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes.
1:32  For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
1:33  But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”