Proverbs 1:1-16

New American Standard Bible

² To know ^(C)wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of ^(D)understanding,
³ To ^(E)receive instruction in wise behavior,
^(F)Righteousness, justice, and integrity;
⁴ To give ^(G)prudence to the naive,
To the youth ^(H)knowledge and discretion,
⁵ A wise person will hear and ^(I)increase in learning,
And a ^(J)person of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
⁶ To understand a proverb and a saying,
The words of the wise and their ^(K)riddles.

^8 (M)Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
And ^(N)do not ignore your mother’s teaching;
⁹ For they are a ^(O)graceful wreath for your head
And ^(P)necklaces for your neck.
¹⁰ My son, if sinners ^(Q)entice you,
^(R)Do not consent.
¹¹ If they say, “Come with us,
Let’s ^(S)lie in wait for blood,
Let’s ^(T)ambush the innocent without cause;
¹² Let’s ^(U)swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, like those who ^(V)go down to the pit;
¹³ We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ Throw in your lot ^[a]with us;
We will all have one money bag,”
¹⁵ My son, ^(W)do not walk on the way with them.
^(X)Keep your feet from their path,
¹⁶ For ^(Y)their feet run to evil,
And they are quick to shed blood.