² to know wisdom and instruction;
    to discern the words of understanding;
³ to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
⁴ to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the young man—
⁵ that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
    that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
⁶ to understand a proverb and parables,
    the words and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of Yahweh^[a] is the beginning of knowledge,
    but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
⁹ for they will be a garland to grace your head,
    and chains around your neck.
¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you,
    don’t consent.
¹¹ If they say, “Come with us.
    Let’s lie in wait for blood.
    Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
¹² Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol,^[b]
    and whole, like those who go down into the pit.
¹³ We’ll find all valuable wealth.
    We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
¹⁴ You shall cast your lot among us.
    We’ll all have one purse”—
¹⁵ my son, don’t walk on the path with them.
    Keep your foot from their path,
¹⁶ for their feet run to evil.
    They hurry to shed blood.
¹⁷ For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
¹⁸ but these lay 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 in the street.
    She utters her voice in the public squares.
²¹ She calls at the head of noisy places.
    At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
    and fools hate knowledge?
²³ Turn at my reproof.
    Behold,^[c] I will pour out my spirit on you.
    I will make known my words to you.
²⁴ Because I have called, and you have refused;
    I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
²⁵ but you have ignored all my counsel,
    and wanted none of my reproof;
²⁶ I also will laugh at your disaster.
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come on 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 didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
³⁰ They wanted none of my counsel.
    They despised all my reproof.
³¹ Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,
    and be filled with their own schemes.
³² For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
    The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
³³ But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,
    and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”