The Call of Wisdom

20 (A)Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
    in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
    at (B)the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O (C)simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will (D)scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools (E)hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,[a]
behold, I will (F)pour out my spirit to you;
    I will make my words known to you.
24 (G)Because I have called and (H)you refused to listen,
    have (I)stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have (J)ignored all my counsel
    and (K)would have none of my reproof,
26 I also (L)will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when (M)terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like (N)a storm
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 (O)Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they (P)hated knowledge
    and (Q)did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 (R)would have none of my counsel
    and (S)despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat (T)the fruit of their way,
    and have (U)their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by (V)their turning away,
    and (W)the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but (X)whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be (Y)at ease, without dread of disaster.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Or Will you turn away at my reproof?

Listen to “Woman Wisdom”

20 Wisdom shouts in the street;
    in the public square she raises her voice.
21 Above the noisy crowd, she calls out.
    At the entrances of the city gates, she has her say:
22 “How long will you clueless people love your naïveté,
    mockers hold their mocking dear,
    and fools hate knowledge?
23 You should respond when I correct you.
    Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you.
    I’ll reveal my words to you.
24 I invited you, but you rejected me;
    I stretched out my hand to you,
    but you paid no attention.
25 You ignored all my advice,
    and you didn’t want me to correct you.
26 So I’ll laugh at your disaster;
    I’ll make fun of you when dread comes over you,
27         when terror hits you like a hurricane,
        and your disaster comes in like a tornado,
        when distress and oppression overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
    they will seek me, but won’t find me
29         because they hated knowledge
        and didn’t choose the fear of the Lord.
30 They didn’t want my advice;
    they rejected all my corrections.
31 They will eat from the fruit of their way,
    and they’ll be full of their own schemes.
32 The immature will die because they turn away;
    smugness will destroy fools.
33 Those who obey me will dwell securely,
    untroubled by the dread of harm.”

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Warning Against Adultery

(A)My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
    (B)incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep (C)discretion,
    and your lips may (D)guard knowledge.

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Avoid the mysterious woman

My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
    Bend your ear to what I know,
        so you might remain discreet,
        and your lips might guard knowledge.

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Warnings Against Adultery

20 (A)My son, keep your father's commandment,
    (B)and forsake not your mother's teaching.
21 (C)Bind them on your heart always;
    (D)tie them around your neck.
22 (E)When you walk, they[a] will lead you;
    (F)when you lie down, they will (G)watch over you;
    and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is (H)a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the (I)reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Hebrew it; three times in this verse

Danger of adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s command;
    don’t abandon your mother’s instruction.
21 Bind them on your heart for all time;
    fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk around, they will lead you;
    when you lie down, they will protect you;
    when you awake, they will occupy your attention.
23 The commandment is a lamp and instruction a light;
    corrective teaching is the path of life.

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Warning Against the Adulteress

(A)My son, keep my words
    and (B)treasure up my commandments with you;
(C)keep my commandments and live;
    keep my teaching as (D)the apple of your eye;

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Avoid loose women

My son, keep my words;
    store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and live,
    and my instruction like the pupil of your eye.

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31 (A)The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

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31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
    but the twisted tongue will be cut off.

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14 Where there is (A)no guidance, a people falls,
    (B)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

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14 Without guidance, a people will fall,
    but there is victory with many counselors.

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(A)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

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The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the guidance of the wicked is deceptive.

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26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,[a]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:26 Or The righteous chooses his friends carefully

26 The righteous offer guidance to their neighbors,[a]
    but the path of the wicked makes them wander.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:26 Heb uncertain

13 Whoever (A)despises (B)the word[a] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment[b] will be (C)rewarded.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:13 Or a word
  2. Proverbs 13:13 Or a commandment

13 Trouble will come on those who despise a word,
    but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.

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(A)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    (B)not so the hearts of fools.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools have none.

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22 (A)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.

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22 Plans fail with no counsel,
    but with many counselors they succeed.

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20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in (A)the future.

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20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    so you might grow wise in the future.

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