Proverbs 1:8-19

Avoid the Path of the Violent
1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,
9 for they will be a garland of favor on your head
and pendants[Lit chains] around your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
don’t be persuaded.

11 If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.[Lit Let’s ambush for blood]
Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun![Lit person for no reason]
12 Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol,
whole, like those who go down to the Pit.
13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property
and fill our houses with plunder.
14 Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share the loot”[Lit us; one bag will be for all of us]—

15 my son, don’t travel that road with them
or set foot on their path,
16 because their feet run toward evil
and they hurry to shed blood.
17 It is useless to spread a net
where any bird can see it,
18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves;[Lit they ambush for their blood]
they attack their own lives.
19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;
it takes the lives of those who receive it.[Lit takes the life of its masters]

CSB