We pity the fool who don't read a Proverb a day!


1] The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2] That men may appreciate wisdom and discipline, may understand words of intelligence;
3] May receive training in wise conduct, in what is right, just and honest;
4] That resourcefulness may be imparted to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5] A wise man by hearing them will advance in learning, an intelligent man will gain sound guidance,
6] That he may comprehend proverb and parable, the words of the wise and their riddles.
7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise.
8] Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching;
9] A graceful diadem will they be for your head; a torque for your neck.
10] My son, should sinners entice you,
11] and say, "Come along with us! Let us lie in wait for the honest man, let us, unprovoked, set a trap for the innocent;
12] Let us swallow them up, as the nether world does, alive, in the prime of life, like those who go down to the pit!
13] All kinds of precious wealth shall we gain, we shall fill our houses with booty;
14] Cast in your lot with us, we shall all have one purse!"--
15] My son, walk not in the way with them, hold back your foot from their path!
16] (For their feet run to evil, they hasten to shed blood.)
17] It is in vain that a net is spread before the eyes of any bird--
18] These men lie in wait for their own blood, they set a trap for their own lives.
19] This is the fate of everyone greedy of loot: unlawful gain takes away the life of him who acquires it.
20] Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the open squares she raises her voice;
21] Down the crowded ways she calls out, at the city gates she utters her words:
22] "How long, you simple ones, will you love inanity,
23] how long will you turn away at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will acquaint you with my words.
24] "Because I called and you refused, I extended my hand and no one took notice;
25] Because you disdained all my counsel, and my reproof you ignored--
26] I, in my turn, will laugh at your doom; I will mock when terror overtakes you;
27] When terror comes upon you like a storm, and your doom approaches like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish befall you.
28] "Then they call me, but I answer not; they seek me, but find me not;
29] Because they hated knowledge, and chose not the fear of the LORD;
30] They ignored my counsel, they spurned all my reproof; And in their arrogance they preferred arrogance, and like fools they hated knowledge:
31] "Now they must eat the fruit of their own way, and with their own devices be glutted.
32] For the self-will of the simple kills them, the smugness of fools destroys them.
33] But he who obeys me dwells in security, in peace, without fear of harm."


Source: http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/proverbs/proverb1.htm