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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:23 Or Will you turn away at my reproof?

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

Warning Against Adultery

(A)My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
    (B)incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep (C)discretion,
    and your lips may (D)guard knowledge.

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Warning Against Adultery

My son,(A) pay attention to my wisdom,
    turn your ear to my words(B) of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.

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Warnings Against Adultery

20 (A)My son, keep your father's commandment,
    (B)and forsake not your mother's teaching.
21 (C)Bind them on your heart always;
    (D)tie them around your neck.
22 (E)When you walk, they[a] will lead you;
    (F)when you lie down, they will (G)watch over you;
    and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is (H)a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the (I)reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Hebrew it; three times in this verse

Warning Against Adultery

20 My son,(A) keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(B)
21 Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.(C)
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
    when you sleep, they will watch over you;
    when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,(D)
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life,(E)

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Warning Against the Adulteress

(A)My son, keep my words
    and (B)treasure up my commandments with you;
(C)keep my commandments and live;
    keep my teaching as (D)the apple of your eye;

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Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

My son,(A) keep my words
    and store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and you will live;(B)
    guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

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31 (A)The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

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31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,(A)
    but a perverse tongue(B) will be silenced.

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14 Where there is (A)no guidance, a people falls,
    (B)but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

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14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,(A)
    but victory is won through many advisers.(B)

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(A)The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

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The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

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26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,[a]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:26 Or The righteous chooses his friends carefully

26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(A)

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13 Whoever (A)despises (B)the word[a] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment[b] will be (C)rewarded.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:13 Or a word
  2. Proverbs 13:13 Or a commandment

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(A)
    but whoever respects(B) a command is rewarded.(C)

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(A)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    (B)not so the hearts of fools.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

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22 (A)Without counsel plans fail,
    but with many advisers they succeed.

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22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(A)
    but with many advisers(B) they succeed.(C)

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20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in (A)the future.

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20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,(A)
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.(B)

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