9-22-06 Proverbs 1: 20, 21

Proverbs 1: 20, 21 (KJ21)
Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets. She crieth in the chief places of concourse, in the openings of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

Proverbs 1: 20, 21 (NAS)
Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings:

Proverbs 1: 20, 21 (NIVUS)
Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:

Proverbs 1: 20, 21 (NLT)
Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls out to the crowds along the main street, and to those in front of city hall.

God's word personifies wisdom as female, perhaps because wisdom is a teacher. One of the primary roles of a woman, particularly a mother, is to teach her children different skills and arts. She shows her children how to be wise in mind, word, and action.

Wisdom is continually crying out to you when she is outside your gates. You can hear her joyful shout, for she does not want to be separated from you. Since she wants to lift you up, recompense, and restore you, she utters her voice in song and proclamation in the streets and broad places. Wisdom will try to reach you wherever or however possible. It may seem that you are being accosted on every side by her insistent pleas, invitations, and preaching. At the beginning of the day you will hear wisdom's voice.

Whenever you are in a place of rage or tumult, if your quiet yourself and listen, you will hear wisdom speaking. When you do this, you will find peace instead of trouble and uproar, for she longs to be at the forefront of your thoughts.

Perhaps you are facing a new door; you will find wisdom there as the gatekeeper. She will either let you pass through or send you back another way. Wisdom watches over you; she guards you in the city or wherever you set up camp. Through the words of wisdom, you will find answers, challenges, and charges.