Proverbs 1:22–31

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?

If you turn at my reproof,

behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

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.

“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?

How long will mockers delight in mockery

and fools hate knowledge?

Repent at my rebuke!

Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,

I will make known to you my teachings.

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.

“How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?

If you respond to my warning,

then I will pour out my spirit on you

and teach you my words.

Since I called out and you refused,

extended my hand and no one paid attention,

since you neglected all my counsel

and did not accept my correction,

I, in turn, 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 trouble and stress overcome you.

Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will search for me, but won’t find me.

Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear the Lord,

were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction,

they will eat the fruit of their way

and be glutted with their own schemes.

“How long, you simpletons,

will you insist on being simpleminded?

How long will you mockers relish your mocking?

How long will you fools hate knowledge?

Come and listen to my counsel.

I’ll share my heart with you

and make you wise.

“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.

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

And the scorners delight in their scorning,

And fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof:

Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you,

I will make known my words unto you.

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.