Proverbs 1:7-19

7If you want to know how to live in a good way, you must first learn to respect the Lord with fear. Fools refuse to listen to wise teaching.

8Listen, my child, when your father shows you what is right. And do not forget what your mother has taught you.

9Their teaching will bring you honour, like a beautiful crown or a valuable necklace.

10My child, if sinners want you to join with them, do not agree!

11They may say, ‘Come with us. We will find someone to murder. We will attack any helpless person that we choose.

12We will send them quickly to their graves. They may be strong and healthy, but they will soon be under the earth.

13We will take all their valuable things for ourselves. We will fill our houses with lots of good things.

14So come and join us! We will share with each other everything that we rob from other people.’

15My child, do not go along with people like that. Stay away from them.

16They are in a hurry to do evil things. They cannot wait to murder someone!

17Think about it! If you put a trap where the birds can see it, you will never catch anything.

18These wicked men hide to attack someone. They are ready to kill someone, but they destroy their own lives!

19That is what happens to those who cheat other people to become rich themselves. The riches that they have taken from others will destroy their own lives.