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² To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
³ to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in ^(b)righteousness, justice, and equity;
⁴ to give prudence to ^(c)the simple,
    knowledge and ^(d)discretion to the youth—
⁵ Let the wise hear and ^(e)increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
⁶ to understand a proverb and a saying,
    ^(f)the words of the wise and their ^(g)riddles.

^7 (h)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

^8 (i)Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching,
⁹ for they are ^(j)a graceful garland for your head
    and ^(k)pendants for your neck.
¹⁰ My son, if sinners ^(l)entice you,
    do not consent.
¹¹ If they say, "Come with us, ^(m)let us lie in wait for blood;
    ⁽ⁿ⁾let us ambush the innocent without reason;
¹² like Sheol let us ^(o)swallow them alive,
    and whole, like ^(p)those who go down to the pit;
¹³ we shall find all precious goods,
    we shall fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse"—
¹⁵ my son, ^(q)do not walk in the way with them;
    ^(r)hold back your foot from their paths,
¹⁶ for ^(s)their feet run to evil,
    and they make haste to shed blood.
^17 (t)For in vain is a net spread
    in the sight of any bird,
¹⁸ but these men ^(u)lie in wait for their own blood;
    they ^(v)set an ambush for their own lives.
^19 (w)Such are the ways of everyone who is ^(x)greedy for unjust gain;
    ^(y)it takes away the life of its possessors.

^20 (z)Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
    in the markets she raises her voice;
²¹ at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
    at ^(aa)the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
²² "How long, O ^(ab)simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will ^(ac)scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools ^(ad)hate knowledge?
²³ If you turn at my reproof,^[a]
behold, I will ^(ae)pour out my spirit to you;
    I will make my words known to you.
^24 (af)Because I have called and ^(ag)you refused to listen,
    have ^(ah)stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
²⁵ because you have ^(ai)ignored all my counsel
    and ^(aj)would have none of my reproof,
²⁶ I also ^(ak)will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when ^(al)terror strikes you,
²⁷ when terror strikes you like ^(am)a storm
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.
^28 (an)Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
²⁹ Because they ^(ao)hated knowledge
    and ^(ap)did not choose the fear of the Lord,
^30 (aq)would have none of my counsel
    and ^(ar)despised all my reproof,
³¹ therefore they shall eat ^(as)the fruit of their way,
    and have ^(at)their fill of their own devices.
³² For the simple are killed by ^(au)their turning away,
    and ^(av)the complacency of fools destroys them;
³³ but ^(aw)whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be ^(ax)at ease, without dread of disaster."