Proverbs 1:7-19

71The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

82Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, And 3do not ignore your mother’s teaching;9For they are a 4graceful wreath for your head And 5necklaces for your neck.10My son, if sinners 6entice you, 7Do not consent.11If they say, “Come with us, Let’s 8lie in wait for blood, Let’s 9ambush the innocent without cause;12Let’s 10swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, like those who 11go down to the pit;13We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with plunder;14Throw in your lot 12with us; We will all have one money bag,”15My son, 13do not walk on the way with them. 14Keep your feet from their path,16For 15their feet run to evil, And they are quick to shed blood.17Indeed, it is 16useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any 17bird;18But they 18lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.19Such are the ways of everyone who 19makes unjust gain; It takes away the life of its possessors.