Proverbs 1:20-33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.(A)
21 At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?(B)
23 Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.(C)
24 Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,(D)
25 and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,(E)
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,(F)
27 when panic strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.(G)
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,(H)
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.(I)
32 For waywardness kills the simple,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;(J)
33 but those who listen to me will be secure
and will live at ease without dread of disaster.”(K)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Warning against Impurity and Infidelity
5 My child, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,(A)
2 so that you may hold on to prudence,
and your lips may guard 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
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 My child, keep your father’s commandment,
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(A)
21 Bind them upon your heart always;
tie them around your neck.(B)
22 When you walk, they[a] will lead you;
when you lie down, they[b] will watch over you;
and when you awake, they[c] will talk with you.(C)
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,(D)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The False Attractions of Adultery
7 My child, keep my words
and store up my commandments with you;(A)
2 keep my commandments and live;
keep my teachings as the apple[a] of your eye;(B)
Footnotes
- 7.2 Heb little man
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.(A)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[a] falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.(A)
Footnotes
- 11.14 Or an army
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 The thoughts of the righteous 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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
26 The righteous are released from misfortune,[a]
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Footnotes
- 12.26 Syr: Meaning of Heb 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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
13 Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,
but those who respect a command will be rewarded.(A)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the minds of fools.
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 Without counsel, plans go wrong,
but with many advisers they succeed.(A)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom for the future.(A)
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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