1 T hese are the wise sayings of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 T hey show you how to know wisdom and teaching, to find the words of understanding.

3 T hey help you learn about the ways of wisdom and what is right and fair.

4 T hey give wisdom to the child-like, and much learning and wisdom to those who are young.

5 A wise man will hear and grow in learning. A man of understanding will become able

6 t o understand a saying and a picture-story, the words of the wise and what they mean.

7 T he fear of the Lord is the beginning of much learning. Fools hate wisdom and teaching.

8 H ear your father’s teaching, my son, and do not turn away from your mother’s teaching.

9 F or they are a glory to your head and a chain of beauty around your neck.

10 M y son, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not go with them.

11 I f they say, “Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us set a trap for those who are without blame.

12 L et us swallow them alive like death, as those who go down to the grave.

13 W e will find all kinds of things of great worth. We will fill our houses with the stolen riches.

14 T hrow in your share with us. We will all have one money bag.”

15 M y son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path.

16 F or their feet run to sin and hurry to kill.

17 Y es, the net is spread for nothing if the bird is watching.

18 T hey set traps for their own lives and wait to die.

19 S uch are the ways of all who get things by hurting others. Their desire for stolen riches takes away their own lives.

20 W isdom calls out in the street. She lifts her voice in the center of town.

21 T here she cries out in the noisy streets. At the open gates of the city she speaks:

22 “ O foolish ones, how long will you love being foolish? How long will those who laugh at others be happy in their laughing? How long will fools hate much learning?

23 L isten to my strong words! See, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.

24 I called but you would not listen. I put out my hand and no one gave it a thought.

25 Y ou did not listen when I told you what you should do, and you would not hear any of my strong words.

26 S o I will laugh at your trouble. I will laugh when you are afraid.

27 F ear will come to you like a storm. Hard times will come like a strong wind. When trouble and suffering come upon you,

28 t hen they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me.

29 B ecause they hated much learning, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

30 T hey would not listen when I told them what they should do. They laughed at all my strong words.

31 S o they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own plans.

32 F or the foolish will be killed by their turning away. The trust that fools put in themselves will destroy them.

33 B ut he who listens to me will live free from danger, and he will rest easy from the fear of what is sinful.”