Proverbs 1:20–33

²⁰Wisdom sings her song in the streets. 

In the public squares she raises her voice. 

²¹At the corners of noisy streets she calls out. 

At the entrances to the city she speaks her words, 

²²“How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? 

How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? 

How long will you fools hate knowledge? 

²³“Turn to me when I warn you. 

I will generously pour out my spirit for you. 

I will make my words known to you. 

²⁴“I called, and you refused to listen. 

I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention. 

²⁵You ignored all my advice. 

You did not want me to warn you. 

²⁶I will laugh at your calamity. 

I will make fun of you 

when panic strikes you, 

²⁷when panic strikes you like a violent storm, 

when calamity strikes you like a wind storm, 

when trouble and anguish come to you. 

²⁸“They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer. 

They will look for me, but they will not find me, 

²⁹because they hated knowledge 

and did not choose the fear of the Lord. 

³⁰They refused my advice. 

They despised my every warning. 

³¹They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle. 

They will be stuffed with their own schemes. 

³²“Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away. 

Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference. 

³³But whoever listens to me will live without worry 

and will be free from the dread of disaster.”