⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.^[g]

⁸ My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and do not let go of your mother’s teaching.
⁹ They will be a graceful wreath for your head
    and a chain for your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you,
    do not consent.
¹¹ If they say, “Come with us!
    Let’s lie in wait for blood;
        let’s ambush some innocent person for no reason at all.
¹² Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol,^[h]
    and whole like those who go down into the Pit.^[i]
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable wealth,
    and we’ll fill our houses with spoil.
¹⁴ Throw your lot in with us,
    and all of us will have one purse.”

²⁰ Wisdom cries out in the street;
    she raises her voice in the public squares.
²¹ She calls out at the busiest part^[q] of the noisy streets,^[r]
    and at the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words:
²² “You naïve ones, how long will you love naiveté?
    And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing
        or fools hate knowledge?”
²³ Return to my correction!
    Look, I will pour out my spirit on you,
        and I will make my words known to you.

²⁴ “Because I called out to you and you refused to respond—^[s]
    I appealed,^[t] but no one paid attention—
²⁵ because^[u] you neglected all my advice
    and did not want my correction,
²⁶ I will laugh at your calamity.
    I will mock when what you fear^[v] comes,
²⁷ when what you dread comes like a storm,
    and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind,
        when distress and anguish come upon you.