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
English Standard Version
The Call of Wisdom
20 (A)Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at (B)the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O (C)simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will (D)scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools (E)hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,[a]
behold, I will (F)pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 (G)Because I have called and (H)you refused to listen,
have (I)stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have (J)ignored all my counsel
and (K)would have none of my reproof,
26 I also (L)will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when (M)terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like (N)a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 (O)Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they (P)hated knowledge
and (Q)did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 (R)would have none of my counsel
and (S)despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat (T)the fruit of their way,
and have (U)their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by (V)their turning away,
and (W)the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but (X)whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be (Y)at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:23 Or Will you turn away at my reproof?
Proverbs 9:13-18
World English Bible
13 The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call to those who pass by,
who go straight on their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.[a]
Footnotes
- 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.
Proverbs 9:13-18
English Standard Version
The Way of Folly
13 (A)The woman Folly is (B)loud;
she is seductive[a] and (C)knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on (D)the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are (E)going straight on their way,
16 (F)“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 (G)“Stolen water is sweet,
and (H)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know (I)that the dead[b] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:13 Or full of simpleness
- Proverbs 9:18 Hebrew Rephaim
by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.