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Lecture Against Gang Behavior

My child, may you keep[a] your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teachings,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:8 Or “obey,” or “hear”

My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:

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The Call of Lady Wisdom

20 Wisdom calls out in the streets,
    in the squares she raises her voice.
21 On a busy corner[a] she cries out,
    at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:
22 How long,[b] O simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing,
    and fools hate knowledge?
23 May you turn to my argument![c]
    Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you;
    I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I called out and you refused me,
    I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.
25 You have ignored all my counsel,
    and my reproof you are not willing to accept.
26 I will also laugh at your calamity;[d]
    I will mock when panic[e] comes upon you.
27 When your panic comes like a storm,
    and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you,
28 then they will call[f] me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but not find me.
29 Since they hated knowledge,
    and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
30 they were not willing to accept my counsel,
    they despised all my reproof.
31 They shall eat from the fruit of their way,
    and they shall be sated from their own schemes,
32 for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 Whoever listens to me will dwell in security
    and rest securely[g] from dread and disaster.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:21 Literally “head of commotion,” or “head of stirring, bustling”
  2. Proverbs 1:22 Literally “Until when”
  3. Proverbs 1:23 Or “turn at my reproach”
  4. Proverbs 1:26 Or “downfall”
  5. Proverbs 1:26 Or “dread, fear”
  6. Proverbs 1:28 Or “cry out to
  7. Proverbs 1:33 Or “be at ease, peace”

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.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1:23 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

Happy Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

11 Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child.
    Do not be weary of his reproof
12 because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke,
    as a father delights in his son.

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11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline,
    neither be weary of his correction;
12 for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects,
    even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

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The Father’s Wisdom

Children, listen to the instruction of a father,
    and be attentive in order to know insight.

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Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
    Pay attention and know understanding;

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He who corrects a scoffer gains abuse for himself,
    and he who rebukes the wicked gets hurt.[a]
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise and he will love you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Literally “abuse him”

One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
    One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
    Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.

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17 On the path to life is he who guards instruction,
    but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.

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17 He is in the way of life who heeds correction,
    but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.

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12 He who loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who hates rebuke is stupid.

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12 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
    but he who hates reproof is stupid.

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13 A wise child hears the discipline of a father,
    but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.

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13 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,
    but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

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18 Poverty and disgrace belong to him who ignores instruction,
    but he who guards reproof will be honored.

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18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline,
    but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

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A fool will despise the instruction of his father,
    but he who guards reproof is prudent.

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A fool despises his father’s correction,
    but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

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12 A scoffer does not like his rebuke;[a]
    to the wise he will not go.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:12 Literally “rebuke belonging to him”

12 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.

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32 He who ignores instruction despises himself,[a]
    but he who hears admonition gains heart.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:32 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
  2. Proverbs 15:32 Or “mind”

32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul,
    but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.

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