The use and end of the proverbs. An exhortation to flee the company of the wicked: and to hearken to the voice of wisdom.

[1] The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. [2] To know wisdom, and instruction: [3] To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity: [4] To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding. [5] A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.

[6] He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings. [7] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. [8] My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: [9] That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck. [10] My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.

[11] If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause: [12] Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit. [13] We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils. [14] Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse. [15] My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.

[16] For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. [17] But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings. [18] And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls. [19] So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors. [20] Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:

[21] At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying: [22] O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge? [23] Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words. [24] Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded. [25] You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.

[26] I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared. [27] When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you: [28] Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me: [29] Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord, [30] Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.

[31] Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices. [32] The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. [33] But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.