10 My son, if sinners entice you,
(A)Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us (B)lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like [a]Sheol,
And whole, (C)like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious [b]possessions,
We shall fill our houses with [c]spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, (D)do not walk in the way with them,
(E)Keep your foot from their path;
16 (F)For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in [d]vain the net is spread
In the sight of any [e]bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 (G)So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.

The Call of Wisdom

20 (H)Wisdom calls aloud [f]outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the [g]chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you [h]simple ones, will you love [i]simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely (I)I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 (J)Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:12 Or the grave
  2. Proverbs 1:13 Lit. wealth
  3. Proverbs 1:13 plunder
  4. Proverbs 1:17 futility
  5. Proverbs 1:17 Lit. lord of the wing
  6. Proverbs 1:20 in the street
  7. Proverbs 1:21 LXX, Syr., Tg. top of the walls; Vg. the head of multitudes
  8. Proverbs 1:22 naive
  9. Proverbs 1:22 naivete

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

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(O)
    she raises her voice in the public square;
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(P) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(Q) 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(R) to listen when I call(S)
    and no one pays attention(T) when I stretch out my hand,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

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;

Read full chapter