7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.
10My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.
11If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause:
12Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit.
13We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.
14Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.
15My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.
16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.
18And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.
19So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.
20Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:
22O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?
23Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.
24Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.