Proverbs Chapter 1

1The Parables of Solomon the son of David king of Israel,

2To know wisdom, and instruction, to understand the words of knowledge,

3To receive instruction to do wisely, by justice and judgment and equity,

4To give unto the simple sharpness of wit, and to the child knowledge and discretion.

5And wise man shall hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels,

6To understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8My son, hear thy father’s instruction, and forsake not thy mother’s teaching.

9For they shall be a comely ornament unto thine head, and as chains for thy neck.

10My son, if sinners do entice thee, consent thou not.

11If they say, Come with us, we will lay wait for blood, and lie privily for the innocent without a cause:

12We will swallow them up alive like a grave, even whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13We shall find all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoil:

14Cast in thy lot among us, we will all have one purse:

15My son, walk not thou in the way with them: refrain thy foot from their path.

16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17Certainly as without cause the net is spread before the eyes of all that hath wing:

18So they lay wait for blood, and lie privily for their lives.

19Such are the ways of everyone that is greedy of gain: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.

20Wisdom crieth without: she uttereth her voice in the streets.

21She calleth in the high street, among the prease in the enterings of the gates, and uttereth her words in the city, saying,

22O ye foolish, how long will ye love foolishness? and the scornful take their pleasure in scorning? and the fools hate knowledge?

23(Turn you at my correction: lo, I will pour out my mind unto you, and make you understand my words.)

24Because I have called, and ye refused: I have stretched out mine hand, and none would regard.

25But ye have despised all my counsel, and would none of my correction,

26I will also laugh at your destruction, and mock when your fear cometh.

27When your fear cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirlwind: when affliction and anguish shall come upon you,

28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me,

29Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

30They would none of my counsel, but despised all my correction.

31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32For ease slayeth the foolish, and the prosperity of fools destroyeth them.

33But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from fear of evil.