7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
10. My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
11. If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12. let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13. we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
14. cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”—
15. my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
16. for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.
17. How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
18. These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!
19. Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
20. Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;
21. on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:
22. “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23. Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.