The Way of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:1–7)
1 UST Continue imagining that there is a woman who represents everything that is wise. Imagine that this woman has built her own{ spacious} house and made seven pillars{ to support its roof}. BSB BSB: Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
2 UST { Imagine that she has prepared a meal for guests.} She has prepared the meat{ to eat} and wine{ to drink}. She has{ fully} prepared her table for a meal. BSB BSB: She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 UST Imagine that this woman has sent out her maids{ to invite her dinner guests}. Then she calls out at the highest place in the city{ where everyone can hear her}. BSB BSB: She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.
4 UST She tells those who are not wise,“Come into{ my house}, all you naive people! BSB BSB: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
5 UST Come{ to me}! Eat the food that I have prepared, and drink the wine that I have prepared. BSB BSB: “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 UST Stop acting naively so that you can live{ well}. Do what will cause you to learn what you should understand. BSB BSB: Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
7 UST If you{ try to} teach someone who ridicules{ other people}, that person will ridicule you. If you correct an evil person, that person will hurt you. BSB BSB: He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
8 UST { So} do not correct a person who ridicules{ other people}. If you do so, then that person will hate you.{ However,} if you correct a wise person, that person will love you{ for doing so}. BSB BSB: Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 UST If you instruct wise people, then they will become even wiser. If you teach righteous people, then they will learn even more. BSB BSB: Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 UST If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh, and{ only} by knowing what is holy will you understand{ which teachings are wise and true}. BSB BSB: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 UST Surely being wise will cause you to live for many more years. BSB BSB: For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.
12 UST Any wise person benefits himself from being wise, just as anyone who ridicules{ other people} will personally suffer for doing so.” BSB BSB: If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
The Way of Folly 13 UST Foolish women speak loudly, act naively, and are very ignorant. BSB BSB: The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
14 UST They sit at the doors of the places where they dwell.{ They sit} on seats at the highest place in the city{ where everyone can hear them}. BSB BSB: She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,
15 UST { They sit there} in order to call out to the people who are walking past them.{ They call out to} those walking down the road, who are only concerned about where they are going. BSB BSB: calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.
16 UST They tell those who are not wise,“Come into{ my house}, all you naive people! BSB BSB: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
17 UST { Come to me, because having sex with someone to whom you are not married is} as sweet as water that you have stolen. Indeed,{ it is} as delicious as food that you eat all by yourself.” BSB BSB: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
18 UST But men who go to the houses of such women are not aware that the men who have gone there before have died.{ They are not aware} that the guests of such women are now in the deepest parts of the place where dead people are. BSB BSB: But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.