Proverbs 1:20-33
World English Bible
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 She calls at the head of noisy places.
At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn at my reproof.
Behold,[a] I will pour out my spirit on you.
I will make known my words to you.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 but you have ignored all my counsel,
and wanted none of my reproof;
26 I also will laugh at your disaster.
I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come on you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer.
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
29 because they hated knowledge,
and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
30 They wanted none of my counsel.
They despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own schemes.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,
and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Footnotes
- 1:23 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
Proverbs 1:20-33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.(A)
21 At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?(B)
23 Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.(C)
24 Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,(D)
25 and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,(E)
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,(F)
27 when panic strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.(G)
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,(H)
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.(I)
32 For waywardness kills the simple,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;(J)
33 but those who listen to me will be secure
and will live at ease without dread of disaster.”(K)
Proverbs 1:20-33
New International Version
Wisdom’s Rebuke
20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(A)
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(B) love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate(C) 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(D) to listen when I call(E)
and no one pays attention(F) 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(G) when disaster(H) strikes you;
I will mock(I) when calamity overtakes you(J)—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster(K) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;(L)
they will look for me but will not find me,(M)
29 since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the Lord.(N)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,(O)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.(P)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(Q)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety(R)
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”(S)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners
Proverbs 9:13-18
World English Bible
13 The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by,
who go straight on their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.[a]
Footnotes
- 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.
Proverbs 9:13-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Folly’s Invitation and Promise
13 The foolish woman is loud;
she is ignorant and knows nothing.(A)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the high places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “You who are simple, turn in here!”
And to those without sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”(B)
18 But they do not know that the dead[a] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.(C)
Footnotes
- 9.18 Heb shades
Proverbs 9:13-18
New International Version
13 Folly is an unruly woman;(A)
she is simple and knows nothing.(B)
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,(C)
15 calling out(D) to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way,
16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense(E) she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!(F)”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.(G)
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