[1] The wise sayings of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. [2] To
have knowledge of wise teaching; to be clear about the words of reason: [3]
To be trained in the ways of wisdom, in righteousness and judging truly and
straight behaviour: [4] To make the simple-minded sharp, and to give the
young man knowledge, and serious purpose: [5] (The wise man, hearing, will
get greater learning, and the acts of the man of good sense will be wisely
guided:) [6] To get the sense of wise sayings and secrets, and of the words
of the wise and their dark sayings. [7] The fear of the Lord is the start
of knowledge: but the foolish have no use for wisdom and teaching. [8] My
son, give ear to the training of your father, and do not give up the
teaching of your mother: [9] For they will be a crown of grace for your
head, and chain-ornaments about your neck. [10] My son, if sinners would
take you out of the right way, do not go with them. [11] If they say, Come
with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the
upright, without cause; [12] Let us overcome them living, like the
underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death; [13]
Goods of great price will be ours, our houses will be full of wealth; [14]
Take your chance with us, and we will all have one money-bag: [15] My son,
do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways: [16] For their feet
are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life. [17]
Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before the eyes of the bird:
[18] And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready
destruction for themselves. [19] Such is the fate of everyone who goes in
search of profit; it takes away the life of its owners. [20] Wisdom is
crying out in the street; her voice is loud in the open places; [21] Her
words are sounding in the meeting-places, and in the doorways of the town:
[22] How long, you simple ones, will foolish things be dear to you? and
pride a delight to the haters of authority? how long will the foolish go on
hating knowledge? [23] Be turned again by my sharp words: see, I will send
the flow of my spirit on you, and make my words clear to you. [24] Because
your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave attention to my out-stretched
hand; [25] You were not controlled by my guiding, and would have nothing to
do with my sharp words: [26] So in the day of your trouble I will be
laughing; I will make sport of your fear; [27] When your fear comes on you
like a storm, and your trouble like a rushing wind; when pain and sorrow
come on you. [28] Then I will give no answer to their cries; searching for
me early, they will not see me: [29] For they were haters of knowledge, and
did not give their hearts to the fear of the Lord: [30] They had no desire
for my teaching, and my words of protest were as nothing to them. [31] So
the fruit of their way will be their food, and with the designs of their
hearts they will be made full. [32] For the turning back of the simple from
teaching will be the cause of their death, and the peace of the foolish
will be their destruction. [33] But whoever gives ear to me will take his
rest safely, living in peace without fear of evil.
