Proverbs 1:18–23

18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;

they ambush only themselves!

19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;

it takes away the life of those who get it.

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,

she raises her voice in the public square;

21 on top of the wall 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.

18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;

they set an ambush for their own lives.

19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;

it takes away the life of its possessors.

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,

behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

18 But these people set an ambush for themselves;

they are trying to get themselves killed.

19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;

it robs them of life.

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.

18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,

They lurk secretly for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;

It takes away the life of its owners.

20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;

She raises her voice in the open squares.

21 She cries out in the chief concourses,

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.

18 But sinners will fall into their own traps;

they will only catch themselves!

19 All greedy people end up this way;

greed kills selfish people.

20 Wisdom is like a woman shouting in the street;

she raises her voice in the city squares.

21 She cries out in the noisy street

and shouts at the city gates:

22 “You fools, how long will you be foolish?

How long will you make fun of wisdom

and hate knowledge?

23 If only you had listened when I corrected you,

I would have told you what’s in my heart;

I would have told you what I am thinking.

18 And these lay wait for their own blood;

They lurk privily for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain;

It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisdom crieth aloud in the street;

She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse;

At the entrance of the gates,

In the city, she uttereth her words:

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?

And scoffers delight them in scoffing,

And fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof:

Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you;

I will make known my words unto you.

18 And these lay wait for their own blood; they lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the paths of every one that is greedy of gain: it taketh away the life of its possessors.

20 Wisdom crieth without; she raiseth her voice in the broadways; 21 she calleth in the chief place of concourse, in the entry of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words: 22 How long, simple ones, will ye love simpleness, and scorners take pleasure in their scorning, and the foolish hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour forth my spirit unto you, I will make known to you my words.

18 But these people set an ambush for their own murder. 

They go into hiding only to lose their lives. 

19 This is what happens to everyone 

who is greedy for unjust gain. 

Greed takes away his life. 

20 Wisdom sings her song in the streets. 

In the public squares she raises her voice. 

21 At the corners of noisy streets she calls out. 

At the entrances to the city she speaks her words, 

22 “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? 

How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? 

How long will you fools hate knowledge? 

23 “Turn to me when I warn you. 

I will generously pour out my spirit for you. 

I will make my words known to you. 

18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves;

they attack their own lives.

19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;

it takes the lives of those who receive it.

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;

she raises her voice in the public squares.

21 She cries out above the commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

22 “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?

23 If you respond to my warning,

then I will pour out my spirit on you

and teach you my words.

18 yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves!

and set an ambush—for their own lives!

19 Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain;

it takes away the life of its possessors.

20 Wisdom cries out in the street;

in the squares she raises her voice.

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?

23 Give heed to my reproof;

I will pour out my thoughts to you;

I will make my words known to you.

18 They lie in wait for their own blood.

They ambush their own lives.

19 Thus are the ways of all who are greedy for gain—

it will take the life of its possessors.

20 Wisdom calls out in the streets,

in the squares she raises her voice.

21 On a busy corner she cries out,

at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:

22 “How long, 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!

Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you;

I will make my words known to you.

18 Those who hide and wait will spill their own blood.

They will be caught in their own trap.

19 That’s what happens to everyone

who goes after money in the wrong way.

That kind of money takes away

the lives of those who get it.

20 Wisdom calls out in the street.

She raises her voice in public places.

21 At the noisy street corners she cries out.

Here is what she says near the gates of the city.

22 “How long will you childish people love your childish ways?

How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others?

How long will you foolish people hate knowledge?

23 Suppose you had paid attention to my warning.

Then I would have poured out my heart to you.

I would have told you what I was thinking.

18 But they lie in wait for their own blood;

They ambush their own lives.

19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence;

It takes away the life of its possessors.

20 Wisdom shouts in the street,

She lifts her voice in the square;

21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:

22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?

And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing

And fools hate knowledge?

23 “Turn to my reproof,

Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;

I will make my words known to you.