Proverbs 1:20–33

Wisdom Speaks

²⁰Wisdom is like a woman shouting in the street;

she raises her voice in the city squares.

²¹She cries out in the noisy street

and shouts at the city gates:

²²“You fools, how long will you be foolish?

How long will you make fun of wisdom

and hate knowledge?

²³If only you had listened when I corrected you,

I would have told you what’s in my heart;

I would have told you what I am thinking.

²⁴I called, but you refused to listen;

I held out my hand, but you paid no attention.

²⁵You did not follow my advice

and did not listen when I corrected you.

²⁶So I will laugh when you are in trouble.

I will make fun when disaster strikes you,

²⁷when disaster comes over you like a storm,

when trouble strikes you like a whirlwind,

when pain and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸“Then you will call to me,

but I will not answer.

You will look for me,

but you will not find me.

²⁹It is because you rejected knowledge

and did not choose to respect the Lord.

³⁰You did not accept my advice,

and you rejected my correction.

³¹So you will get what you deserve;

you will get what you planned for others.

³²Fools will die because they refuse to listen;

they will be destroyed because they do not care.

³³But those who listen to me will live in safety

and be at peace, without fear of injury.”