10 My son, if sinners (A)entice you,
    do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, (B)let us lie in wait for blood;
    (C)let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us (D)swallow them alive,
    and whole, like (E)those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
    we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, (F)do not walk in the way with them;
    (G)hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for (H)their feet run to evil,
    and they make haste to shed blood.
17 (I)For in vain is a net spread
    in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men (J)lie in wait for their own blood;
    they (K)set an ambush for their own lives.
19 (L)Such are the ways of everyone who is (M)greedy for unjust gain;
    (N)it takes away the life of its possessors.

The Call of Wisdom

20 (O)Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
    in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
    at (P)the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O (Q)simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will (R)scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools (S)hate knowledge?

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10 My son, if sinful men entice(A) you,
    do not give in(B) to them.(C)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait(D) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow(E) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(F)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot(G)”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot(H) on their paths;(I)
16 for their feet rush into evil,(J)
    they are swift to shed blood.(K)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait(L) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!(M)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.(N)

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(O)
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[a] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

22 “How long will you who are simple(P) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(Q) knowledge?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners