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Purpose and Theme
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
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for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;
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for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
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Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom
Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
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My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
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If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;
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we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
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cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”—
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my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
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for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.
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How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
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These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!
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Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
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Wisdom’s Rebuke
Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;
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“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
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Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.
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But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
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since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke,
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I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
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“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,
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since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.
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Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
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they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
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For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
