Proverbs 1:20–33

Wisdom’s Rebuke

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,^a

she raises her voice in the public square;

on top of the wall she cries out,

at the city gate she makes her speech:

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

How long will mockers delight in mockery

and fools hate^c 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^d to listen when I call^e

and no one pays attention^f when I stretch out my hand,

since you disregard all my advice

and do not accept my rebuke,

I in turn will laugh^g when disaster^h strikes you;

I will mockⁱ when calamity overtakes you^j—

when calamity overtakes you like a storm,

when disaster^k sweeps over you like a whirlwind,

when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;^l

they will look for me but will not find me,^m

since they hated knowledge

and did not choose to fear the Lord.ⁿ

Since they would not accept my advice

and spurned my rebuke,^o

they will eat the fruit of their ways

and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.^p

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them;^q

but whoever listens to me will live in safety^r

and be at ease, without fear of harm.”^s