21She crieth in the chief place of concourse;

At the entrance of the gates,

In the city, she uttereth her words:

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

And scoffers delight them in scoffing,

And fools hate knowledge?

23Turn you at my reproof:

Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you;

I will make known my words unto you.

24Because I have called, and ye have refused;

I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;

25But ye have set at nought all my counsel,

And would none of my reproof:

26I also will laugh in the day of your calamity;

I will mock when your fear cometh;

27When your fear cometh as a storm,

And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind;

When distress and anguish come upon you.

28Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:

29For that they hated knowledge,

And did not choose the fear of Jehovah:

30They would none of my counsel;

They despised all my reproof.

31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,

And be filled with their own devices.

32For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them,

And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.

33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely,

And shall be quiet without fear of evil.