The Purpose of Proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon(A) son of David, king of Israel:

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Purpose and Theme

The proverbs(A) of Solomon(B) son of David, king of Israel:(C)

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The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

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21 She cries out above[a] the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers(A) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?(B)
23 If you respond to my warning,[b](C)
then I will pour out my spirit on you(D)
and teach you my words.
24 Since I called out and you refused,(E)
extended my hand and no one paid attention,(F)
25 since you neglected all my counsel(G)
and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.(H)
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.(I)
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,(J)
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,(K)
31 they will eat the fruit of their way(L)
and be glutted with their own schemes.(M)
32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,(N)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 1:21 Lit at the head of
  2. 1:23 Lit you turn back to my reprimand

21 on top of the wall[a] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

22 “How long will you who are simple(A) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(B) knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
24 But since you refuse(C) to listen when I call(D)
    and no one pays attention(E) when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh(F) when disaster(G) strikes you;
    I will mock(H) when calamity overtakes you(I)
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster(J) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;(K)
    they will look for me but will not find me,(L)
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.(M)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,(N)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.(O)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(P)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety(Q)
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

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