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1:1  These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel.
1:2  They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings.
1:3  They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way. You will learn to do what is right and to be honest and fair.
1:4  These proverbs will make even those without education smart. They will teach young people what they need to know and how to use what they have learned.
1:5  Even the wise could become wiser by listening to these proverbs. They will gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems.
1:6  These sayings will help you understand proverbs, stories with hidden meanings, words of the wise, and other difficult sayings.
1:7  Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.
1:8  My son, listen to your father when he corrects you, and don’t ignore what your mother teaches you.
1:9  What you learn from your parents will bring you honor and respect, like a crown or a gold medal.
1:10  My son, those who love to do wrong will try to trick you. Don’t listen to them.
1:11  They will say, “Come with us. Let’s hide and beat to death anyone who happens to walk by.
1:12  We will swallow them whole, as the grave swallows the dying.
1:13  We will take everything they have and fill our houses with stolen goods.
1:14  So join us, and you can share everything we get.”
1:15  My son, don’t follow them. Don’t even take the first step along that path.
1:16  They run to do something evil, and they cannot wait to kill someone.
1:17  You cannot trap birds with a net if they see you spreading it out.
1:18  But evil people cannot see the trap they set for themselves.
1:19  This is what happens to those who are greedy. Whatever they get destroys them.
1:20  Listen! Wisdom is shouting in the streets. She is crying out in the marketplace.
1:21  She is calling out where the noisy crowd gathers:
1:22  “Fools, how long will you love being ignorant? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge?
1:23  I wanted to tell you everything I knew and give you all my knowledge, but you didn’t listen to my advice and teaching.
1:24  “I tried to help, but you refused to listen. I offered my hand, but you turned away from me.
1:25  You ignored my advice and refused to be corrected.
1:26  So I will laugh at your troubles and make fun of you when what you fear happens.
1:27  Disasters will strike you like a storm. Problems will pound you like a strong wind. Trouble and misery will weigh you down.
1:28  “Fools will call for me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me.
1:29  That is because they hated knowledge. They refused to fear and respect the Lord.
1:30  They ignored my advice and refused to be corrected.
1:31  They filled their lives with what they wanted. They went their own way, so they will get what they deserve.
1:32  “Fools die because they refuse to follow wisdom. They are content to follow their foolish ways, and that will destroy them.
1:33  But those who listen to me will live in safety and comfort. They will have nothing to fear.”