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The Call of Wisdom

20 (A)Wisdom shouts in the street,
She gives forth her voice in the square;
21 At the head of the noisy streets she calls out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
22 “How long, O (B)simple ones, will you love simplicity?
And (C)scoffers delight in scoffing
And [a]fools (D)hate knowledge?
23 Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will (E)pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because (F)I called and you (G)refused,
I (H)stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25 And you (I)neglected all my counsel
And were not (J)willing to accept my reproof;
26 I will also (K)laugh at your (L)disaster;
I will mock when your (M)dread comes,
27 When your dread comes like a storm
And your disaster comes like a (N)whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will (O)call on me, but I will not answer;
They will (P)seek me earnestly but they will not find me,
29 Because they (Q)hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of Yahweh.
30 They (R)were not willing to accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
31 So they shall (S)eat of the fruit of their way
And be (T)satisfied with their own devices.
32 For the (U)turning away of the simple will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But (V)he who listens to me shall dwell securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:22 One who fails in wisdom due to willful sin

The Call of Wisdom

20 (A)Wisdom calls aloud [a]outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the [b]chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you [c]simple ones, will you love [d]simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely (B)I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 (C)Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you (D)disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 (E)I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When (F)your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.

28 “Then(G) they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they (H)hated knowledge
And did not (I)choose the fear of the Lord,
30 (J)They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore (K)they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the [e]turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell (L)safely,
And (M)will be [f]secure, without fear of evil.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:20 in the street
  2. Proverbs 1:21 LXX, Syr., Tg. top of the walls; Vg. the head of multitudes
  3. Proverbs 1:22 naive
  4. Proverbs 1:22 naivete
  5. Proverbs 1:32 waywardness
  6. Proverbs 1:33 at ease

Warning Against Adultery

My son, (A)pay attention to my wisdom,
(B)Incline your ear to my discernment;
That you may (C)keep discretion
And that your (D)lips may guard knowledge.

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The Peril of Adultery

My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
[a]Lend your ear to my understanding,
That you may [b]preserve discretion,
And your lips (A)may keep knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 5:1 Lit. Bow
  2. Proverbs 5:2 appreciate good judgment

Warning Against Adultery

20 (A)My son, observe the commandment of your father
And do not abandon the [a]law of your mother;
21 (B)Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you (C)walk about, [b]they will lead you;
When you sleep, [c]they will keep watch over you;
And when you awake, [d]they will speak to you.
23 For (D)the commandment is a lamp and the [e]law is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:20 Or instruction
  2. Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
  3. Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
  4. Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
  5. Proverbs 6:23 Or instruction

Beware of Adultery

20 (A)My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21 (B)Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 (C)When you roam, [a]they will lead you;
When you sleep, (D)they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
23 (E)For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Lit. it

The Adulteress’ Trap

My son, (A)keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.
(B)Keep my commandments and live,
And my [a]law (C)as the [b]apple of your eye.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:2 Or instruction
  2. Proverbs 7:2 Lit pupil

The Wiles of a Harlot

My son, keep my words,
And (A)treasure my commands within you.
(B)Keep my commands and live,
(C)And my law as the apple of your eye.

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31 The (A)mouth of the righteous bears wisdom,
But the tongue of (B)perversions will be cut out.

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

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14 Where there is no (A)guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is salvation.

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14 (A)Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

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The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the guidance of the wicked is deceitful.

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The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

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26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked makes them wander about.

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26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

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13 The one who (A)despises the word will be [a]in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be (B)rewarded.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:13 Lit pledged to it

13 He who (A)despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

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The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.

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The lips of the wise [a]disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 spread

22 Without consultation, [a]plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they [b]succeed.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:22 Lit thoughts
  2. Proverbs 15:22 Or are established

22 (A)Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

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20 (A)Listen to counsel and receive discipline,
That you may be wise in [a]the end of your days.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 Lit your latter end

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise (A)in your latter days.

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