Proverbs 1:20

Wisdom ¹  calls out ²  in the street, she shouts loudly ³  in the plazas; ⁴ 

Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;

Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;

Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square.

Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech.

Wisdom is crying out in the street; her voice is loud in the open places;

Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.

Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.

Wisdom ¹  calls out ²  in the street, she shouts loudly ³  in the plazas; ⁴ 

¹ tn The noun חָכְמָה (khokhmah, “wisdom”) is the abstract feminine plural form. It probably functions as a plural of intensity, stressing the all-embracing, elevated wisdom (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 272). As in 8:1-9:11, Wisdom is personified as a righteous woman in 1:20-33.

² sn The verb רָנַן (ranan, “to cry out, give a ringing cry”) always expresses excitement, whether of joyful praise or lamentable sorrow (BDB 943 s.v.). Here it is an excited summons.

³ tn Heb “she gives her voice.” The expression means to shout loudly (BDB 679 s.v. נָתַן Qal.x).

⁴ sn The word רְחֹבוֹת (rÿkhovot, “plazas”) refers to the wide plazas or broad open spaces near the gate where all the people assembled. The personification of wisdom as a woman crying out in this place would be a vivid picture of the public appeal to all who pass by.