Read the Bible

¹ These are the proverbs
of King Solomon of Israel,
    the son of David.
² Proverbs will teach you
    wisdom and self-control
    and how to understand
    sayings with deep meanings.
³ You will learn what is right
    and honest and fair.
⁴ From these, an ordinary person
    can learn to be smart,
    and young people can gain
    knowledge and good sense.

⁵ If you are already wise,
    you will become even wiser.
And if you are smart,
you will learn to understand
⁶     proverbs and sayings,
as well as words of wisdom
    and all kinds of riddles.
⁷ Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the beginning
    of knowledge.^[a]
    Only a fool rejects wisdom
    and good advice.

⁸ My child, obey the teachings
    of your parents,
⁹ and wear their teachings
as you would a lovely hat
    or a pretty necklace.
¹⁰ Don't be tempted by sinners
    or listen ¹¹ when they say,
"Come on! Let's gang up
and kill somebody,
    just for the fun of it!
¹² They're well and healthy now,
    but we'll finish them off
    once and for all.
¹³ We'll take their valuables
    and fill our homes
    with stolen goods.
¹⁴ If you join our gang,
    you'll get your share."

¹⁵ Don't follow anyone like that
    or do what they do.
¹⁶ They are in a big hurry
to commit some crime,
    perhaps even murder.
¹⁷ They are like a bird
that sees the bait,
    but ignores the trap.^[b]
18 They gang up to murder someone,
    but they are the victims.
¹⁹ The wealth you get from crime
    robs you of your life.

²⁰ Wisdom^[c] shouts in the streets
    wherever crowds gather.
²¹ She shouts in the marketplaces
and near the city gates
    as she says to the people,
²² "How much longer
will you enjoy
    being stupid fools?
Won't you ever stop sneering
    and laughing at knowledge?
²³     Listen as I correct you
    and tell you what I think.
²⁴ You completely ignored me
    and refused to listen;
²⁵ you rejected my advice
and paid no attention
    when I warned you.

²⁶ "So when you are struck
    by some terrible disaster,
²⁷ or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
    I will laugh and make fun.
²⁸ You will ask for my help,
    but I won't listen;
    you will search,
    but you won't find me.
²⁹ No, you would not learn,
    and you refused
    to respect the Lord.
³⁰ You rejected my advice
and paid no attention
    when I warned you.

³¹ "Now you will eat the fruit
    of what you have done,
    until you are stuffed full
    with your own schemes.
³² Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
    to stupid fools.
³³ But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
    without fear of disaster."