[1] These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
[2] Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
[3] Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
[4] These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
[5] Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance
[6] by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
[7] Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
[8] My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
[9] What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
[10] My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!
[11] They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
[12] Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
[13] Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
[14] Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”
[15] My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.
[16] They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.
[17] If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.
[18] But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.
[19] Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
[20] Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.
[21] She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:
[22] “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?
[23] Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.
[24] “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
[25] You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.
[26] So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
[27] when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.
[28] “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
[29] For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord.
[30] They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.
[31] Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.
[32] For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
[33] But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”