Proverbs 1:4-14

⁴Which will give caution to the simple, To the young man wisdom and discretion;

⁵Let the wise man hear, and he will increase his knowledge, And the man of understanding will gain wise counsels;

⁶So as to understand a proverb and a deep maxim, The words of the wise and their dark sayings.

⁷The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸Hear, O my son! the instruction of thy father, And neglect not the teaching of thy mother!

⁹For they shall be a graceful wreath for thy head, And a chain around thy neck.

¹⁰My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not!

¹¹If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us lurk secretly for him who is innocent in vain;

¹²Let us swallow them up alive, like the underworld, Yea, in full health, as those that go down into the pit;

¹³We shall find all kinds of precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil;

¹⁴Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse;”—