20  ^yWisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice;

21  at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

at ^zthe entrance of the city gates she speaks:

22  “How long, O ^asimple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will ^bscoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools ^chate knowledge?

23  If you turn at my reproof,¹

behold, I will ^dpour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

24  ^eBecause I have called and ^fyou refused to listen,

have ^gstretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

25  because you have ^hignored all my counsel

and ⁱwould have none of my reproof,

26  I also ^jwill laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when ^kterror strikes you,

27  when terror strikes you like ^la storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

28  ^mThen they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

29  Because they ^chated knowledge

and ⁿdid not choose the fear of the Lord,

30  ^hwould have none of my counsel

and ⁱdespised all my reproof,

31  therefore they shall eat ^othe fruit of their way,

and have ^ptheir fill of their own devices.

32  For the simple are killed by ^qtheir turning away,

and ^rthe complacency of fools destroys them;

33  but ^swhoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be ^tat ease, without dread of disaster.”

1  ^wMy son, be attentive to my wisdom;

^xincline your ear to my understanding,

2  that you may keep ^ydiscretion,

and your lips may ^zguard knowledge.

20  ^lMy son, keep your father’s commandment,

^land forsake not your mother’s teaching.

21  ^mBind them on your heart always;

ⁿtie them around your neck.

22  ^oWhen you walk, they¹ will lead you;

^owhen you lie down, they will ^pwatch over you;

and when you awake, they will talk with you.

23  For the commandment is ^qa lamp and the teaching a light,

and the ^rreproofs of discipline are the way of life,

1  ^hMy son, keep my words

and ^htreasure up my commandments with you;

2  ⁱkeep my commandments and live;

keep my teaching as ^jthe apple of your eye;

31  ^xThe mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

14  Where there is ^sno guidance, a people falls,

^sbut in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

5  ^hThe thoughts of the righteous are just;

the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

26  One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,¹

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

13  Whoever ^jdespises ^kthe word¹ brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment² will be ^lrewarded.

7  ⁿThe lips of the wise spread knowledge;

ⁿnot so the hearts of fools.¹

22  ⁿWithout counsel plans fail,

but with many advisers they succeed.

20  Listen to advice and accept instruction,

that you may gain wisdom in ^hthe future.

5  The purpose in a man’s heart is like ^gdeep water,

but a man of understanding will draw it out.

18  ^bPlans are established by counsel;

by ^cwise guidance ^dwage war.

9  Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

for he will despise the good sense of your words.

9  ^gOil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.¹