Proverbs 1:1-33 NKJV

[1] The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: [2] To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, [3] To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; [4] To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion- [5] A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, [6] To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. [7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. [8] My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; [9] For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. [10] My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. [11] If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; [12] Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; [13] We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; [14] Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse"- [15] My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; [16] For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. [17] Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; [18] But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. [19] So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners. [20] Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. [21] She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: [22] "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. [23] Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. [24] Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, [25] Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, [27] When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. [28] "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. [29] Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, [30] They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. [31] Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. [32] For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; [33] But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil."