Reading for January 12th

Read Proverbs 1.20-33. In 1.20-33: The consequences of not heeding wisdom. Woman Wisdom warns the simple (who seem to hhave previously rejected her teachings) that she will not be there whent he inevitable disaster comes upon vv. 22-32). She nonetheless gives them a last chance to accept her (v. 33). Verses 24-27 and 28-31 are parallel sections. Each gives a reason (because, vv. 25, 29) and announces a disaster; the first section employs the grammatical second person, and the second section employs the grammatical third person. In verses 20-21: The entrance of the city gates is the entrance to the upper city, which was the place of business and goverment. In verses 22-23a: The best solution to the textual confusion is to drop v. 22b-c as a later insertion and to translate How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? Its parallel verse is best rendered (differently from NRSV) "Will you turn away from my reproof?" The translation "turn away" is preferable to NRSV give heed to and is based on the meaning of the same root in v. 32a (waywardness) and on Hebrew idom. Comments or Questions..