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Warnings Against Evil

My ·child [L son], listen to your father’s ·teaching [instruction; discipline]
    and do not ·forget [neglect] your mother’s ·advice [instruction].
[L For] ·Their teaching [L It] will be like ·flowers in your hair [L a gracious garland on your head]
    or ·a necklace [L beads] around your neck.

10 My ·child [L son], if sinners try to ·lead [seduce; entice] you into sin,
    do not follow them.
11 They will say, “Come with us.
    Let’s ambush and kill someone;
    let’s attack some innocent people just for fun.
12 Let’s swallow them alive, ·as death does [like the grave/L Sheol];
    let’s swallow them whole, ·as the grave does [L like those who go down into the pit].
13 We will ·take [L find] all kinds of ·valuable things [L precious wealth]
    and fill our houses with ·stolen goods [plunder].
14 ·Come join us [L Throw in your lot with us],
    and we will share ·with you stolen goods [L a single bag (of loot)].”
15 My ·child [L son], do not go ·along with them [L on their path];
    ·do not do what they do [L keep your foot from their way/path].
16 ·They are eager to do evil [L For their feet run toward evil]
    and are quick to ·kill [L shed blood].
17 It is useless to spread out a net
    right where the birds can see it.
18 But sinners will ·fall into their own traps [L set up a deadly ambush];
    they ·will only catch [L lie in wait for] themselves!
19 All greedy people end up this way;
    ·greed kills selfish people [L they take their own lives].

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Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(D)

10 My son, if sinful men entice(E) you,
    do not give in(F) to them.(G)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait(H) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow(I) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(J)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot(K)”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot(L) on their paths;(M)
16 for their feet rush into evil,(N)
    they are swift to shed blood.(O)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait(P) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!(Q)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.(R)

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