Proverbs 1

¹ The parables of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel,

² in order to know wisdom and discipline,

³ to understand words of prudence, and to accept the instruction of doctrine, justice and judgment, and equity,

⁴ so as to give discernment to little ones, knowledge and understanding to adolescents.

⁵ By listening, the wise shall become wiser and the intelligent shall possess governments.

⁶ He shall turn his soul to a parable and to its interpretation, to the words of the wise and their enigmas.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The foolish despise wisdom as well as doctrine.

⁸ Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother,

⁹ so that grace may be added to your head and a collar to your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners should entice you, do not consent to them.

¹¹ If they should say: “Come with us. We will lie in wait for blood. We will lay traps against the innocent, without cause.

¹² Let us swallow him alive, like Hell, and whole, like one descending into the pit.

¹³ We will discover every precious substance. We will fill our houses with spoils.

¹⁴ Cast your lot with us. One purse will be for us all.”

¹⁵ My son, do not walk with them. Preclude your feet from their paths.

¹⁶ For their feet rush to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ But a net is thrown in vain before the eyes of those who have wings.

¹⁸ Likewise, they lie in ambush against their own blood, and they undertake deceits against their own souls.

¹⁹ Thus, the ways of all those who are greedy seize the souls of those who possess.

²⁰ Wisdom forewarns far and wide; she bestows her voice in the streets.

²¹ She cries out at the head of crowds; at the entrance of the gates of the city, she offers her words, saying:

²² “Little ones, how long will you choose to be childish, and how long will the foolish desire what is harmful to themselves, and how long will the imprudent hate knowledge?

²³ Be converted by my correction. Lo, I will offer my spirit to you, and I will reveal my words to you.

²⁴ For I called, and you refused. I extended my hand, and there was no one who watched.

²⁵ You have despised all my counsels, and you have neglected my rebukes.

²⁶ Similarly, I will ridicule you at your demise, and I will mock you, when that which you feared shall overcome you.

²⁷ When sudden calamity rushes upon you, and your demise advances like a tempest, when tribulation and anguish overcome you,

²⁸ then they will call to me, and I will not heed, they will arise in the morning, and not find me.

²⁹ For they held hatred for discipline, and they would not accept the fear of the Lord;

³⁰ they would not consent to my counsel, but they detracted from all of my corrections.

³¹ Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their way, and they shall have their fill of their own counsels.

³² The loathing of the little ones shall destroy them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall perish them.

³³ But whoever will listen to me shall rest without terror, and shall have full enjoyment of abundance, without fear of evils.”