Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)

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The Minor Theme

My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and do not let go of your mother’s teaching.

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Wisdom’s Rebuke

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,(A)
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall[a] she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:

22 “How long will you who are simple(B) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate(C) knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
24 But since you refuse(D) to listen when I call(E)
    and no one pays attention(F) when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh(G) when disaster(H) strikes you;
    I will mock(I) when calamity overtakes you(J)
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster(K) sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;(L)
    they will look for me but will not find me,(M)
29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.(N)
30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,(O)
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.(P)
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;(Q)
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety(R)
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners

The Benefits of Choosing Wisdom

20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
    she raises her voice in the public squares.
21 She calls out at the busiest part[a] of the noisy streets,[b]
    and at the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words:
22 “You naïve ones, how long will you love naiveté?
    And how long will scoffers delight in scoffing
        or fools hate knowledge?”
23 Return to my correction!
    Look, I will pour out my spirit on you,
        and I will make my words known to you.

The Consequences of Refusing Wisdom

24 “Because I called out to you and you refused to respond—[c]
    I appealed,[d] but no one paid attention—
25 because[e] you neglected all my advice
    and did not want my correction,
26 I will laugh at your calamity.
    I will mock when what you fear[f] comes,
27 when what you dread comes like a storm,
    and your calamity comes on like a whirlwind,
        when distress and anguish come upon you.

28 “Then they will call out to me,
    but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently,
    but they will not find me.

29 “Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord;
30 they did not want my advice,
    and they rejected all my correction.
31 They will eat the fruit[g] of their way,
    and they will be filled with their own devices.
32 Indeed, the waywardness[h] of the naïve will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33 “But the person who listens to me will live safely
    and will be secure from the fear of evil.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:21 Lit. head
  2. Proverbs 1:21 So MT; LXX Syr Targ read and on top of the walls
  3. Proverbs 1:24 Lit. you refused
  4. Proverbs 1:24 Lit. I stretched out my hand
  5. Proverbs 1:25 The Heb. lacks because
  6. Proverbs 1:26 Lit. when your fear
  7. Proverbs 1:31 I.e. experience the consequences
  8. Proverbs 1:32 So MT; DSS 4QProva reads narrow-mindedness; lit. the pull of; LXX reads Because they would wrong the naïve, they will be murdered

11 My son,(A) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(B)
    and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(C)
    as a father the son he delights in.[a](D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child

11 My son, do not reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not despise his correction,
12 because the Lord corrects the person he loves,
    just as a father corrects[a] the son he delights in.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:12 The Heb. lacks corrects
  2. Proverbs 3:12 So MT; LXX reads loves, and he punishes every son he accepts

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)

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Diligently Pursue Wisdom

Listen, children,[a] to your father’s instruction,
and pay attention in order to gain understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Lit. sons

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.(A)
Do not rebuke mockers(B) or they will hate you;
    rebuke the wise and they will love you.(C)

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Wisdom Extends Life

Whoever corrects a mocker invites only insult,[a]
    and whoever rebukes the wicked will himself become stained.
Don’t rebuke a mocker or he will hate you.
    Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit. insult to himself

17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,(A)
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

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17 Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life,
    but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray.

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12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.(A)

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Wisdom and Wickedness Contrasted

12 The person who loves correction loves knowledge,
but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.

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13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.(A)

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Who is a Wise Son?

13 A wise son heeds[a] a father’s correction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:1 The Heb. lacks heeds

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(A)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(B)

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18 Poverty and shame are for those who ignore correction,
    but whoever listens to instruction gains honor.

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A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(A)

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A fool rejects his father’s instructions,
    but anyone who respects[a] reproof acts sensibly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:5 Lit. keeps

12 Mockers resent correction,(A)
    so they avoid the wise.

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12 The arrogant mocker never loves the one who corrects him;
    he will not inquire of[a] the wise.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:12 Lit. not go to

32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,(A)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.(B)

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32 Whoever ignores instruction hates himself,
    but anyone who heeds reproof gains understanding.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:32 Lit. heart