103 Wisdom addresses three types of people: simpletons (פְּתָיִם, pétayim), scoffers (לֵצִים, letsim) and fools (כְּסִילִים, késilim). For the term “simpleton” see note on . Each of these three types of people is satisfied with the life being led and will not listen to reason. See J. A. Emerton, “A Note on the Hebrew Text of Proverbs 1:22–23,” 19 (1968): 609–14.
104 Heb “simplicity” (so , ); “inanity.” The noun פֶּתִי (peti) means “simplicity; lack of wisdom” ( 834 ; II פֶּתִי). It is related to the term פְּתָיִם (pétayim) “simpletons” and so forms a striking wordplay. This lack of wisdom and moral simplicity is inherent in the character of the naive person.
105 The second instance of “How long?” does not appear in the Hebrew text; it is supplied in the translation for smoothness and style.
106 The term לֵצִים (leysim, “scoffers; mockers”) comes from the root לִיץ (lits, “to scorn; to mock; to speak indirectly” ( 539 לִיץ). They are cynical and defiant freethinkers who ridicule the righteous and all for which they stand (e.g., Ps 1:1).
107 Heb “delight.” The verb (חָמַד, khamad) is often translated “to take pleasure; to delight” but frequently has the meaning of a selfish desire, a coveting of something. It is the term, for example, used for coveting in the Decalogue (Exod 20:17; Deut 5:21) and for the covetous desire of Eve (Gen 3:6) and Achan (Josh 7:21). It is tempting to nuance it here as “illicit desire” for mockery.
108 Heb “for themselves.” The ethical dative לָהֶם (lahem, “for themselves”) is normally untranslated. It is a rhetorical device emphasizing that they take delight in mockery for their own self-interests.
109 The term “fool” (כְּסִיל, késil) refers to the morally insensitive dullard ( 493 ).