Proverbs Chapter 1 (ESV)

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undefined The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

undefined To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,

undefined to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

undefined to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth —

undefined Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

undefined to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

undefined The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

undefined Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,

undefined for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

undefined My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

undefined If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;

undefined like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

undefined we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;

undefined throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse” —

undefined my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,

undefined for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

undefined For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,

undefined but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.

undefined Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

undefined Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;

undefined at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

undefined “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

undefined If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

undefined Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

undefined because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

undefined I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,

undefined when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

undefined Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

undefined Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

undefined would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,

undefined therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

undefined For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

undefined but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

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