Proverbs 1

Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
    to help them understand the insights of the wise.

Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
    to help them do what is right, just, and fair.

These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
    knowledge and discernment to the young.

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
    Let those with understanding receive guidance

by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God;
    only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you;
    never forget what you learned at your mother’s knee.
Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair,
    like rings on your fingers.
Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you,
    don’t go along with them.
If they say—“Let’s go out and raise some hell.
    Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman.
Let’s pick them clean
    and get them ready for their funerals.
We’ll load up on top-quality loot.
    We’ll haul it home by the truckload.
Join us for the time of your life!
    With us, it’s share and share alike!”—
Oh, friend, don’t give them a second look;
    don’t listen to them for a minute.
They’re racing to a very bad end,
    hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on.
Nobody robs a bank
    with everyone watching,
Yet that’s what these people are doing—
    they’re doing themselves in.
When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens:
    the more you get, the less you are.

My child,^[a] listen when your father corrects you.
    Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.

What you learn from them will crown you with grace
    and be a chain of honor around your neck.

My child, if sinners entice you,
    turn your back on them!

They may say, “Come and join us.
    Let’s hide and kill someone!
    Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!

Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave^[b];
    let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.

Think of the great things we’ll get!
    We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.

Come, throw in your lot with us;
    we’ll all share the loot.”

My child, don’t go along with them!
    Stay far away from their paths.

They rush to commit evil deeds.
    They hurry to commit murder.

If a bird sees a trap being set,
    it knows to stay away.

But these people set an ambush for themselves;
    they are trying to get themselves killed.

Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
    it robs them of life.

Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts.
    At the town center she makes her speech.
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand.
    At the busiest corner she calls out:

Wisdom shouts in the streets.
    She cries out in the public square.

She calls to the crowds along the main street,
    to those gathered in front of the city gate:

“Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?
    Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
    About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you;
    I’m ready to tell you all I know.
As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear;
    I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

“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?

Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
    and make you wise.

“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
    I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.

“Since you laugh at my counsel
    and make a joke of my advice,
How can I take you seriously?
    I’ll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!
What if the roof falls in,
    and your whole life goes to pieces?
What if catastrophe strikes and there’s nothing
    to show for your life but rubble and ashes?
You’ll need me then. You’ll call for me, but don’t expect
        an answer.
    No matter how hard you look, you won’t find me.

You ignored my advice
    and rejected the correction I offered.

So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
    I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—

when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,
    and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

“When they cry for help, I will not answer.
    Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.

“Because you hated Knowledge
    and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God,
Because you wouldn’t take my advice
    and brushed aside all my offers to train you,
Well, you’ve made your bed—now lie in it;
    you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it?
Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots?
    Carelessness kills; complacency is murder.
First pay attention to me, and then relax.
    Now you can take it easy—you’re in good hands.”