Proverbs 1:20-33

Other Translations of Proverbs 1:20-33

New International Version

²⁰ Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; ²¹ on top of the wallSeptuagint; Hebrew "/ at noisy street corners" she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: ²² "How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate 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 to listen when I call and no one pays attention 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 when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you- ²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. ²⁸ "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, ²⁹ since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. ³⁰ Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, ³¹ they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. ³² For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; ³³ but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

English Standard Version

²⁰ 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 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? ²³ If you turn at my reproof,Or Will you turn away at my reproof? behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. ²⁴ Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, ²⁵ because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, ²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, ²⁷ when terror 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. 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, ³¹ therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. ³² For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; ³³ but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."

The Message

²⁰ Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. ²¹ In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out: ²² "Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism? Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn? ²³ About face! I can revise your life. Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you; I'm ready to tell you all I know. ²⁴ As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear; I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me. ²⁵ "Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice, ²⁶ How can I take you seriously? I'll turn the tables and joke about your troubles! ²⁷ What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces? What if catastrophe strikes and there's nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes? ²⁸ You'll need me then. You'll call for me, but don't expect an answer. No matter how hard you look, you won't find me. ²⁹ "Because you hated Knowledge and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God, ³⁰ Because you wouldn't take my advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you, ³¹ Well, you've made your bed - now lie in it; you wanted your own way - now, how do you like it? ³² Don't you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. ³³ First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy - you're in good hands."

New King James Version

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. ²¹ She cries out in the chief concourses, Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read top of the walls; Vulgate reads the head of multitudes. At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: ²² "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. ²³ Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. ²⁴ Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, ²⁵ Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, ²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, ²⁷ When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon 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 did not choose the fear of the Lord, ³⁰ They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. ³¹ Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. ³² For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; ³³ But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil."

New Living Translation

²⁰ Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. ²¹ She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: ²² "How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? ²³ Come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise. ²⁴ "I called you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. ²⁵ You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. ²⁶ So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you- ²⁷ when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. ²⁸ "When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. ²⁹ For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord . ³⁰ They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. ³¹ Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. ³² For simpletons turn away from me-to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. ³³ But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm."