Proverbs 1:1-33 CEB

[1] The proverbs of Solomon, King David’s son, from Israel: [2] Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline, to help one understand wise sayings. [3] They provide insightful instruction, which is righteous, just, and full of integrity. [4] They make the naive mature, the young knowledgeable and discreet. [5] The wise hear them and grow in wisdom; those with understanding gain guidance. [6] They help one understand proverbs and difficult sayings, the words of the wise, and their puzzles. [7] Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. [8] Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction; don’t neglect your mother’s teaching; [9] for they are a graceful wreath on your head, and beads for your neck. [10] My son, don’t let sinners entice you. Don’t go [11] when they say: “Come with us. Let’s set up a deadly ambush. Let’s secretly wait for the innocent just for fun. [12] Let’s swallow up the living like the grave—whole, like those who go down into the pit. [13] We’ll find all sorts of precious wealth; we’ll fill our houses with plunder. [14] Throw in your lot with us; we’ll share our money.” [15] My son, don’t go on the path with them; keep your feet from their way, [16] because their feet run to evil; they hurry to spill blood. [17] It’s useless to cast a net in the sight of a bird. [18] But these sinners set up a deadly ambush; they lie in wait for their own lives. [19] These are the ways of all who seek unjust gain; it costs them their lives. [20] Wisdom shouts in the street; in the public square she raises her voice. [21] Above the noisy crowd, she calls out. At the entrances of the city gates, she has her say: [22] “How long will you clueless people love your naïveté, mockers hold their mocking dear, and fools hate knowledge? [23] You should respond when I correct you. Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you. I’ll reveal my words to you. [24] I invited you, but you rejected me; I stretched out my hand to you, but you paid no attention. [25] You ignored all my advice, and you didn’t want me to correct you. [26] So I’ll laugh at your disaster; I’ll make fun of you when dread comes over you, [27] when terror hits you like a hurricane, and your disaster comes in like a tornado, when distress and oppression overcome you. [28] Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will seek me, but won’t find me [29] because they hated knowledge and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD. [30] They didn’t want my advice; they rejected all my corrections. [31] They will eat from the fruit of their way, and they’ll be full of their own schemes. [32] The immature will die because they turn away; smugness will destroy fools. [33] Those who obey me will dwell securely, untroubled by the dread of harm.”