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
Lexham English Bible
The Call of Lady Wisdom
20 Wisdom calls out in the streets,
in the squares she raises her voice.
21 On a busy corner[a] she cries out,
at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:
22 “How long,[b] O simple ones, will you love simplicity?
And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing,
and fools hate knowledge?
23 May you turn to my argument![c]
Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I called out and you refused me,
I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.
25 You have ignored all my counsel,
and my reproof you are not willing to accept.
26 I will also laugh at your calamity;[d]
I will mock when panic[e] comes upon you.
27 When your panic comes like a storm,
and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you,
28 then they will call[f] me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but not find me.
29 Since they hated knowledge,
and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
30 they were not willing to accept my counsel,
they despised all my reproof.
31 They shall eat from the fruit of their way,
and they shall be sated from their own schemes,
32 for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 Whoever listens to me will dwell in security
and rest securely[g] from dread and disaster.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:21 Literally “head of commotion,” or “head of stirring, bustling”
- Proverbs 1:22 Literally “Until when”
- Proverbs 1:23 Or “turn at my reproach”
- Proverbs 1:26 Or “downfall”
- Proverbs 1:26 Or “dread, fear”
- Proverbs 1:28 Or “cry out to”
- Proverbs 1:33 Or “be at ease, peace”
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
Lexham English Bible
5 My child, be attentive to my wisdom,
and to my understanding incline your ear;
2 in order to keep prudence,
and knowledge will guard your lips.
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
Lexham English Bible
Commandment and Instruction as Guardians
20 My child, keep the commandment of your father,
and do not disregard the instruction of your mother.
21 Bind them on your heart continually;
tie them upon your neck.
22 When you walk,[a] she[b] will lead you,
When you lie down,[c] she will watch over you,
and when you awake, she will converse with you.
23 For like a lamp is a commandment, and instruction is light,
and the way of life[d] is the reproof of discipline,
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your walking”
- Proverbs 6:22 That is, “commandment” and “instruction”
- Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your lying down”
- Proverbs 6:23 Hebrew “lives”
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
Lexham English Bible
Warning Against the Strange Woman
7 My child, guard my sayings;
store my commandments with you.
2 Keep my commands and live,
and my teaching like the apple of your eye.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:2 A single word meaning “pupil of the 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
Lexham English Bible
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a tongue of perversity will be cut off.
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
Lexham English Bible
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[a] shall fall,
but there is safety in an abundance of counsel.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:14 Or “people”
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
Lexham English Bible
5 The thoughts of the righteous are[a] just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:5 Hebrew “is”
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
Lexham English Bible
26 A righteous person will seek out his neighbor,
but the way of the wicked will lead them astray.
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
Lexham English Bible
13 He who despises a word will bring destruction on himself,
but he who respects a commandment will be rewarded.
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
Lexham English Bible
7 The lips of the wise will spread knowledge,
but the heart[a] of fools, not so.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:7 Or “mind”
Proverbs 15:22
Modern English Version
22 Without counsel, purposes are disappointed,
but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 15:22
Lexham English Bible
22 Plans go wrong when there is no counsel,
but with many advisors it will succeed.
Proverbs 19:20
Modern English Version
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction,
that you may be wise in your latter days.
Proverbs 19:20
Lexham English Bible
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction
so that you will gain wisdom for your future.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:20 Literally “after things”
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