Proverbs [Sayings] 1:3-20

³to receive instruction in wisdom, in righteousness, mishpat ·justice·, and equity;

⁴to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹²let’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).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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