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 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 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
Proverbs 9:13-18
International Standard Version
Folly’s Entrapment
13 The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and without knowledge.
14 She sits at the entrance of her house,
on a seat high above the city.
15 She calls out to those passing by on the road,
who are minding their own business,[a]
16 “Whoever is naïve, turn in here!”
And to anyone lacking sense, she says,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
and food eaten in secret is delicious.”
18 But he does not realize that the dead lurk there,
and her invited guests wind up in the depths of Sheol.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:15 Or are going straight on their way
- Proverbs 9:18 I.e. the realm of the dead
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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