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
International Standard Version
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.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:21 Lit. head
- Proverbs 1:21 So MT; LXX Syr Targ read and on top of the walls
- Proverbs 1:24 Lit. you refused
- Proverbs 1:24 Lit. I stretched out my hand
- Proverbs 1:25 The Heb. lacks because
- Proverbs 1:26 Lit. when your fear
- Proverbs 1:31 I.e. experience the consequences
- 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
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
International Standard Version
Warning against Sexual Immorality
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
and listen closely to my insight,
2 so you may carefully practice[a] discretion
and your lips preserve knowledge.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:2 Lit. guard
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
International Standard Version
Parental Counsel about Immorality
20 Keep your father’s commands, my son,
and never forsake your mother’s rules,[a]
21 by binding them to your heart continuously,
fastening them around your neck.
22 During your travels wisdom[b] will lead you;
she will watch over you while you rest;
and when you are startled from your sleep,
she will commune with you.
23 Because the command is a lamp
and the Law a light,
rebukes that discipline are a way of life—
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:20 Or laws
- Proverbs 6:22 Lit. wisdom; i.e. wisdom personified as a woman
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
International Standard Version
On Avoiding the Immoral Woman
7 My son, guard what I say
and treasure my commands.
2 Keep my commands and you’ll live.
Guard[a] my teaching as you do your eyesight.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:2 The Heb. lacks Guard
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
International Standard Version
31 The words of the righteous overflow with wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut out.
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
International Standard Version
14 A nation falls through a lack of guidance,
but victory comes through the counsel of many.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:14 Or through much planning
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
International Standard Version
5 The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
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
International Standard Version
26 The righteous person is cautious with respect to his neighbor,
but the lifestyle of the wicked leads them astray.
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
International Standard Version
13 Anyone who despises a word of advice will pay for it,
but whoever heeds a command will be rewarded.
Proverbs 15:7
World English Bible
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so with the heart of fools.
Proverbs 15:7
International Standard Version
7 What the wise have to say disseminates[a] knowledge,
but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:7 Lit. The lips of the wise spread
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
International Standard Version
22 Plans fail without advice,
but with many counselors they are confirmed.
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
International Standard Version
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and you’ll be wise for the rest of your life.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:20 The Heb. lacks of your life
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