6. These sayings will help you understand proverbs, stories with hidden meanings, words of the wise, and other difficult sayings.
7. Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.
8. My son, listen to your father when he corrects you, and don’t ignore what your mother teaches you.
9. What you learn from your parents will bring you honor and respect, like a crown or a gold medal.
10. My son, those who love to do wrong will try to trick you. Don’t listen to them.
11. They will say, “Come with us. Let’s hide and beat to death anyone who happens to walk by.
12. We will swallow them whole, as the grave swallows the dying.
13. We will take everything they have and fill our houses with stolen goods.
14. So join us, and you can share everything we get.”
15. My son, don’t follow them. Don’t even take the first step along that path.
16. They run to do something evil, and they cannot wait to kill someone.
17. You cannot trap birds with a net if they see you spreading it out.
18. But evil people cannot see the trap they set for themselves.