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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)

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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?

Warning against Impurity and Infidelity

My child, be attentive to my wisdom;
    incline your ear to my understanding,(A)
so that you may hold on to prudence,
    and your lips may guard knowledge.

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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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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)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.22 Heb it
  2. 6.22 Heb it
  3. 6.22 Heb it

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

The False Attractions of Adultery

My child, keep my words
    and store up my commandments with you;(A)
keep my commandments and live;
    keep my teachings as the apple[a] of your eye;(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 7.2 Heb little man

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. 11.14 Or an army

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

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The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

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

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26 The righteous are released from misfortune,[a]
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

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Footnotes

  1. 12.26 Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain

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

13 Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,
    but those who respect a command will be rewarded.(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

The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the minds of fools.

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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

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

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

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

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

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