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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.(A)
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 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 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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 The thoughts of the righteous 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 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 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 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 15:7
World English Bible
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so with the heart of fools.
Proverbs 15:7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the minds of fools.
Proverbs 15:22
World English Bible
22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail;
but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 15:22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
22 Without counsel, plans go wrong,
but with many advisers they succeed.(A)
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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom for the future.(A)
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