1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: (1Ki 4:32; Pr 10:1; Pr 25:1; Ec 12:9)2To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; (Pr 2:9)4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— (Pr 2:11; Pr 3:21; Pr 8:5; Pr 14:15; Pr 14:18)5Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, (Pr 9:9)6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. (Jud 14:12; Ps 78:2; Pr 22:17)7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Job 28:28; Pr 9:10; Pr 15:33)
The Enticement of Sinners
8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, (Ps 34:11; Pr 6:20; Eph 6:1)9for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. (Ge 41:42; Pr 3:22; Pr 4:9; Da 5:29)10My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. (Pr 16:29)11If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; (Ps 10:8; Ps 64:5; Pr 1:18; Pr 12:6; Jer 5:26)12like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; (Nu 16:32; Ps 28:1; Ps 124:3)13we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;14throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—15my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, (Ps 1:1; Ps 119:101; Pr 4:14; Pr 24:1)16for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. (Pr 6:18; Isa 59:7; Ro 3:15)17For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, (Job 40:24)18but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. (Pr 1:11)19Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. (Job 8:13; Pr 15:27; 1Ti 6:10)
The Call of Wisdom
20Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; (Pr 8:1; Pr 9:3; Joh 7:37)21at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: (Pr 8:3)22“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? (Job 21:14; Ps 1:1; Pr 1:4; Pr 1:29; Pr 5:12)23If you turn at my reproof,[1] behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (Joe 2:28; Ac 2:17)24Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, (Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4; Jer 7:13; Zec 7:11; Ro 10:21)25because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, (Ps 81:11; Ps 107:11; Lu 7:30)26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, (Ps 2:4; Pr 10:24; Jer 48:43; Jer 49:5)27when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. (Zep 1:15)28Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. (1Sa 8:18; Job 27:9)29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, (Job 21:14; Pr 1:22)30would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, (Pr 1:25)31therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. (Job 4:8; Pr 14:14; Isa 3:11; Jer 6:19)32For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; (Ps 73:18; Jer 2:19)33but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Ps 25:12; Ps 112:7)