Proverbs 1:1-15

¹The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, who reigned in Israel;

²to know wisdom and instruction, and to perceive words of understanding;

³to receive also hard sayings, and to understand true justice, and how to direct judgment;

⁴that he might give subtlety to the simple, and to the young man discernment and understanding.

⁵For by the hearing of these a wise man will be wiser, and the man of understanding will gain direction;

⁶and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the sayings of the wise also, and riddles.

⁷The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.

⁸Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and reject not the rules of thy mother.

⁹For thou shalt receive for thine head a crown of graces, and a chain of gold round thy neck.

¹⁰My son, let not ungodly men lead thee astray, neither consent thou to them.

¹¹If they should exhort thee, saying, Come with us, partake in blood, and let us unjustly hide the just man in the earth:

¹²and let us swallow him alive, as Hades would, and remove the memorial of him from the earth:

¹³let us seize on his valuable property, and let us fill our houses with spoils:

¹⁴but do thou cast in thy lot with us, and let us all provide a common purse, and let us have one pouch:

¹⁵go not in the way with them, but turn aside thy foot from their paths: