7 Deciding to obey Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.[ref]

Fools despise wisdom and being told what they should do.

8 My child, listen to your father’s instructions.

≈ Don’t reject what your mother has told you to do,

9 because their teaching is like a graceful garland to wear on your head,

≈ or like beautiful necklaces to wear around your neck.

10 My child, if evil people tempt you to join them, don’t agree to it. 11 If they say,

“Come with us. We’ll find someone to kill—

≈ we’ll hide and ambush an innocent person just for fun.

12 Let’s swallow innocent people just like the grave does,

≈ and healthy people just like those going down to the pit.

13 We’ll find lots of valuable loot.

≈ We’ll fill our houses with what we take.

14 You need to come and join us—

we share everything equally.”

15 My child, don’t follow their ways.

≈ Keep your foot away from their path

16 because their feet run towards evil,

and they rush to pour out blood.

17 Surely it would be a waste of time

to spread out a net while the bird is watching,

18 but they lie in wait for their own blood—

they ambush their own lives.

19 That’s what happens to anyone who gains wealth illegally—

it takes that person’s life.