Proverbs 1:20-33
Modern English Version
The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
she utters her voice in the markets.
21 She cries at the corner of the streets, in the openings of the gates;
she speaks her words in the city, saying:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For the scorners delight in their scorning,
and fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my reproof;
surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded,
25 because you neglected all my counsel,
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your fear comes,
27 when your fear comes as desolation
and your destruction comes as a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me early, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 they would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
and the prosperity of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
and will be secure from fear of evil.”
Proverbs 1:20-33
American Standard Version
20 Wisdom crieth aloud in the street;
She uttereth her voice in the broad places;
21 She crieth [a]in the chief place of concourse;
At the entrance of the gates,
In the city, she uttereth her words:
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?
And scoffers delight them in scoffing,
And fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof:
Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you;
I will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and ye have refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel,
And would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh in the day of your calamity;
I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as [b]a storm,
And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind;
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me [c]diligently, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge,
And did not choose the fear of Jehovah,
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 backsliding of the simple shall slay them,
And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely,
And shall be quiet without fear of evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:21 Hebrew at the head of the noisy streets.
- Proverbs 1:27 Or, desolation
- Proverbs 1:28 Or, early
Proverbs 5:1-2
Modern English Version
Warning Against Adultery
5 My son, attend to my wisdom,
and bow your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may regard discretion,
and that your lips may keep knowledge.
Proverbs 5:1-2
American Standard Version
5 My son, attend unto my wisdom;
Incline thine ear to my understanding:
2 That thou mayest preserve discretion,
And that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Proverbs 6:20-23
Modern English Version
Warning Against Adultery
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.
21 Bind them continually upon your heart,
and tie them around your neck.
22 When you go, they will lead you;
when you sleep, they will keep you;
and when you awake, they will speak with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light;
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
Proverbs 6:20-23
American Standard Version
20 My son, keep the commandment of thy father,
And forsake not the [a]law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thy heart;
Tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou walkest, it shall lead thee;
When thou [b]sleepest, it shall watch over thee;
And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 For [c]the commandment is a lamp; and [d]the law is light;
And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:20 Or, teaching
- Proverbs 6:22 Hebrew liest down.
- Proverbs 6:23 Or, their commandment
- Proverbs 6:23 Or, their teaching
Proverbs 7:1-2
Modern English Version
Beware of the Adulteress
7 My son, keep my words,
and lay up my commandments within you.
2 Keep my commandments and live,
and my teaching as the apple of your eye.
Proverbs 7:1-2
American Standard Version
7 My son, keep my words,
And lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments and live;
And my law as the apple of thine eye.
Proverbs 10:31
Modern English Version
31 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut out.
Proverbs 10:31
American Standard Version
31 The mouth of the righteous [a]bringeth forth wisdom;
But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:31 Or, buddeth with
Proverbs 11:14
Modern English Version
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 11:14
American Standard Version
14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth;
But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Proverbs 12:5
Modern English Version
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right,
but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Proverbs 12:5
American Standard Version
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;
But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Proverbs 12:26
Modern English Version
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbors,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Proverbs 12:26
American Standard Version
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor;
But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
Proverbs 13:13
Modern English Version
13 Whoever despises the word will be destroyed,
but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13
American Standard Version
13 Whoso despiseth the word [a]bringeth destruction on himself;
But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:13 Or, maketh himself a debtor thereto
Proverbs 15:7
Modern English Version
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
but the heart of the foolish does not do so.
Proverbs 15:7
American Standard Version
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge;
But the heart of the foolish [a]doeth not so.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:7 Or, is not stedfast (or, right)
Proverbs 15:22
Modern English Version
22 Without counsel, purposes are disappointed,
but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 15:22
American Standard Version
22 Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed;
But in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Proverbs 19:20
Modern English Version
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction,
that you may be wise in your latter days.
Proverbs 19:20
American Standard Version
20 Hear counsel, and receive [a]instruction,
That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:20 Or, correction
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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