Proverbs 1:20-33
World English Bible
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street.
She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 She calls at the head of noisy places.
At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery,
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn at my reproof.
Behold,[a] I will pour out my spirit on you.
I will make known my words to you.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused;
I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 but you have ignored all my counsel,
and wanted none of my reproof;
26 I also will laugh at your disaster.
I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come on you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer.
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
29 because they hated knowledge,
and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
30 They wanted none of my counsel.
They despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own schemes.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them.
The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely,
and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Footnotes
- 1:23 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
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 5:1-2
World English Bible
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
Turn your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may maintain discretion,
that your lips may preserve knowledge.
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 6:20-23
World English Bible
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them continually on your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, it will lead you.
When you sleep, it will watch over you.
When you awake, it will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp,
and the law is light.
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
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 7:1-2
World English Bible
7 My son, keep my words.
Lay up my commandments within you.
2 Keep my commandments and live!
Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
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 10:31
World English Bible
31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
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 11:14
World English Bible
14 Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls,
but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
Proverbs 11:14
New Living Translation
14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisers.
Proverbs 12:5
World English Bible
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
Proverbs 12:5
New Living Translation
5 The plans of the godly are just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
Proverbs 12:26
World English Bible
26 A righteous person is cautious in friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
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 13:13
World English Bible
13 Whoever despises instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13
New Living Translation
13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble;
those who respect a command will succeed.
Proverbs 15:7
World English Bible
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so with the heart of fools.
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 15:22
World English Bible
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail;
but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 15:22
New Living Translation
22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many advisers bring success.
Proverbs 19:20
World English Bible
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
that you may be wise in your latter end.
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.
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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.
