Proverbs 1:5-26 in English

⁵ That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:

⁹ For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.

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

¹¹ If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

¹² Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

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

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

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:

¹⁸ And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

²¹ She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:

²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;

²⁵ But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:

²⁶ I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

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

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

⁷ The 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁷ for nets are not without cause spread for birds.

¹⁸ For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; and the overthrow of transgressors is evil.

¹⁹ These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.

²⁰ Wisdom sings aloud in passages, and in the broad places speaks boldly.

²¹ And she makes proclamation on the top of the walls, and sits by the gates of princes; and at the gates of the city boldly says,

²² So long as the simple cleave to justice, they shall not be ashamed: but the foolish being lovers of haughtiness, having become ungodly have hated knowledge, and are become subject to reproofs.

²³ Behold, I will bring forth to you the utterance of my breath, and I will instruct you in my speech.

²⁴ Since I called, and ye did not hearken; and I spoke at length, and ye gave no heed;

²⁵ but ye set at nought my counsels, and disregarded my reproofs;

²⁶ therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; and I will rejoice against you when ruin comes upon you:

⁵ A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

⁹ For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

¹¹ If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

¹² Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

¹³ We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

¹⁴ Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

¹⁸ And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

²¹ She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

²⁵ But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

⁵ A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

⁹ For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

¹¹ If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

¹² Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

¹³ We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

¹⁴ Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

¹⁸ And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

²¹ She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

²⁵ But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

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

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

⁷ The 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 nothing wisdom and instruction.

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

⁹ For you shall receive for your head a crown of graces, and a chain of gold round your neck.

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁶ For their feet run to do evil, and are swift to shed blood.

¹⁷ for nets are not without cause spread for birds.

¹⁸ For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; and the overthrow of transgressors is evil.

¹⁹ These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.

²⁰ Wisdom sings aloud in passages, and in the broad places speaks boldly.

²¹ And she makes proclamation on the top of the walls, and sits by the gates of princes; and at the gates of the city boldly says,

²² So long as the simple cleave to justice, they shall not be ashamed: but the foolish being lovers of haughtiness, having become ungodly have hated knowledge, and are become subject to reproofs.

²³ Behold, I will bring forth to you the utterance of my breath, and I will instruct you in my speech.

²⁴ Since I called, and you° did not listen; and I spoke at length, and you° gave no heed;

²⁵ but you° set at nothing my counsels, and disregarded my reproofs;

²⁶ therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; and I will rejoice against you when ruin comes upon you:

⁵ That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; and that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

⁹ For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

¹¹ If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

¹² Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, and whole, as those that go down into the pit;

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

¹⁴ Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; we will all have one purse:

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ For in vain is the net spread, in the eyes of any bird:

¹⁸ And these lay wait for their own blood, they lurk privily for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; it taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; she uttereth her voice in the broad places;

²¹ She crieth in the chief place of concourse; at the entering in of the gates, in the city, she uttereth her words:

²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and scorners delight them in scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

²⁵ But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

²⁶ I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

⁵ Those who are wise should also pay attention to these proverbs, in order to become more wise, and those who understand these teachings will receive good advice/guidance.

⁶ Then they will be able to understand the meaning of proverbs and parables/metaphors, these wise sayings and ◄riddles/sayings that are difficult to understand►.

⁷ If you want to be wise, you must begin by revering Yahweh. Only foolish people despise wisdom and good advice/discipline.

⁸ My son, pay attention to what I, your father, am teaching you. And do not reject what your mother teaches you.

⁹ What we teach you will make you respected like having a lovely turban around your head and like a beautiful necklace to put around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners tempt/entice you to do what is wrong, say “No” to them.

¹¹ They may say, “Come with us! Join us! We will hide and then kill MTY someone who passes by. We will ambush some helpless/innocent people.

¹² We will kill them HYP and get rid of them completely, just like people who are buried in graves are gone forever. While they are in good health, we will send them to the place where dead people are.

¹³ And we will seize all the things that they own. We will fill our houses with these things!

¹⁴ So, come with us! Join our group! We will share with you the things that we steal.”

¹⁵ My son, do not accompany them! Do not walk on the roads with them!

¹⁶ They rush to do evil deeds! They hurry to murder MTY people.

¹⁷ It is useless to put out a ◄trap/net to catch a bird► because when a bird sees it, it stays away from it.

¹⁸ But those wicked people are not like the birds, because they do not realize that when they prepare to ambush someone to kill him, they will be killed themselves!

¹⁹ That is what happens to people who eagerly try to get things by violently attacking others. They will only destroy themselves!

²⁰ Wisdom PRS shouts to people in the streets, and calls out to people in the ◄plazas/town squares►.

²¹ Wisdom calls out in noisy places, and at the entrances to cities.

²² Wisdom says, “How long will you stupid people continue to enjoy doing foolish things RHQ? How long will you people who ridicule God enjoy doing that RHQ? How long will you foolish people refuse to know what things are right RHQ?

²³ If you pay attention to me when I rebuke you, I will tell you what I am thinking in my inner being; I will give you some good advice.

²⁴ But when I called to you, you refused to listen. I beckoned to you to come to me, but you ignored me.

²⁵ I tried to advise you, but you refused to listen to me. I tried to correct you, but you rejected what I told you.

²⁶ So now, when you are experiencing troubles/disasters, I will laugh at you. When things happen that cause you to be afraid, I will make fun of you.

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

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

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety towards God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nothing wisdom and instruction.

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

⁹ For you shall receive for your head a crown of graces, and a chain of gold round your neck.

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁶ For their feet run to do evil, and are swift to shed blood.

¹⁷ for nets are not without cause spread for birds.

¹⁸ For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; and the overthrow of transgressors is evil.

¹⁹ These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.

²⁰ Wisdom sings aloud in passages, and in the broad places speaks boldly.

²¹ And she makes proclamation on the top of the walls, and sits by the gates of princes; and at the gates of the city boldly says,

²² So long as the simple cleave to justice, they shall not be ashamed: but the foolish being lovers of haughtiness, having become ungodly have hated knowledge, and are become subject to reproofs.

²³ Behold, I will bring forth to you the utterance of my breath, and I will instruct you in my speech.

²⁴ Since I called, and you° did not listen; and I spoke at length, and you° gave no heed;

²⁵ but you° set at nothing my counsels, and disregarded my reproofs;

²⁶ therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; and I will rejoice against you when ruin comes upon you:

⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

⁶ to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

¹² Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—

¹⁵ my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

⁶ to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

¹² Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—

¹⁵ my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

⁶ to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

¹² Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ You shall cast your lot amongst us. We’ll all have one purse”—

¹⁵ my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

⁵ (The wise man, hearing, will get greater learning, and the acts of the man of good sense will be wisely guided:)

⁶ To get the sense of wise sayings and secrets, and of the words of the wise and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge: but the foolish have no use for wisdom and teaching.

⁸ My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the teaching of your mother:

⁹ For they will be a crown of grace for your head, and chain-ornaments about your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners would take you out of the right way, do not go with them.

¹¹ If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause;

¹² Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death;

¹³ Goods of great price will be ours, our houses will be full of wealth;

¹⁴ Take your chance with us, and we will all have one money-bag:

¹⁵ My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways:

¹⁶ For their feet are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life.

¹⁷ Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before the eyes of the bird:

¹⁸ And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves.

¹⁹ Such is the fate of everyone who goes in search of profit; it takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom is crying out in the street; her voice is loud in the open places;

²¹ Her words are sounding in the meeting-places, and in the doorways of the town:

²² How long, you simple ones, will foolish things be dear to you? and pride a delight to the haters of authority? how long will the foolish go on hating knowledge?

²³ Be turned again by my sharp words: see, I will send the flow of my spirit on you, and make my words clear to you.

²⁴ Because your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave attention to my out-stretched hand;

²⁵ You were not controlled by my guiding, and would have nothing to do with my sharp words:

²⁶ So in the day of your trouble I will be laughing; I will make sport of your fear;

⁵ He that is wise will hear, and will increase learning; and the intelligent will gain wise counsels:

⁶ to understand a proverb and an allegory, the words of the wise and their enigmas.

⁷ The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge: fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;

⁹ for they shall be a garland of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent not.

¹¹ If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

¹² let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, and whole, as those that go down into the pit;

¹³ we shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

¹⁴ cast in thy lot among us; we will all have one purse:

¹⁵ — my son, walk not in the way with them, keep back thy foot from their path;

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ For in vain the net is spread in the sight of anything which hath wings.

¹⁸ And these lay wait for their own blood; they lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the paths of every one that is greedy of gain: it taketh away the life of its possessors.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth without; she raiseth her voice in the broadways;

²¹ she calleth in the chief place of concourse, in the entry of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words:

²² How long, simple ones, will ye love simpleness, and scorners take pleasure in their scorning, and the foolish hate knowledge?

²³ Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour forth my spirit unto you, I will make known to you my words.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one regarded;

²⁵ and ye have rejected all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

²⁶ I also will laugh in your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;

⁵ A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.

⁶ He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

⁹ That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.

¹¹ If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause:

¹² Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit.

¹³ We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.

¹⁴ Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.

¹⁸ And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.

¹⁹ So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.

²⁰ Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:

²¹ At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:

²² O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?

²³ Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.

²⁴ Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.

²⁵ You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.

²⁶ I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.

⁵ Wise people will listen and gain in learning, and those who have good judgment will gain skills in guidance,

⁶ understanding the proverbs and puzzles, the sayings and questions of the wise.

⁷ Honoring the Lord is where true knowledge begins, but fools treat wisdom and good advice with contempt.

⁸ My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.

⁹ They are a wreath of grace to decorate your head; they are pendants for your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.

¹¹ They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!

¹² Let's bury them alive; let's put them in the grave while they're still healthy!

¹³ We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!

¹⁴ Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”

¹⁵ My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.

¹⁶ For they rush to do evil; they hurry to commit violence and murder.

¹⁷ There's no point in trying to lure birds into a net when they can see it.

¹⁸ However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!

¹⁹ This is what happens to you if you try to become rich through crime—it kills you!

²⁰ Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.

²¹ She cries out at busy corners; she explains her message at the town gates:

²² “How long will you stupid people love stupidity? How long will scornful people enjoy their mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?

²³ Pay attention to my warnings, and I'll pour out my deepest thoughts to you—I'll explain what I know to you.

²⁴ For I have called you, but you refused to listen; I reached out my hand to you, but you didn't care.

²⁵ You ignored everything I said; you wouldn't accept any of my warnings.

²⁶ So I'll laugh at you when you're in trouble; I'll mock you when you're in a panic.

⁵ A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,

⁶ To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.

⁷ The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.

⁸ My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.

⁹ For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.

¹⁰ My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.

¹¹ If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:

¹² We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit:

¹³ We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:

¹⁴ Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:

¹⁵ My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.

¹⁶ For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:

¹⁸ So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.

¹⁹ Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰ Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.

²¹ She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,

²² O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?

²³ (Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)

²⁴ Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.

²⁵ But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.

²⁶ I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.

⁵ That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and the man of understanding may attain unto wise counsels;

⁶ To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.

⁸ Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;

⁹ For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

¹¹ If they say: 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us lurk for the innocent without cause;

¹² Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those that go down into the pit;

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

¹⁴ Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse' —

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou in the way with them, restrain thy foot from their path;

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ For in vain the net is spread in the eyes of any bird;

¹⁸ And these lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; it taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth aloud in the streets, she uttereth her voice in the broad places;

²¹ She calleth at the head of the noisy streets, at the entrances of the gates, in the city, she uttereth her words:

²² 'How long, ye thoughtless, will ye love thoughtlessness? And how long will scorners delight them in scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man attended,

²⁵ But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also, in your calamity, will laugh, I will mock when your dread cometh;

⁵ A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; And a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:

⁹ For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.

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

¹¹ If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

¹² Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; And whole, as those that go down into the pit:

¹³ We shall find all precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil:

¹⁴ Cast in thy lot among us; Let us all have one purse:

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, And make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

¹⁸ And they lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; Which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth without; She uttereth her voice in the streets:

²¹ She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: In the city she uttereth her words, saying,

²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

²⁵ But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:

²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

⁵ The wise will hear, and will increase his information; and the man of understanding will obtain wise counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and a sage sentence; the words of the wise, and their riddles.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: wisdom and instruction fools alone despise.

⁸ Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and cast not off the teaching of thy mother;

⁹ For a wreath of grace are they unto thy head, and chains for thy throat.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners wish to entice thee, consent thou not.

¹¹ If they should say, Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us watch in concealment for the uselessly innocent;

¹² We will swallow them up like the grave alive; and the men of integrity, as those that go down into the pit;

¹³ We shall find all kinds of precious wealth, we will fill our houses with booty;

¹⁴ Thy lot must thou cast in our midst; one purse shall be for us all:

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou on the way with them; withhold thy foot from their path;

¹⁶ For their feet run after evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ For uselessly is the net spread out before the eyes of every winged bird:

¹⁸ While they lie in wait for their own blood; they watch in concealment for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the paths of every one that is greedy after unlawful gain; it taketh away the life of those that own it.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth loudly without; in the public places she uttereth her voice;

²¹ At the corner of noisy streets she calleth, at the entrances of gates; in the city she sayeth her speeches:

²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners take their delight in scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn back to my admonition: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

²⁴ Whereas I called, and ye refused; I stretched out my hand, and no man was attentive;

²⁵ And ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would not accept my admonition:

²⁶ Therefore I also will truly laugh at your calamity; I will deride you when your terror cometh;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁷ For nets are not without cause spread for birds.

¹⁸ For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; And the overthrow of transgressors is evil.

¹⁹ These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; For by ungodliness they destroy their own life.

²⁰ Wisdom sings aloud in passages, And in the broad places speaks boldly.

²¹ And she makes proclamation on the top of the walls, And sits by the gates of princes; And at the gates of the city boldly says,

²² So long as the simple cleave to justice, they shall not be ashamed: But the foolish being lovers of haughtiness, Having become ungodly have hated knowledge, And are become subject to reproofs.

²³ Behold, I will bring forth to you the utterance of my breath, And I will instruct you in my speech.

²⁴ Since I called, and ye did not hearken; And I spoke at length, and ye gave no heed;

²⁵ But ye set at nought my counsels, And disregarded my reproofs;

²⁶ Therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; And I will rejoice against you when ruin comes upon you:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁵ My son, walk thou not in their way, Refrain thy foot from their path!

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, And make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ For as the net is spread in vain Before the eyes of any bird,

¹⁸ So they lie in wait for their own blood; They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ Such are the ways of every one greedy of unjust gain; It taketh away the life of the possessor thereof.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth out in the highway; In the market-place she uttereth her voice;

²¹ At the head of the noisy streets she crieth aloud; At the entrances of the gates, throughout the city, she proclaimeth her words saying:

²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn ye at my reproof! Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make known my words to you!

²⁴ “Because I have called, and ye have refused,—Because I have stretched out my hand, and no one hath regarded.

²⁵ Because ye have rejected all my counsel, And have slighted my rebuke,—

²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;

⁵ that the wise man may sh'ma ·hear obey·, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:

⁶ to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, sh'ma ·hear obey· your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:

⁹ for they will be a garland to chen ·grace· your head, and chains around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lay in wait for blood; let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

¹² let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol ·Place of the dead·, and whole, like those who go down into the pit (of Abbadon, the unrighteous side of Sheol).

¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.”

¹⁵ My son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:

¹⁸ but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you 'ahav ·affectionately love· thoughtless living? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;

⁵ Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,

⁶ to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.

⁷ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;

⁹ they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason.

¹² Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit.

¹³ We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.

¹⁴ Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”

¹⁵ My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;

¹⁶ their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.

¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.

²⁰ Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;

²¹ at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,

²² “How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?

²³ Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

²⁴ I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.

²⁵ But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.

²⁶ I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—

⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

⁶ to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

¹² Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—

¹⁵ my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

⁶ to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

¹² Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ You shall cast your lot amongst us. We’ll all have one purse”—

¹⁵ my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

⁵ A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels:

⁶ To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

⁹ For they shalt be an ornament of grace to thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

¹¹ If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

¹² Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

¹³ We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

¹⁴ Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

¹⁵ My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

¹⁸ And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; who taketh away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

²¹ She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying ,

²² How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit to you, I will make known to you my words.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

²⁵ But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and rejected my reproof:

²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

⁶ to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

¹² Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—

¹⁵ my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;

⁶ to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;

⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

¹¹ If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

¹² Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ You shall cast your lot amongst us. We’ll all have one purse”—

¹⁵ my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

¹⁶ for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;

¹⁸ but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:

²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;

²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;

²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,

⁵ A wise man hearing shall be the wiser; and a man understanding shall hold governance.

⁶ He shall perceive a parable, and the expounding; the words of wise men, and the dark figurative speeches of them.

⁷ The dread of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and teaching.

⁸ My son, hear thou the teaching of thy father, and forsake thou not the law of thy mother;

⁹ that grace be added, either increased, to thine head, and a bie to thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners flatter thee, assent thou not to them.

¹¹ If they say, Come thou with us, set we ambush to shed blood, hide we snares of deceits against an innocent without cause;

¹² swallow we him, as hell swallow-eth a man living; and all-whole, as going down into a pit;

¹³ we shall find all precious chattel or substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils;

¹⁴ put thou lot with us, one purse be there of us all;

¹⁵ my son, go thou not with them; forbid thy foot from the paths of them.

¹⁶ For the feet of them run to evil; and they hasten to shed out blood.

¹⁷ But a net is laid in vain before the eyes of birds, that have wings.

¹⁸ Also they set ambush against their own blood; and make ready frauds, or guiles, against their own souls.

¹⁹ So the paths of each avaricious man ravish, or take away, the souls of them that wield.

²⁰ Wisdom preacheth withoutforth; in streets it giveth his voice.

²¹ It crieth oft in the head of companies; in the leaves of the gates of the city it bringeth forth his words, and saith,

²² How long, little men in wit, love young childhood, and fools shall covet those things, that be harmful to themselves, and unprudent men shall hate knowing?

²³ Be ye converted at my reproving; lo, I shall bring forth to you my spirit, and I shall show my words.

²⁴ For I called, and ye forsook; I held forth mine hand, and none there was that beheld.

²⁵ Ye have despised all my counsel; and charged not my blamings.

²⁶ And I shall laugh in your perishing; and I shall scorn you, when that, that ye dread, cometh to you.

⁵ A wise man hearing shall be the wiser; and a man (of) understanding shall hold governance. (A wise person listening shall become wiser; and a person understanding shall gain skills, or abilities.)

⁶ He shall perceive a parable, and the expounding; the words of wise men, and the dark figurative speeches of them. (He shall understand a proverb, and its expounding, or its explanation; yea, the words of the wise, and their riddles.)

⁷ The dread of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and teaching. (The fear of the Lord or Reverence for the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; but fools despise wisdom and teaching.)

⁸ My son, hear thou the teaching of thy father, and forsake thou not the law of thy mother; (My son, listen thou to thy father’s teaching; and do not thou abandon thy mother’s principles;)

⁹ (so) that grace be added, either increased, to thine head, and a band to thy neck. (so that favour be added unto thee, and a band of honour be put about thy neck.)

¹⁰ My son, if sinners flatter thee, assent thou not to them.

¹¹ If they say, Come thou with us, set we ambush to shed (out) blood, hide we snares of deceits against an innocent (person) without cause;

¹² swallow we him, as hell swalloweth a man living; and all-whole, as (those) going down into a pit; (we shall swallow him up, like Sheol swalloweth up the living; yea, all-whole, like those going down into the pit;)

¹³ we shall find all precious chattel, (or possessions), we shall fill our houses with spoils;

¹⁴ put thou lot with us, one purse be there of us all; (put thou thy lot with us, and let there be one purse for us all;)

¹⁵ my son, go thou not with them; forbid thy foot from the paths of them (or do not let thy foot go onto their paths).

¹⁶ For the feet of them run to evil; and they hasten to shed out blood.

¹⁷ But a net is laid in vain before the eyes of birds, that have wings.

¹⁸ Also they set ambush against their own blood; and make ready frauds, or guiles, against their (own) souls.

¹⁹ So the paths of each avaricious man ravish, or take away, the souls of them that wield (them).

²⁰ Wisdom preacheth withoutforth; in streets it giveth his voice. (Wisdom preacheth outside; yea, it raiseth up its voice in the streets.)

²¹ It crieth oft in the head of companies; in the leaves of the gates of the city it bringeth forth his words, and saith, (It crieth often at the tops of the streets; and at the leaves of the gates of the city, it bringeth forth its words, and saith,)

²² How long, little men in wit, love young childhood, and fools shall covet those things, that be harmful to themselves, and unprudent men shall hate knowing? (How long, ye of little wit, or of low intelligence, shall ye love foolishness, and shall fools desire those things that be harmful to themselves, and shall the imprudent hate knowledge, or understanding?)

²³ Be ye converted at my reproving (or Be ye changed by my rebukes); lo, I shall bring forth to you my spirit, and I shall show (you) my words.

²⁴ For I called, and ye forsook; I held forth mine hand, and none there was that beheld. (For I called, but you would not listen to me; I held forth my hand, but no one paid any attention to it.)

²⁵ Ye have despised all my counsel; and charged not my blamings (or and would not listen to my rebukes).

²⁶ And I shall laugh in your perishing; and I shall scorn you, when that, that ye dread, cometh to you. (And so I shall laugh at your misfortune, or at your tribulation; and I shall scorn you, when what ye fear, cometh to you.)

⁵ (The wise doth hear and increaseth learning, And the intelligent doth obtain counsels.)

⁶ For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.

⁷ Fear of Jehovah is a beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and instruction fools have despised!

⁸ Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother,

⁹ For a graceful wreath are they to thy head, And chains to thy neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice thee be not willing.

¹¹ If they say, 'Come with us, we lay wait for blood, We watch secretly for the innocent without cause,

¹² We swallow them as Sheol — alive, And whole — as those going down to the pit,

¹³ Every precious substance we find, We fill our houses with spoil,

¹⁴ Thy lot thou dost cast among us, One purse is — to all of us.'

¹⁵ My son! go not in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path,

¹⁶ For their feet to evil do run, And they haste to shed blood.

¹⁷ Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.

¹⁸ And they for their own blood lay wait, They watch secretly for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the paths of every gainer of dishonest gain, The life of its owners it taketh.

²⁰ Wisdom in an out-place crieth aloud, In broad places she giveth forth her voice,

²¹ At the head of the multitudes she calleth, In the openings of the gates, In the city her sayings she saith:

²² 'Till when, ye simple, do ye love simplicity? And have scorners their scorning desired? And do fools hate knowledge?

²³ Turn back at my reproof, lo, I pour forth to you my spirit, I make known my words with you.

²⁴ Because I have called, and ye refuse, I stretched out my hand, and none is attending,

²⁵ And ye slight all my counsel, And my reproof ye have not desired.

²⁶ I also in your calamity do laugh, I deride when your fear cometh,