Proverbs 1:20-33
New Living Translation
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street,
to those gathered in front of the city gate:
22 “How long, you simpletons,
will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
How long will you fools hate knowledge?
23 Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
and make you wise.
24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
25 You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,
and anguish and distress overwhelm you.
28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer.
Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
29 For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the Lord.
30 They rejected my advice
and paid no attention when I corrected them.
31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
choking on their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”
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
New Living Translation
Avoid Immoral Women
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2 Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
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
New Living Translation
20 My son, obey your father’s commands,
and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
21 Keep their words always in your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
When you sleep, they will protect you.
When you wake up, they will advise you.
23 For their command is a lamp
and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
is the way to 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
New Living Translation
Another Warning about Immoral Women
7 Follow my advice, my son;
always treasure my commands.
2 Obey my commands and live!
Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.[a]
Footnotes
- 7:2 Hebrew as the pupil 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
New Living Translation
31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,
but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
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
New Living Translation
14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisers.
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
New Living Translation
5 The plans of the godly are just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
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
New Living Translation
26 The godly give good advice to their friends;[a]
the wicked lead them astray.
Footnotes
- 12:26 Or The godly are cautious in friendship; or The godly are freed from evil. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
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
New Living Translation
13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble;
those who respect a command will succeed.
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
New Living Translation
7 The lips of the wise give good advice;
the heart of a fool has none to give.
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
New Living Translation
22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many advisers bring success.
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
New Living Translation
20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,
so you will be wise the rest of your life.
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”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software