Proverbs:1

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* The proverbs of Solomon the son of David , king of Israel , * to know wisdom and instruction , to discern the words of understanding , * to receive instruction in wise dealing , in righteousness and justice and equity , * to give prudence to the simple , to the young man knowledge and discretion , * that the wise man may hear , and increase in learning , and that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels , * to understand a proverb , and a figure , the words of the wise , and their dark sayings . * The fear of LORD is the beginning of knowledge . The foolish despise wisdom and instruction . * My son , hear the instruction of thy father , and forsake not the law of thy mother . * For they shall be a garland of grace to thy head , and chains about thy neck . * My son , if sinners entice thee , consent thou not . * If they say , Come with us . Let us lay wait for blood . Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause . * Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol , and whole , as those who go down into the pit . * We shall find all precious substance . We shall fill our houses with spoil . * Thou shall cast thy lot among us . We will all have one bag . * My son , walk not thou in the way with them . Restrain thy foot from their path . * For their feet run to evil , and they make haste to shed blood . * For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird , * and these lay wait for their own blood . They lurk secretly for their own lives . * So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain . It takes away the life of the owners of it . * Wisdom cries aloud in the street . She utters her voice in the broad places . * She cries in the chief place of concourse , at the entrance of the gates , in the city . She utters her words : * How long , ye simple ones , will ye love simplicity ? And scoffers delight them in scoffing , and fools hate knowledge ? * Turn back at my reproof . Behold , I will pour out my spirit upon you . I will make my words known to you . * Because I have called , and ye have refused , I have stretched out my hand , and no man has regarded , * but ye have made all my counsel void , and want none of my reproof , * I also will laugh at your calamity . I will mock when your fear comes , * when your fear comes as a storm , and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind , when distress and anguish come upon you . * Then they will call upon me , but I will not answer . They will seek me diligently , but they shall not find me , * because they hated knowledge , and did not choose the fear of LORD . * They wanted none of my counsel . They despised all my reproof . * Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way , and be filled with their own devices . * For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them , and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them . * But he who hearkens to me shall dwell securely , and shall be quiet without fear of evil .

---