Proverbs 1:20–33

The Call of Wisdom

²⁰Wisdom cries out in the street;

in the squares she raises her voice.^*

²¹At the busiest corner she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

²²“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?^*

²³Give heed to my reproof;

I will pour out my thoughts to you;

I will make my words known to you.^*

²⁴Because I have called and you refused,

have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,^*

²⁵and because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,^*

²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when panic strikes you,^*

²⁷when panic strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

²⁸Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.^*

²⁹Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

³⁰would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,^*

³¹therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way

and be sated with their own devices.^*

³²For waywardness kills the simple,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;^*

³³but those who listen to me will be secure

and will live at ease without dread of disaster.”^*