Proverbs 1:24–32

Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

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

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

For the simple are killed by their turning away,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

But since you refuse to listen when I call

and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,

since you disregard all my advice

and do not accept my rebuke,

I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;

I will mock when calamity overtakes you—

when calamity overtakes you like a storm,

when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,

when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;

they will look for me but will not find me,

since they hated knowledge

and did not choose to fear the Lord.

Since they would not accept my advice

and spurned my rebuke,

they will eat the fruit of their ways

and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.

I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.

You ignored my advice

and rejected the correction I offered.

So I will laugh when you are in trouble!

I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—

when calamity overtakes you like a storm,

when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,

and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

“When they cry for help, I will not answer.

Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.

For they hated knowledge

and chose not to fear the Lord.

They rejected my advice

and paid no attention when I corrected them.

Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,

choking on their own schemes.

For simpletons turn away from me—to death.

Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.

Because I called out and you refused me,

I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.

You have ignored all my counsel,

and my reproof you are not willing to accept.

I will also laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when panic comes upon you.

When your panic comes like a storm,

and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you,

then they will call me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but not find me.

Since they hated knowledge,

and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,

they were not willing to accept my counsel,

they despised all my reproof.

They shall eat from the fruit of their way,

and they shall be sated from their own schemes,

for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Because I have called, and ye refused;

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

But ye have set at nought all my counsel,

And would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation,

And your destruction cometh as a whirlwind;

When distress and anguish cometh upon you.

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

They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge,

And did not choose the fear of the Lord:

They would none of my counsel:

They despised all my reproof.

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

And be filled with their own devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them,

And the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.